Western Governors University

Wow, finally went through all the comments. I'm really interested in enrolling in Information Technology. I'm quite impressed that it is a Microsoft IT Academy member. I had a couple questions for those currently in the IT program, be it general or specialized:

*I've noticed that a lot of the IT students posting already have work experience, or are already employed in IT jobs. My question: Would the IT coursework be good for a student that already possesses basic IT knowledge, but does not have a current IT job and is looking to get a job in the IT field? Would the certifications be enough to get your foot in the door?
*Did anyone have any trouble getting their certifications and taking assessment tests? From what I read, you visit a local community college to take the test/exam. Was there any trouble involved with that?

Thanks in advance.

Your path would be challenging, but achievable.  The knowledge you would gain would be at least the equivalent of anyone graduating from a traditional B&M School, but you would also have industry desirable certifications.  That gives you two of the three things that IT hiring managers seek (Education, Certification, Experience).  If you volunteer your services to some form of non-profit agency or charity and join local industry groups you should be able to do all three.  Good luck, but I am sure you will succeed regardless of the path you take. 

The proctored tests can be at a testing center or community college but, certification tests must be done at a certified testing center.  You get vouchers to take the tests.  Providers for the tests are Prometric, and Pearson Vue. Usually you go with the test provider that has a testing center closest to you.  The test centers are usually devoted to proctoring tests and are state and provider certified.

No, I have not had issues taking these exams.  If they are certification exams, you will be taking them through Prometric or Vue centers.  If they are WGU exams, you will be likely be taking them through Sylvan.

My situation is that I was laid off and switching careers without much going for me.  I wasn't sure about online college at first either and read plenty of these posts before I took the plunge. My previous cautious optimism has turn into just optimism.  I'm not really a school spirit type but I'll be attending my graduation in Utah (I live in CA) and I have purchased a WGU license plate frame.  If my story sounds familiar and you're hesitant just imagine being so satisfied you buy merchandise!
I can look back at myself a year ago and honestly say that going to WGU is probably the second best decision I've made in my life (the first was marrying my wife, who consequently supported me going back to school). The bottom line is that you will learn the skills you need to be successful at WGU. 
If my story does not sound familiar, well then, good day to you sir or madame.

I have been researching WGU and love the self-paced concept.  I have no problem relying on internal motivation.  I don't need anyone to tell me what to do or when to do it.  However, I have read a few reviews that have given me second thoughts so some degree.  As some were older, I am hoping that current students might be able to shed some light on whether the issues previously raised have been resolved.  One of my biggest concerns is regarding a change in the program midway through that requires additional courses not disclosed at the outset or a change that would effectively force you to re-do a course already completed (that has been re-named / re-formulated, etc) thus resulting in an extension of time to completion.

Second, I have read about grading issues.  I ignore posts by anyone that appears to be unable to handle college courses in general, but some of the posts I have read are written by those who I would expect are intelligent and capable students.  One post mentioned a vagueness as to the requirements for specific tasks.  Another stated that upon receiving papers that were to be re-worked, she would highlight the areas of her work that already complied with the stated requirements, and without changing a thing, re-submit it.  Then the grade would be changed.  Obviously, if the work was done correctly in the first place, it was unfair to force her to re-submit.  

This is what I want to do - providing that it is all that it promises.  That is what I am attempting to discern.

Additionally, has anyone had issues with getting courses added?  Although this is in theory, a self-paced program, I read that someone had issues getting courses added.  However, the post was not specific and would have been more helpful had it included more details.  I am perfectly fine as long as I have something to work on so if it was a matter of not adding courses because the person already had enough then I'm okay with that.  But if courses were completed and there was a gap between the completion and more work being provided that is unacceptable as it defeats the purpose of paying by the term.  

I know this is a long post and I'm sorry to ramble on, but one more thing: Has anyone had any experience with Steve Jorgensen?  I am working with him in admissions and am curious as to whether he would also be my assigned mentor or is that someone else?  If anyone has a particular mentor in the BA Elementary Education program that they really could strongly recommend, I would be most grateful.  Thank you in advance for taking the time out of your busy schedules to read this.

Jennie

i want to join chemical engineering degree coures so please sir sent joining detail or prospecter

I personally found this to be an exceptional choice myself.  The school is self-paced, if you do the reading and the exercises, you will come away with a good deal of practical knowledge.  If you don't like to read, or do the work, then this is not the program for you.  

I am satisfied with my choice.  Unlike a few other online Universities, WGU is not a diploma mill. If you put in the work, you will get the results.

Some of your mentors will be great, others will be just awful.  Just as soon as you get adjusted to one, they switch them on you.  The one I have now is pretty much worthless.  Oh, and they are more your leash-holder than they are a mentor.  You pay the school thousands of dollars to educate YOURSELF and take exams, and you have to have permission from you mentor before you do anything.  If I am paying thousands of dollars to take an exam, let me take the damn thing and back off.  I will pass it or not, it is MY tuition bill by the way.  I don't need some person babysitting me constantly.  And before anyone thinks that I am just angry because I am failing, please note that I am not.  I am doing great, and that is why it is even more frustrating!! Leave me alone and let me do my thing!  Geez Louise.  

With an attitude like that, no wonder you have problems with mentors.

If you just want to take certification tests, then pay your "thousands of dollars to take an exam" directly to testing centers and do it yourself.  WGU is offering a BS degree using certifications for tests.  If you want them to award you a BS degree, then you have to follow their rules.

