WGU Washington Doubles Enrollment in First Six Months

From less than 1,000 to more than 2,000 students in a half-year, online Washington university fills critical need in Washington higher ed

SEATTLE, Jan. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In its first six months, online university WGU Washington, http://washington.wgu.edu, has more than doubled its enrollment, underlining the demand for non-traditional, affordable higher education options for the state's adult learners.

WGU Washington was established by the State Legislature in April 2011, in partnership with nationally recognized Western Governors University (WGU). WGU Washington enrolled its first students on July 1, 2011, which included existing WGU students living in the Evergreen State – a total of 983 students. Because students progress through WGU Washington at their own pace, new terms start at the beginning of each month. With 233 new students beginning their first term on January 1, 2012, WGU Washington's enrollment reached 2,016 students.

These students represent the diverse Washingtonians statewide whom WGU Washington was designed to serve – adults who are balancing family and work life, among other responsibilities, and who could not achieve their dreams of a bachelor's or master's degree in a traditional university setting. Many are rural and place-bound, and most are first-generation college students who have some college experience but never finished their degree.

"With each year, the necessity of a bachelor's or master's degree to succeed in Washington's job market increases," said WGU Washington Chancellor Jean Floten. "Today, there are some 950,000 Washingtonians – about a quarter of our workforce – who started but never finished their college degrees. WGU Washington is honored to have been entrusted by the state with providing opportunities for these working Washingtonians. The 2,000-student milestone is one that makes us very proud – but it's just a drop in the bucket of the work we have ahead of us."

WGU Washington offers 50 online degree programs in Business, Information Technology, Teacher Education, and Health Professions, including Nursing. Degrees are earned not by logging classroom hours but by proving competency in the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a given field. Many WGU Washington students have already mastered many of these competencies when they enroll, thanks to previous college experience and years on the job. The university's competency-based learning model allows these students to move more quickly through their coursework, advancing as soon as they're able to demonstrate their mastery through assessments and moving on to the material they still need to learn. With a flat-rate tuition of less than $6,000 per year for most programs – regardless of the number of courses completed – this unique model saves busy Washingtonians valuable time and money.

About WGU Washington
WGU Washington was established by the State Legislature in partnership with nationally recognized and accredited Western Governors University to expand access to higher education for Washington residents. The nonprofit university, which receives no funds from the state, offers 50 bachelor's and master's degree programs in Business, Information Technology, Teacher Education, and Health Professions, including Nursing. The university's online, competency-based learning model is designed to meet the needs of working adults by providing an affordable, flexible option for earning an accredited, respected college degree.

Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is regionally accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and nationally accredited through the Distance Education and Training Commission (DETC). Teachers College programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and Nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The university has earned the support of more than 20 leading corporations and foundations. They include institutions such as AT&T, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lilly Endowment, HCA, Hewlett-Packard, Lumina Foundation, Microsoft, Oracle, SunGard Higher Education, and Zions Bank.

For more information, visit the WGU Washington website washington.wgu.edu or call 1-877-214-7004.

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Contact for media inquiries:                                                                        Contact for enrollment information:
Joan Mitchell – Director of PR                                                                       877.214.7004
801-428-5463                                                                                                  washington.wgu.edu
[email protected]                                                                                                              

SOURCE WGU Washington