WGU Indiana Named a Top Military Friendly School for the 5th Year

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the fifth consecutive year, Western Governors University has been recognized as a Military Friendly® School. WGU is the parent company of WGU Indiana and all Hoosiers follow its curriculum. The announcement highlights WGU's mission to expand access to higher education opportunities to nontraditional students, particularly military members and their families. WGU's flexible, affordable degree programs are ideal for military personnel and their families, who are often stationed overseas and are frequently required to relocate.

The 2015 Military Friendly® Schools list featured on www.militaryfriendlyschools.com recognizes the top 15 percent of universities, colleges, and trade schools working to provide better education opportunities to active-duty personnel, veterans, and their families. More than 10,000 schools were surveyed for the annual list recognizing the best practices in military education.

WGU's online, competency-based programs allow students to study, learn, and take proctored exams on schedules that fit their lives, anytime, anywhere there's an Internet connection. This is vital for military students and spouses. Designed to meet the needs of working adults, WGU's model, which measures learning rather than seat time, allows students to study and learn on their own pace and schedule, with constant one-to-one faculty support.

WGU was also recognized for its affordability. Tuition is charged at a flat rate of $6,000 per year for most programs, regardless of the number of courses completed. As a result, many students accelerate their programs and finish faster, saving both time and money. WGU accepts Veterans Administration (VA) education benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill, and scholarships are offered throughout the year to military students and spouses, helping make WGU even more affordable for those serving our country.

"WGU Indiana is proud to support our servicemen and women with a model that recognizes their competencies and fits their lifestyle," said military wife and chancellor of WGU Indiana, Allison Barber.

WGU offers more than 50 bachelor's and master's degree programs in business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. For more information on WGU Indiana's military friendly benefits, visit indiana.wgu.edu/military-friendly

About WGU Indiana 
WGU Indiana is the state's nonprofit, online university established by former Governor Mitch Daniels to expand access to higher education for Indiana residents. Using a competency-based model that allows students to proceed at their own pace and curriculum developed with input from leading employers, WGU Indiana offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Business, Education, Information Technology and Healthcare Professions, including Nursing. WGU Indiana has awarded 1,600 degrees and has more than 3,700 currently enrolled. In 2012, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education recognized WGU Indiana in its Reaching Higher, Achieving More agenda for its excellence in academic quality. The university was also recognized as one of Fast Company's 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2013. In 2014, WGU's secondary teacher preparation program ranked first among 2,400 schools for quality by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ).

About Military Friendly® Schools 
The Military Friendly® Schools designation process includes extensive research and a data-driven survey of schools nationwide approved for Post-9/11 GI Bill funding. The survey and methodology are developed with assistance from an independent Academic Advisory Board, comprised of educators from across the country. Results are independently tested by Ernst & Young LLP based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media. The survey is free and open to all post-secondary schools who wish to participate. Survey criteria can be found at http://www.militaryfriendly.com, and a complete list of schools is available at http://www.gijobs.com.

SOURCE WGU Indiana