That said, I have rarely had any problems getting my mentor to add additional courses as fast as needed.  The one thing they don't want to do is have you add courses and then not finish them, because that shows up on your transcripts.

I attended WGU for over 1 year in the Master in Healthcare program. The unfortunate part was the WGU expelled me from the program. I had  suffered complications from a clot in my lungs, a father suffered two strokes, I relocated for employment and my employer became very demanding. My work in my courses slowed down and WGU rolled the courses into the next six months (Thank you). I lost my financially aid but the school refuses to allow me to pay for my remaining coursework out of my on pocket. I have 4 courses remaining and these courses cannot be transferred to another institution's program. I have a doctorate in the healthcare field do I am very serious about my education but at the same timely  in life students will have extenuating circumstances and a student must "temporarily" place education further down the list of priorities (after health and family). Shame on WGU. 

I was trying to enroll into WGU by August, but my enrollment counselor says I will not be eligible for enrollment because all my credits are from 2003. Also the only new credits are Continuing Education. She stated that I would need to get an A+ so I can be eligible. Only problem is I'm unemployed the test at a testing center is $400 and I it will take me about 3 months to complete. Is this the truth or should I get a second opinion?

This doesn't sound accurate at all.  All my credits were from the 1980s and many of them still transferred.  Definitely get a second opinion.  Not sure why you were told this. I've been a student at WGU for a year now and it was the best decision I've made. Up to this point, I have no regrets and have no idea what test you're referring to.  Good Luck!

I have a question about the grading system.  I thinking about enrolling in the MBA program.  It states that no letter grades are given.  For tuition reimbusement through my company I will have to provide a grade equalivalent document.  Does anyone know what Im talking about?  Thank you

WGU stated to me that their passing grade is equivalent to a B. Not sure if your employer will accept this but maybe if you can provide them with a letter from WGU or quoting their grading policy that may suffice?  Good luck!

WGU is a great choice if you have prior knowledge or experience in the field you wish a degree in. If you are starting out cold in a new area, be prepared to self learn for the most part which can be very time consuming and frustrating. 

The WGU teacher credential program is a disgrace and is designed by persons showing incompetence to a  degree of criminal fraud and incompetence.

	The program consists of four parts
1. The Course of Study - In theory, the course of study is a list of reading and activities that the student should do before each of the tasks

2. The Tasks - are a list of papers to write or tasks to do for a course based on the course of study.

3. The Graders - The tasks are emailed to  a person who passes it or send it back to redo.

4. The Course Mentor - is a person that students in a course can email or call on the phone to ask questions or help on assignments.

In practice the relationship between these four parts is tenuous at best. The Task instructions are usually so vague as to open to wide interpretation and often requires  things which are in no way part of the COS, and the COS contains little that relates to the Tasks. 
	The graders often demand tasks be redone to include material that is not in the task instructions or the course of study and fail to adequately explain the reasons for the redo. Asking aid from the course mentors is difficult because the same question must be asked three or four times before a useful answer is given. Most often the course mentor will simply repeat the task instructions or give a useless answer that does not address the question.
	The impression given is that the course of study was designed by a person who had never read the task instructions or the reverse is true. The same can be said of the task graders who seem to never have read the task instructions or feel free to ignore them.
	The course work in general consists 95% of material that has no use in the classroom or inane theories that have no relation to reality but this is common among teacher credential programs. Any program has room for improvement but it is shocking that this total lack of coordination between the four parts would happen in the first place. 
	If a contractor were to build a house with a foundation so fundamentally flawed then he would not only loose his license but be subject to criminal prosecution. These are not simply mistakes but a program that was designed from the foundation up, with total incompetence that rises to the level of morally criminal fraud.

A minimum of common sense would demand that the tasks written based on the course of study or vice versa and the graders and course mentors completely review the task instructions and course of study. 

	Tuition is 3000 dollars a term regardless of how many classes you take and a term is six months. You can finish as many courses you are able to in this time period without extra costs. My plan at the start was to just zip through the courses and get done in a year or a year and a half at most but my progress was actually very slow because of the very grueling frustrating flaws in the program.

As someone who is almost done with their degree you have made some fallacious statements that I could not let stand without comment. I'm nearly done with the Teacher's Credential Program and feel an obligation to set the record straight in regards to some of your fallacious statements. I have also offered fair criticism directly to WGU so I understand that there is always improvements that can be made. 

You wrote: " The graders often demand tasks be redone to include material that is not in the task instructions or the course of study and fail to adequately explain the reasons for the redo."

The graders hardly "demand" tasks to be redone. The ONE thing we students are advised is to check our work against the rubric so that all of the required components have been included in the submission. If something is missing, the task is returned. My experience has always been a polite note to explain what is missing. I've never once received a "demand" from a grader and it certainly not "often". What you don't mention is that if a student believes that their task was returned for revisions in error, there is a process of appeal and that is it not uncommon for students to win those appeals.

The tasks are NOT emailed to graders. 

"The course work in general consists 95% of material that has no use in the classroom or inane theories that have no relation to reality but this is common among teacher credential programs."

This is absolutely false. I assume since you are/were in the credentialing program you have not been a teacher, so how would you know? I work at a school and closely with teachers and I can say that everything learned is knowledge and skills needed to teach in today's classroom. 

