WGU Named a Top School by Military Advanced Education for 9th Consecutive Year

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Western Governors University (WGU) has been named a Top School by Military Advanced Education (MAE) for the ninth year in a row. In its 2016 Guide to Colleges & Universities, the publication highlights institutions that provide the best educational options and fit for military service members, veterans, and their families.

WGU was selected as a military-friendly school for its affordability, flexibility, and personalized one-on-one faculty support. WGU's online bachelor's and master's degree programs are approved for tuition assistance for active-duty, reserve, and National Guard personnel. Veterans are eligible for education benefits through the G.I. Bill. Because of WGU's affordable tuition of about $6,000 per year for most programs, veterans are generally eligible for benefits that fully cover tuition and fees.

WGU's competency-based learning model is ideal for adult learners—especially military personnel—because it allows students to study and learn on their own schedule and at their own pace. Students can apply what they've learned at work, in the service, and in previous courses to move quickly through what they already know, while taking the time they need to focus on what they still need to learn. Students who devote additional time to their studies can often accelerate their programs, saving both time and money. WGU faculty members work one-on-one with students as mentors, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction.

"As a military spouse, I needed the flexibility that WGU provides. This was crucial to my success," said Carly Merritt, a recent WGU Teachers College graduate who began teaching her first year of kindergarten shortly after earning her bachelor's degree. "Over a span of a few years, my husband and I moved from California to Guam to Hawaii back to California and finally to Nevada. Being able to study and complete coursework anywhere I had an Internet connection allowed me to earn my degree and move my career forward."

The online university recently launched a $125,000 scholarship program aimed at helping veterans go back to school to complete their bachelor's or master's degrees. The WGU Salute to Veterans Scholarship, which will accept applications until January 31, 2016, is valued at up to $2,500 per student, with up to 50 scholarships awarded to new students nationwide. In addition to this special Veterans Day scholarship, the WGU Military Appreciation Scholarship is an ongoing scholarship available year-round to military personnel, their spouses, and veterans.

Of the more than 64,000 WGU students enrolled across the country, more than 7,000 are active-duty military personnel, their dependent family members, or veterans. For more information about WGU and military or veterans' benefits, visit wgu.edu/military.

About WGU

Now with more than 64,000 students and 55,000 graduates nationwide, WGU offers more than 50 online, competency-based bachelor's and master's degree programs in the high-demand fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. Recognized by President Obama as an innovative university that "awards credits based on learning, not seat time," WGU has been named one of Fast Company's "Most Innovative Companies " and has been featured on NPR's "All Things Considered," NBC Nightly News, CNN's "Schools of Thought," and in The New York Times.

WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The university has earned the support of more than 20 leading corporations and foundations, including AT&T, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lilly Endowment, HCA, Hewlett-Packard, Lumina Foundation, Microsoft, Oracle, SunGard Higher Education, USA Funds, and Zions Bank. More information is available at wgu.edu or by calling 866.225.5948.

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Contact for media inquiries:
Joan Mitchell – VP of Public Relations
801-428-5463 
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SOURCE Western Governors University

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