WGU offers $2,500 New Year Scholarships to new students

According to YouGov.com, about 34 percent of U.S. adult citizens made at least one New Year’s resolution at the start of 2024. For those resolving to jump-start their education in 2025, nonprofit online Western Governors University has announced a New Year Scholarship valued at $2,500, credited to recipients at $625 per six-month term and renewable for up to four terms.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, by 2027, 70 percent of jobs will require education or training beyond high school. Additionally, research completed by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education shows that as of 2024, 53 percent of Indiana working-age adults have obtained a credential or college degree.

An accredited online university, WGU has rolling terms enabling students to enroll at any time and potentially start classes on the first day of the following month. WGU offers more than 80 bachelor’s and master’s degrees and certificates in business, I.T., healthcare and K-12 education. The university currently has more than 6,000 students and nearly 16,000 alumni throughout Indiana.

Tuition is around $4,000 per six-month term for most degree programs at WGU, and each student is assigned a program mentor who will work with them until graduation. The average time to complete a bachelor’s degree at WGU is 2.5 years, depending on the transfer of any existing college credits and WGU’s competency-based model, which allows students to progress through courses at their preferred pace once they demonstrate mastery of the course materials.

“Higher education continues to be the proven path for Hoosiers who aspire to climb the career ladder and increase their earning potential,” WGU Regional Vice President Alison Bell said. “Far too often, the financial burden of tuition and the lack of manageable options create a barrier between individuals and degree completion. WGU’s asynchronous, competency-based approach appeals to working adults who want the flexibility to study at their preferred time and pace, and opportunities such as our New Year Scholarship go a long way towards our already affordable tuition.”

Prospective students can learn more about the New Year Scholarship and apply at this link. To learn more about Western Governors University, visit wgu.edu.