With only a couple of exceptions, the course mentors have been a wonderful resource. They can be emailed and telephoned for advice and clarifications. The exceptions I reported to WGU when they send out their Student Survey twice a year. 

Your last statement pretty much sums it up. You thought it was going to be a piece of cake and you were going to breeze right through; you got a shock when you discovered you were going to have work hard. I think your biggest problem is yourself. 



 

Well, I can't comment to the other comments but I do think you're being unfair about the course mentors. They are available via email, chat or via a phone call. It sounds like you've never spoken with them on the phone as I have.  Sending emails is certainly not as effective as talking with someone on the phone or even chatting with them via a live webinar which all courses hold. Sounds like you wanted to zip through the courses (your words) and found you actually had to do the work and learn ideas and concepts. I find the course mentors and my own progress mentor helpful and available. Mentors get paid to mentor and esp. course mentors look forward to the exchange and assisting students. That's my experience anyway. 

Three great semesters. Great school, even professors, mentors, etc. You will get out of it, what you put into it. If you are someone who needs hand holding then this or any online program is not for you.

I have read every single comment on this thread and I am nonplussed at the venom spewed by some naysayers who haven't actually gone to WGU and the whining of some who have. WGU is clearly a fantastic idea for someone who wants to accelerate his/her degree and not have to be bogged down by professor opinions and co-student ignorance. I am grateful however because many persons have confirmed for me that this is exactly where I belong. (Thanx Nicole!) 
I have done accredited brick and mortar. A building does not a good programme make! Bad advisors, missing mentors, broken links, crappy books, puzzling exams from out of left field and cloudy days, they happen on a real-life campus as well! Get over it!

As a student I was highly driven, self-motivated and abhorred the drivel of fellow students who needed to be spoon fed. Like Nicole, I hated attendance requirements and suffered through many classes where I learnt nothing and still had to teach myself in order to pass! I felt moved to post when she took it down to personality types. I have looked for years for my perfect fit: Eureka!

I am a little wiser and more accommodating now and respect the differences between learners. Each person applying simply needs to do an honest self assessment. If you have the least academic assistance possible can you still feel confident to read, learn and test on your own? If your answer is "no", move on!

WGU states clearly that they are a competency-based university...Perhaps persons enrolling should seek to find out what that means before becoming involved. From what I can tell, if you can generate your own steam go for it! If you need anything but a course outline and the materials (exactly what I hope for), find another neck of the woods. I have finally found the place that is perfect for me! Wish me luck with the application process!

I'm working on my last few courses in my Bachelors program of Accounting and I absolutely love this school for being so completely different in how it works. 

I will say, for certain, this is NOT a school for just anyone. If you have problems self-motivating, prefer following a prescribed course with a professor leading lectures, or need strict schedules to make yourself do things... go to a traditional college.

I absolutely HATED my brick-and-mortar college because I couldn't stand the rigidity. I didn't like having to show up for classes just for attendance requirements... even if I was getting nothing out of them, I didn't like having to learn from professors who were questionably biased on at least half the topics that they talked about, and I certainly didn't enjoy the busy-work of homework and excess assignments designed to make it a miserable experience. 

My personality is someone who is highly self-motivated, has owned/operated multiple businesses and is not a good employee type, very nontraditional thinking in my day-to-day life and open to trying new things, fairly anti-social, and prefers self-direction over following orders. 

I would expect that people with similar personality types might also have excellent experiences with this school.

I took time to research WGU and was impressed with my findings. I will be starting soon and hope to pursue my MBA thereafter. 

I am considering WGU for an advance degree, I am concerned about the fact that I will not be able to transfer my credit hours from WGU to another school. 

I would be more concerned about a college that wouldn't accept hours FROM WGU. They are accredited, and most legitimate schools accept transfer courses from other accredited institutions.

Are all the exams conducted online as well, or would I have to relocate to some other location for exams?

Virtually all of the IT tests are professional certifications, i.e. CompTIA, MTA, CCNA, etc.  You take these tests at a proctored test center, not online or at home.  Many colleges and universities are set up to offer these tests, as well as a few private places (Charter College, for example).

You can take basic assessments at home via a web cam with a proctor on the other end. The camera can see and hear you and make sure you're not cheating. They'll stop the exam if you even talk aloud to yourself. But overall I love this ability as I don't have to leave my house to take a proctored exam. They also have the option of taking the test at a testing locating. I live in a very rural part of Idaho and there are many test locations within 30 minutes of my home. I don't use them though but they are available. 

I have been to a traditional university, an online university that was very different from WGU, that I obtained a degree from, and WGU, which I am in my 3rd term.  I am very confused about the complaints people have had on this message board.  Admittedly, I did not do alot of research on WGU before I enrolled, so it was a bit of culture shock that I was expected to do all of this work, with no one giving me deadlines or guidance.  On that note...if you want guidance at WGU, you HAVE to ask for it.  My mentor is absolutely wonderful.  Also, my course mentors have been great.  But, again...if you need help, you have to ask.

I'm considering WGU and have correspondence with a Admissions Counselor. I have not completed my application yet.

Can anyone tell me, that if I complete my bachelors with WGU, will any other (specific names please) universities accept a degree from WGU, so that I could do my masters with them? I may not want to continue with WGU for a masters and try a traditional University.

