Western Governors University Launches New Scholarships for Military Spouses

MINNEAPOLIS (May 23, 2022) — Western Governors University – which is consistently recognized for providing affordable, flexible, career-boosting college education to military service members and their families – has announced a new scholarship aimed at helping military spouses achieve their goals of higher education. The WGU Military Spouse Scholarship is open to spouses of active-duty military personnel, veterans, guard and reservists who are interested in pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree from the fully online, nonprofit university.

Each Military Spouse Scholarship is valued at up to $4,000 and will be applied at the rate of $1,000 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms. The scholarship can be applied to any of the university’s more than 60 accredited bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in IT, business, K-12 teacher education and health professions, including nursing. The scholarship is open through July 30, 2022, at wgu.edu/militaryspousescholarship.

According to the 2020 Military Family Lifestyle Survey sponsored by Blue Star Families, military spouses face many challenges when it comes to employment. The survey found that 35% are not employed but need or want employment, while 67% of military spouses reported being under employed and 58% are not satisfied with their ability to advance their vocational goals in their current role.

WGU offers military spouses a flexible and affordable pathway to earning a workforce-focused degree that will equip them with the skills they need to advance their careers. WGU’s programs are competency-based, allowing students to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn, rather than basing progress on a number of credit hours. Faculty members work one-on-one with students as mentors, offering guidance, support and individualized instruction. While the university’s degree programs are rigorous and challenging, competency-based learning makes it possible for students to accelerate their programs, saving them both time and money.

“Military spouses are often limited when it comes to earning a degree due to military moves and deployments,” said Dr. Terrance Hopson, Regional Director, Midwest, of Western Governors University. “WGU makes it easier for these selfless spouses to earn a career-focused degree by providing them with an option to complete coursework, study and take tests on their schedule. WGU offers multiple scholarships for the military community – including family members – but this is the first scholarship open only to military spouses. We believe they deserve to be recognized, and we hope this scholarship offering will encourage them to further their education and advance their careers.”

WGU has been named one of the “Top Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities” for 10 consecutive years by Military Advanced Education and Transition Magazine, and about one in seven of its students nationwide is affiliated with the military community. The university has demonstrated a strong commitment to helping servicemen and women apply their knowledge and life experiences toward a high-quality degree that will open career opportunities into business, healthcare, K–12 education or information technology.

For more information about WGU or to apply for the Military Spouse Scholarship, visit wgu.edu/militaryspousescholarship.

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 130,000 students nationwide and has more than 270,000 graduates in all 50 states. 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 25 years, the university has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families, and preparing the workforce needed in today’s rapidly evolving economy. 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.