Western Governors University Recognized by Military Friendly® for the 11th consecutive year

Redby, Minn. - (April 9, 2021) – Western Governors University (WGU) is pleased to announce it has earned Top Ten status for 2021-2022 by Military Friendly® Schools, ranking third in the online/vocational category. This is WGU's 11th consecutive year receiving a Military Friendly® Schools designation.

WGU was selected for its continued commitment to offering affordable, flexible, and high-quality degree programs relevant to today's workforce to veterans and their families. Veterans are typically eligible for benefits that more than cover WGU's low-cost, flat-rate tuition of about $3,500 per six-month term. WGU also offers many scholarship opportunities specifically designed for active-duty military service members, veterans, and their families. WGU's degree programs are approved for VA education benefits under the GI Bill, and for tuition assistance for active-duty, reserve, and National Guard service members.

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 material they already know, while taking the time they need to focus on what they still need to learn. WGU faculty members work one-on-one with students as mentors, offering individualized instruction, guidance and support.

"Being recognized by Military Friendly® Schools as one of the top ten schools for veterans for the 11th consecutive year is an amazing honor," said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Regional Vice President of Western Governors University. "With almost 13 percent of our students being military or having military background, we are committed to providing affordable programs that fit their lives and make advancing their careers so much more attainable."

Now in its 11th year, the Military Friendly® School's list has come to set the standard for higher education institutions to provide the best opportunities for veterans and their spouses. This prestigious list provides a comprehensive guide for veterans and their families using data sources from federal agencies and proprietary survey information from participating organizations. Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey completed by the school. More than 1,200 schools participated in the 2021–2022 survey, with 747 schools earning the designation.

For more information about the 2021-2022 Military Friendly ® Schools, visit http://www.militaryfriendly.com. To learn more about how WGU serves military students, visit wgu.edu/military.

About WGU

Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, online, nonprofit WGU now serves more than 133,000 students nationwide and has more than 221,000 graduates. Driving innovation as the nation's leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 24 years, the university has become a leading influence in the development of innovative workforce-focused approaches to education. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, and has been featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times. Learn more at http://www.wgu.edu.