TIA for any information

I'm considering WGU and have correspondence with a Admissions Counselor. I have not completed my application yet.

Can anyone tell me, that if I complete my bachelors with WGU, will any other (specific names please) universities accept a degree from WGU, so that I could do my masters with them? I may not want to continue with WGU for a masters and try a traditional University.

TIA for any information

I just finished my B.S. with WGU and have been accepted into an online M.S. program with Purdue. Not a single graduate school I applied with balked about the WGU degree. In fact most had positive things to say about the school. Good luck!

I know several people in my WGU program who were finishing while I was starting and some stayed on to do Masters programs, and some transferred to other schools for them. For example, I know someone who transferred to Boston University for their online Masters program. Most colleges don't seem to care so long as they check the school accreditation and it legitimate.

I recently applied to WGU's RN - MSN program; I currently hold an Associate in Applied Science in Nursing from Excelsior College. I graduated with high honors and a 3.87 GPA. After applying and waiting about a month, I received my transcript evaluation. Come to find out, their so-call generous transfer policy is anything but; it is true, they award you 50 CU's for holding an active RN license, but they are extremely strict on General Education and Science classes. Most of the classes that I tested out of, because I already knew the material, were not accepted by WGU.

After waiting nearly a month to receive this evaluation, needless to say, I was extremely disappointed. My advice is to be very careful dealing with WGU...if something sounds to good to be true, then it probably is!!!

I was recently on the WGU website to catch some updates on where the organization is headed. As a former employee, I was very surprised to see them publish a complete listing of their entire faculty and staff who hold PHDs. Here's the problem- more than half of the names listed, all of whom I am familiar with, serve in a "customer service capacity" either as mentors, managers or other administrative roles. This means they are given specific instructions NOT to engage in anything academic in nature or content related with students, so the fact that WGU is using their credentials to provide legitimacy to their claims about highly qualified faculty is extremely misleading.

WGU has a fundamental flaw, Taskstream.
We are talking about a group of people that do not have a reading level above that of a 5th grader. These are the same "educated" people that will be doing the grading of your papers.
I think they are outsourced to India.

While your opinion is valuable consider this: Taskstream is simly a media that interfaces students with professionals/practitioners in the field of your particular interest. Thus, it is a professional with strong credentials and experience that follows a specific rubric to grade the quality of the work YOU upload on Taskstream. I have been grading student work for three California State universities since 2007 and my credentials are impeccable. I have to undergo interrater reliability training every two years just to make sure my grading is on the mark, relevant, consistent, and fair. I post this to put balance into theis discussion so persons new to Taskstream aren't misled by one-sided comments. the more information, the better when considering something important to you and your life. Best wishes.

Im a current masters degree student in the information security and assurance program. From my experience, it is challenging and time consuming, just as a masters program should be. I have no regrets in attending this school, or this program. But be warned, if you are not self-motivated, this school will be a challenge for you. Yes, there are mentors, which I honestly dont like... the weekly calls are annoying, but can see how some people may need that in order to stay motivated, and they can help you if you get stuck or need assistance. But if you are intelligent enough to research and comprehend, you will get through just fine. But like I said, must be self-motivated.

This is not true! AT ALL! I just spoke with financial aid counselors from WGU today (8-12-2011) and I was given *all* of my financial aid information, including the amounts I will qualify for, info in reference to grants and also what it would take for me to qualify for and receive additional grants. They have not even seen my transcripts yet from other schools I've attended, so to say you must be already enrolled prior to receiving information is an outright lie! Bottom line: their tuition is affordable for me and I feel their education is something that will enhance my career. I am going into Special Education, I am a self-starter, and I can think of no better way for me to complete my education other than online, at home and able to accellerate (or not) at my own pace. So far, I think WGU is cool. But, I'm not much into 'hand-holding' and having to be treated like a baby, either. If for some reason, my opinion of WGU changes, I will be the first to return and repost.    

Nearly done with my BS-IT.  Had some issues with enrollment counselors initially and would like to have had better course mentors in some areas, but overall it's been a good program so far.

couldnet agree more
the lack of mentor or any real service
if you enjoy sitting in DMV lines
getting [messed] around and just put your nose on track like 
a good sheep
There really is no "quick" reply to anything
Do not expect service with a smile
Save when you pay and like military service
Once you start, you dont end your tour of tragedy
Good and bad... more like only cost effective choice
I strongly do NOT reccommend this school

I have finished my BS in Business Management in a year and a half. The university is definitely not perfect, but what university is? My experience was excellent and I saved a lot of money while learning more than I learned at a traditional university. 

There are people on here saying you can only survive here if you have real world experience. That is absolutely false. One student who spoke at the Feb. 2011 commencement started at WGU when he was 14 and now owns an IT business at 19.  There are also people who say there is no structure. This is also false. WGU allows you to learn at your own pace, but there is an outlined course that suggests study materials and which week they should be completed in. I didn't follow these because I wanted to finish at an accelerated rate. Someone who does not have any experience can follow the course structure and be fine. Sure, you don't have a deadline to finish except the end of term deadline, but if you can't set your own goals and reach them then you have some problems that will not look appealing to an employer.

  Even if you choose to finish in the standard 4 years you will pay about $24K rather than $50-$60K that other online universities charge. Plus with the accreditation major universities will accept the credits. I have read reviews for other big name schools not being accepted my other universities. 

