WGU Missouri and its parent university, Western Governors University (WGU), have once again been recognized by two national magazines for supporting military service members and their families. For the 10th consecutive year, Military Advanced Education & Transition (MAE&T) has designated WGU as a Top School, while, for the 6th consecutive year, Victory Media has recognized WGU as Military Friendly. Both designations reflect the university’s exceptional ability to provide flexible, accessible degree programs for service members who have unique educational needs.
WGU and its state affiliates earned recognition in MAE&T’s 2017 Guide to Colleges and Universities based on their affordability, flexibility, and personalized one-on-one faculty support. The Military Friendly designation, awarded by Victory Media, was given to schools – like WGU – that demonstrate leadership in recruiting and supporting post-military students.
“There are many different variables by which you could evaluate an institution, but we focus on the best practices that have been asserted by various higher education groups and reinforced by veteran groups,” said Kelly Fodel, MAE&T’s editor-in-chief. “These best practices assure students that they have a high chance of success and support at their school of choice.”
WGU Missouri’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 Missouri’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 Missouri’s competency-based education model is ideal for adults – especially military personnel –because it allows students to study and learn when their schedules allow. Students can apply what they have 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.
“WGU Missouri was the right choice for me because of the self-paced competency-based learning model,” said Stephan Brewer, a veteran and graduate of WGU’s MBA in Information Technology program. “I gained the skills needed to pursue my career and advance extremely quickly, while fulfilling other obligiations in my life.”
WGU Missouri also recently partnered with the National Military Family Association to launch a new scholarship program aimed at helping veterans and active-duty military and their families go back to school to complete their bachelor’s or master’s degrees. The WGU Missouri Military Appreciation Scholarship, valued at up to $2,000 per student, will be applied at the rate of $500 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms, toward WGU Missouri’s already-low tuition of about $3,000 per term for most programs. WGU will award multiple scholarships to Missouri military personnel and their spouses. Applications are now being accepted at missouri.wgu.edu/militaryappreciation.
Of the more than 2,300 WGU Missouri students enrolled across the state, 253 are active-duty military personnel, their dependent family members, or veterans. For more information about WGU and military or veterans’ benefits, visit missouri.wgu.edu/military.
About WGU Missouri
WGU Missouri is a competency-based, online university created to expand access to higher education for Missouri residents. The university offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. WGU Missouri faculty members serve as mentors, working one-on-one with students, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction.
Established in 2013 through a partnership with nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Missouri is open to all qualified Missouri residents. The university is nonprofit and self-sustaining on flat-rate tuition of about $6,000 per year for most programs.
Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Nursing College programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE*), and the Health Informatics program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
More information is available at missouri.wgu.edu or by calling 855.948.8493.
*Western Governors University offers nursing programs that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 5380, Washington DC 20036, 202-877-679
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For more information, contact:
Pam Powell
(314) 436-9090