Western Governors University is a private nonprofit institution located in Salt Lake City, Utah, in a large suburban setting. With an undergraduate enrollment of 155,088 students, it is a large-scale institution. The university maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of 42:1.
Western Governors University has an open admissions policy, accepting all applicants who meet basic requirements. Admission is not competitive; enrollment centers on completing the university's online enrollment steps.
Western Governors University's sticker price is $16,728, while the average net price is $12,548. Students paying the average net price pay approximately $4,180 less than the sticker price.
* One or more income brackets show an unusually low net price, reflecting need-based aid that can reduce cost to near zero for families in that range.
Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $118.
After aid, Western Governors University costs $12,548 a year — about 44% less than a typical similar college.
Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.
Western Governors University has a 48.1% graduation rate. Median earnings are $69,572 six years after entry and $60,615 ten years after entry.
| Major | Graduates |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 5,592 |
| Learning Sciences | 2,871 |
| Business Administration and Management,... | 2,586 |
| Computer and Information Systems... | 2,218 |
| Elementary Education and Teaching | 1,612 |
| Accounting | 1,310 |
| Computer Science | 1,096 |
| Information Technology | 984 |
| Human Resources Management/Personnel... | 796 |
| Health/Health Care Administration/Management | 765 |
Median earnings eight years after entering Western Governors University are $68,924, and 71% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.
Six years after entry, former Western Governors University students earn $69,572 — 53% more than at a typical similar college.
Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.
Western Governors University is a private nonprofit institution located in a large suburb of Salt Lake City, UT. The student body of 155,088 undergraduates includes 47.1% first-generation students and 55.6% women, with 39.4% receiving Pell grants.
135,822 of 135,822 undergraduates study entirely at a distance, against 49,193 of 49,193 graduate students.
Western Governors University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.
Western Governors University is in Salt Lake City, UT, in what IPEDS classifies as a large suburb setting. The campus sits about 7.1 miles from the center of Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake County scores 13.0 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — above average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.
Undergraduates make up about 10% of Salt Lake City's residents.
Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures Western Governors University reported for 2024.
Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.
Common questions about Western Governors University admissions, costs, and outcomes.
The cost of attendance at Western Governors University is $16,728. The average net price students pay is $12,548 after accounting for financial aid and grants.
Tuition and fees at Western Governors University are $8,658 per year. This is part of the total cost of attendance, which includes other expenses like room, board, and books.
Approximately 39.4% of Western Governors University students receive Pell grants, indicating significant financial need among the student population.
Western Governors University has a graduation rate of 48.1%. This represents the percentage of students who complete their degree program.
Six years after entry, median earnings for WGU graduates are $69,572. Ten years after entry, median earnings are $60,615, reflecting career progression and earning potential.
Western Governors University has a student-to-faculty ratio of 42:1, indicating the average number of students per instructor on campus.
Western Governors University has an undergraduate enrollment of 155,088 students, making it a large institution in the Salt Lake City area.
Approximately 47.1% of Western Governors University students are first-generation college students, indicating the institution serves many families new to higher education.
The median federal debt at graduation for Western Governors University students is $11,116. Additionally, 43.2% of students borrow federal loans to finance their education.
Western Governors University has a three-year federal loan repayment rate of 54.2%, indicating the percentage of borrowers repaying their federal student loans on time.