I just completed my RN-BSN in 3.5 months. I dont expect everyone to finish this fast but i have been so motivated that I couldn't stop.  I love WGU and I have been encouraging everyone I work with to join.  The program has allowed ne to obtain an affordable degree and to use my community and job resources to do so.  I will be starting my MSN next and I cannot wait! I found everything I needed in my course of study and the information was interactive and very current. The online library was an asset. My mentor kept me on track and motivated me to be accountable and show progress each week.  Once again I love WGU!

I totally agree with these postings.  I would recommend that everyone print out your AAP plan with the date included, because they will change your program and then will force you to take more classes than necessary.  Although, I finished my degree with the school, it's very frustrating when the game plan keeps changing and there's little you can do about it.

Which of these postings do you agree with?

Printing out your AAP is not a bad idea, but I haven't had my program (IT general) change that much in the year I've been there.  I guess it's one of those YMMV things.

As an employee, I've got the inside scoop. Here's what WGU is hiding. Their retention rate is 70% but that's at the one year point. After that it drops off steeply. They've been hiding the true numbers for their grad rate, which are an abysmal 30% in most programs. The problem this institution had is excessive policy changes. They've changed the way they calculate completion for federal financial aid eligibility three times in three years. Be prepared if you enroll to have your program change midstream, which may cause you to have to repeat some coursework. And beware that while this school has strong accreditation both regionally and nationally, they base that on counting their mentors as faculty, many of whom have no subject matter expertise in the programs they serve and often have bachelor's degrees. Enrollment has also changed policies recently so that they can improve their grad rate and are turning away many people in IT and other areas if they don't have previous college experience. They have been without a Provost for several months and because of excessive growth and hiring, the leadership team is exhausted so there is frequent turnover especially among mentors. Plan to end up having three or four mentors before you're through! Most students are not able to accelerate significantly and the average time to completion of a degree is still 4-5 years. 

Thank you for this insightful post about the inside of WGU.  As a recent "graduate", I had signed up for the RN-MSN program then found out that when you reach the BSN requirements you are considered "graduated" and are left to your own devices about when you re-enter classes.  Towards the end of my 2nd term, I felt rushed, pressured, etc to get the BSN requirements done and found little or no support from my mentor who essentially told me that if she could do it with a dead beat husband and 5 children at home that me, with my full time job, 2 homes, 2 kids, 3 dogs, and a husband surely could.  I have asked for a mentor change and feel like I'm being put through the inquisition to get it or at the very least feel as though my complaint will reflect poorly on the mentor who has lead me to the decision.  I'm strongly considering not going back because the only way to get that requested mentor change is to go through the enrollment counselor who was little or no help when I first started with WGU.  Signed-"Wondering if I Should Be Satisfied with BSN and simply Move On"

I think many of WGU's problems lie in the fact that it has a different model, not in the other areas such as excessive change folks mention.  Given WGU's programs have a different paradigm from most other schools, there are bound to be growing pains for MANY years as there are few similar programs to model against.  I'd also have to think most online schools suffer similar grad rates/retention rates-- I'd have to go check.  I personally believe the recent admissions changes are generally good and are long overdue, but WGU would benefit from finding ways to screen for student motivation.  I'm hearing lots of commentary about how they could use more mentors as well.  I'm hoping the next accreditation review helps them sort many of these issues out.

Hello everyone, I've been doing research for the past month to see which online school would be better for me, and I'm curious to know if there is anyone out there that can commment on the Business Administration course? I'm relying on FA and loans only, and I've been reading the comments about how some of these financial aid rep's don't know what their doing. Can someone that is enrolled at WGU comment on how their experience has 
been so far? And much out-of-pocket are you spending every semester? 

I am in the business administration program and have received FA for 3 straight semesters without a hitch. Don't believe everything you read online. A lot of these people do not have a life and they get their kicks by sitting around on message boards and bitching about stuff. Every school has strengths and weaknesses. You will not find a school that is 100% perfect. Just find a place you feel is best for you. Make a pros and cons list for all the institutions you are considering and pick the one where the pros outweigh the cons. Good luck.  

Yes, I sound like a commercial. I believe in my school! I don't take time out of my day devaluing other fully accredited academic institutions and I don't see why people without the proper expertise try to devalue mine.

WGU is governed by a board of trustees made up of educators, industry leaders, and governors. As of January 2011, the trustees are:

The Honorable Jim Geringer, Chairman
Director, Policy & Public Sector, ESRI
Governor of Wyoming, 1995-2003

Frank D. Alvarez
President and CEO, The Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Dr. Therese Crane
Senior Education Advisor, e-Luminate Group

The Honorable Mitch Daniels
Governor of Indiana

Dr. Emily S. DeRocco
President, The Manufacturing Institute
Senior Vice President, National Association of Manufacturers

Kate Driscoll
Area Vice President, Government, Education and Healthcare, Sun Microsystems

Robert Evanson
Former President, McGraw-Hill Education

Dr. Robert Mendenhall
President, Western Governors University

David E. Simmons
President, Simmons Media Group

Dr. Samuel H. Smith
President Emeritus, Washington State University

Dr. Blenda Wilson
Former President, California State University, Northridge

This school is not for all people. But for many is what we needed to complete our degrees. This school is newer so yes there will be some flaws, but since I have attended the school has only gotten better. Also, if you do have a problem they will work with you.  People post they have had many mentors, I have only had one in three years. My mentor was ill and I had to have another for a little while, but the ones that filled in where GREAT!  I believe you get what you put into it.  I am student teaching and in my 7th week and I am very prepared to be in the classroom. WGU is very difficult before you get in the classroom, but I feel prepared because of it.  Also I read one comment that they signed up for Special Education not regulare Ed. Any school you go to when you go into Spec. Ed. you need to teach in both settings, it is not just a WGU requirement.  Don't let these bad reviews keep you from coming here, I am confident I will get a job when I am finished! :)

Some of you sound very unintelligent.  It's funny to me.  If you would take the time to research the school, like you would be advised to do ANY school, you would know that this program is ONLY for people who are self motivated.  If you expect someone to come to your house and teach you, or call you and go over the lesson than you need to pony up and pay for a brick and mortar school.  Posting that you didn't like the program just means that you have no will power.  Say that instead of "Plus I heardfrom many people, getting an online degree is fine, but attending a university that only offers online degrees is what you should be wary about" because there are very few schools that are brick and mortar schools that let you take your classes online only to receive a degree.
Let it be said again and loudly that WGU IS A SCHOOL THAT IS FOR SELF MOTIVATED PEOPLE THAT ARE ABLE TO TEACH THEMSELVES.  THIS IS A COMPETENCY BASED PROGRAM SO IF YOU ARE NOT COMPETENT THAN YOU SHOULD LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR YOUR AFFORDABLE EDUCATION.  MAYBE YOU SHOULD TRY NON-ACCREDITED COLLEGES, ONES THAT WILL REQUIRE LITTLE TO NO WORK. THERE ARE MANY WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE PROGRAM AND IT GETS VERY GOOD REVIEWS SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN IT PLEASE RESEARCH WHAT IT IS ABOUT BEFORE YOU PAY THE APPLICATION FEE.

I Agree with the posting about being Competent!! I am currently a student at WGU and think it is a good school BUT you have no one over you making you do your work. It is up to you, as a responsible adult, to do it and it is not always easy. I have no problem with my mentor and have had the same one. I think it is a great option for those of us who work full time, have families but still want to get a reputable degree.

While I can't speak for all their degree programs, I can say that the teaching program I am currently enrolled in is great for me.  WGU is a great school if you are self-motivated and need a schedule that's flexible.  I like that they are fully accredited and cheaper than most online universities like Phoenix because they are non-profit.  Yes, most of the learning is self-taught, but there are course mentors that specialize in the subject you're studying and can help you and answer questions on anything that comes up.  As with any school, you will get out what you put in.

No. When I was pursuing an MBA in Health Care, all I was required to do was write and turn in stuff, talk with a "mentor". No interaction at all...that's why I dropped the program. Plus I heardfrom many people, getting an online degree is fine, but attending a university that only offers online degrees is what you should be wary about. Though it seems to work well with people who have years and years of experience but just want to get a degree in the most convenient and inexpensive way.

My experience at WGU was a terrible one. First off,  you will be assigned a mentor who calls you once a week and says "You done this? Good Job! See you next week." If you feel like you need a babysitter this might be the college for you. Next, I started the Bachelors in information technology program. They send you the text books and say here read these from start to finish and then at the end we will take a test over the entire thing, but we won't tell you which parts to focus on. Then to top it all off, you better not have a day job. Because their testing centers are only open from 8 to 5.  The closest one to me was an hour away from my house. I wish I would have spent my money more wisely and bought myself a semesters worth of toilet paper. But if you feel the need to try WGU for yourself, Good Luck!

I work 84+ hours a week in a war zone. My mentor called me only occasionally to ensure that I was focused enough to complete my courses.  Sometimes I was, sometimes I wasn't.  My responsibilities running the Army's network did take priority, but also gave me material to use as my Capstone project. 

I enrolled in WGU on 01APR08 to obtain a BS in IT - Network Design & Management.  Yesterday I completed the degree.  Their testing centers?  What are you talking about.  Any college testing center can work for academic centered testing.  Any testing center that carries the specific IT test you are looking for (i.e. Pearson Vue for Cisco, Prometric for Microsoft, either for most others).  The entire program is flexible and COMPETENCY based.  If you are competent and motivated THIS IS THE SCHOOL FOR YOU!!!  You can complete the program as fast as you can show competency in all of your courses.  If I didn't have "a day job", I would have done it in a year...tops!  But it isn't watered down and there are plenty of resources to help you succeed, but if you are stuck USE THE #$@% INTERNET!!!  It is all out there, just look, study, & learn.   

The course of study should tell you enough about what's important to the course to study for it.  If you're looking for a cheat sheet, maybe local colleges are more your style.

 Just wanted to clarify that the latest I could start a test was 2:30 in the afternoon. 

That has nothing to do with WGU.  

You are allowed to take the test at any authorized testing center.  I have two in my immediate area, and about a dozen more if I was willing to drive further. 

The testing center sets their own rules and hours.  I suggest you complain to them, or find another place to test at.

I'm in my second term at WGU for B.S. in Information Technology.  My first term I completed over 28 units and this may seem like a lot but education without boundaries (EWB) takes a while.  EWB is an orientation of sorts; just think of your first couple classroom sessions where you get a syllabus and an easy assignment.  EWB is needed to fully utilize the online learning interface of WGU.  

If you have questions about transfers go to kb.wgu.edu (that's a link to the student handbook, a lot's covered there). Following the kb.wgu.edu link on the left hand frame you will see a Records and Transcripts link amongst others, click that, then in the right frame click the link that corresponds with the program you are interested in (will look something like Transfer Credit for *program name*).  If you can't follow those instructions then give up now, online learning and independent study isn't for you.

I can't speak for all the programs but in general I'm about 3/4's done with my degree and I feel confident in finding employment because I have the knowledge to do the jobs I'm applying for (or will apply for once my degree is complete).  I wouldn't be comfortable applying for a job as a fisherman because I can't catch a fish to save my life.  I know that sounds ambiguous but basically WGU provides you with the resources to learn the skills you need to get the job done.
Note if you plan to accelerate that you can't schedule a test past the 16th (depending on the month) of the last month of your term.  They do this because if you don't pass you won't have enough time to get the next one rescheduled before the end of your term.  You have to strategize your schedule to get the most bang for your buck, this means requesting resources before officially enrolling in classes.  Some people got mad because they got that two weeks with nothing to do, had they planned better they could have been studying for their next assessment.  My mentor gets me what I need when I need it, I really can't complain about it, I'm not the type of person that needs to be guided, once I have a target I strive for that until I've achieved it.  I honestly can't see how people could complain about their mentors as all the mentors really do is "sign off" on getting you learning resources, pretests, assessments, and classes.  I can't stand hearing people bash the mentors when everything is up to the individual (especially requesting new mentors).

I agree with Devin G.  My mentor has saved me from dropping out several times.  I've had a bad couple of years financially and emotionally.  He takes the time to talk to me about more than school.  If I get behind he takes the time to rearrange my classes to make sure I succeed. I really lucked out.  My only frustration is I am in the IT program and there are a lot of useless prerequisites, like integrated natural science etc...before I get to the classes I'm really interested in.   But that would be the same at any school.

Jarod's comments give me pause and concern as one who has a son considering a WGU IT Security degree.  Merely expecting students to read text books and be prepared to test can require a lot of motivation.  I have spoken to an acquaintance who is presently with DeVry (yes expensive...but)and they describe significant online engagement via required discussion threads, beginning of the week course objectives, Coach/Prof weekly interaction and such.  Is there anymore to WGU than text books, tests and a "how goes it" mentoring?  Just how much computer/online interaction is there?

I have an IT degree from another online university.  The way hiring managers view online degrees will vary per person.  Some people think that the only education worth getting is from a traditional school.  Having been a hiring manager in IT, those who came from the Brick and Mortar schools I skipped over because of the quality of education in IT.  Those who came from an Online program or learned themselves came with a lot more knowledge that could be utilized as one of my employees.  I have applied to some companies that dis-regarded my online degree, so I just move on to the next.  Everyone will not have the same opinion of the same thing.  I love chocolate ice cream.  It is great.  It is the best tasting ice cream there is.  Someone else reading this will say that I am so stupid because I think that way.  It is the same with an online degree.  From what I am reading here, if you start, finish.  Once you have the degree, you can go somewhere else to get a masters.  If that school doesn't like your degree, go somewhere else.

So many opinions!! Since the thread is still active, I thought I'd chime in about my WGU experience. I have been a challenging student--health issues and a midway-through program change from BAIS to BSIT. But I have never been let down by my mentors, and I have had 4 total. :)  Each one has made me feel as thought my needs were their priority and given me individual care and advice. 

I am a good independent learner, and I appreciated the way I was able to speed through some of the core-type courses in Interdisciplinary Studies because I had the knowledge to do so. I also appreciate the extra attention and help I have received in the IT program from not only my Program Mentor, but the Course Mentors as well. Any concept that posed a problem was quickly explained and/or additional resources were provided.

Another great thing about WGU is the apparent goal to make education less expensive. In the IT program, most of my learning resources have been free--including the offline books. 

That is it--just wanted to provide another positive perspective. :) I like WGU and the way the programs are implemented so much that, once I have my degree, it will be the first place I apply for a job.

BTW, someone asked about getting together with other students. I have seen a lot of that here in Texas within the Teachers College. Not so much for IT, but I think many enrolled in IT are already working IT professionals, not stay-at-home homeschooling moms like me. :)

Good luck to all on your educational goals!

yes it is regionally accredited

Is WGU regionally accredited? That's more important than being nationally accredited.  I'm enrolled in the MBA with a concentration in Health Management. I'm going to with draw from the program.  I'm learning nothing when it comes to an administrative position in health care.  My mentor brags about the CAPSTONE course, that is the ONLY course that deals with health care. Big deal..as other universities have that same course PLUS more courses that emphasize working in a health care setting.  I don't know about you all, but I miss interacting with other students and getting feed back from professors, not feed back from people going by a ruberic.  WARNING!  There have been people turned away from jobs b/c the HR Dept knew where they got their degree from. I wouldn't take a chance...yes there are other universities providing degree education online, but they also are a university or college where students attend to actually be present in class.  

And to the person who works in a 100million dollar company, you have YEARS of EXPERIENCE to back up your degree.  The vast majority of the people here do not have that.  And most likely will not get it because HR departments will throw their resumes in the reject stack. Believe me, I know several managers working in HR and this is what they've told me themselves.

I've said it before...look it up!  Did your university originally get accredited by four separate regional accrediting bodies?  No, I didn't think so.  This was a first!

Western Governors University is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, one of the major accrediting commissions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. WGU has the distinction of being the only university to receive regional accreditation from four regional accrediting commissions:(a) the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities; (b) the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; (c) the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges; and (d) the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Has any other university had to get 4 accreditation in order to operate? Wgu is trying to operate on a national level. They did not want the feds accreditation because it is a garbage one that is not rated as highly. So the solution was to fill out the accreditation paperwork in the 4 region's.

I will tell you this, they should lose accreditation based on taskstream's incompetent graders.

I disagree with your statement due to the fact that I have looked at the WGU college for Health Professions and all of the coursework is accredited through four different bodies as well as CCNE which is the Comission for Collegiate Nursing Education.  You stated that you were enrolled in the Master's program for Health Care Management.  This course is only 40 or so credits and should compliment a pre-existing degree in nursing or medicine.  Working in a health care setting is accomplished through internships and other resources.

Below are the listed courses for Health Care Management through WGU.

EWOB Education Without Boundaries 1 1
JAT2 Leadership 2 1
JBT2 E-Business 2 1
AFT2 Accreditation Audit 4 1
JDT2 Human Resources 2 2
JET2 Financial Analysis 4 2
JFT2 Organizational Management 2 2
JGT2 Decision Analysis 4 3
AMT2 Service Line Development 4 3
JIT2 Risk Management 2 4
JJT2 Social Responsibility 2 4
ART2 MBA Healthcare Capstone Written Project

I suspect that many of these classes deal specifically with the health care industry and will only contribute to your success if you stick with it.

"Listen to the advocates of WGU and you will have to retake your degree at a real school."
Not necessarily.  WGU has the same accreditation as your local brick and mortars.
Try again.

Listen to those who have had a bad experience and NOT to those who praise this institution and you will find your time well spent. Go somewhere else for a quality degree - not something bogus and unacceptable to more than 95% of the truly accredited, verfiable and responsible colleges in the United States. In short, go to a real brick and mortar school and you will have found your money and time well spent. Listen to the advocates of WGU and you will have to retake your degree at a real school.

More like throwing your money away.  WGU is accredited by all the same bodies as brick and mortar schools.  It is rated the top, online university in the U.S. and is NON PROFIT.  I guess if you like buying the dean of your university a new car every year, that's your business.  I prefer to invest in myself.

I am a recent WGU graduate and I found my WGU experience to be very challenging and unique. I have read through some of the reviews here. Let me just say WGU is just like any other school, some will like it and some will dislike. I liked it because of what it could do for me. I did not need the piece of paper to get a job or a promotion because I got those things without the piece of paper. So for me, WGU served it's purpose. For those people who are giving WGU a bad grade you may want to consider letting your public officials know that WGU is a ripoff since WGU was founded by politicians. I would be very interested in what they would have to say about this since there have been so much talk about diploma mills schools here in the USA. Here is my honest opinion, I think some of us put too much emphasis on the personality and the brand name of a university versus what we come there to do. WGU is no Harvard or Yale but it is a legit school that does not fit for everyone. But no school is, including Harvard or Yale. I have said this many times in the past and I will say it again. "If it's going to be, it's up to me". No school or nothing in life is perfect. There are always problems and issues in everything you do regardless of what it is. No one school or job or anything makes me or breaks me. Where one door close another open and if not and I want to come in, I'll tear it down. As we all know WGU is not the only school in business when it comes to higher education. So if you don't like the way the boat rock, simply get off the ship. Deuce!!!

I promised myself I would not comment until after I completed a term at WGU. I completed a term and here I am.

After being laid off, I decided to become an IT student at WGU. So far in my first term, I earned about 20 credits. I was able to get two CIW Associate Certifications and A+ Certification so far. The cost was dirt cheap. 

So far, the courses are time consuming, but not overly difficult. If you take the time to do the assignments step by step, follow the Course of Study in chronological order, read and absorb the study materials, you will do fine. For someone with a full time job, and a family, it takes a lot of self-discipline to get motivated to do it. WGU may not be for everyone. 

My main Mentor doesn't really do much as far as coach you with individual courses. The main Mentor is or less a cheerleader to keep you motivated, makes sure you have all the study materials for each course, and schedules your courses. The actual Course Mentors provide you with help should you need assistance. The course Mentors have always been there to help me when I have a question with a specific course. 

There are some disadvantages. While there are message boards for students to help other students if you are stuck, most individual course mentors are not available on weekends. You have to wait for the next business day to get a hold of someone. If you pass a class on the weekend, you may not have all the study materials available to start the next course right away. Its always better to make sure you have all the study materials available a few days before you start the next class. With some of the courses outsourced, it can be confusing trying to remember a half dozen different passwords and login names, also I sometimes find myself with 10 different browser windows open and jumping back and forth. Also on a few late nights, I had issues with a couple websites being down for maintenance. 

I read complaints on here about papers take a long time to grade. I have not experienced problems, most of my assignments were graded within a half day. 

Overall, I think WGU is a great school. Aside from the minor issues with outsourcing of some courses, I would highly recommend them. I am receiving a huge bang for my buck. I would not say they are a diploma mill, I am enrolled in IT. Most of the IT Industry depends on certifications, and the certifications are the same tests, and at the same testing centers as other schools (online or brick and mortar).  

I have also completed a 15 page research paper, an Algebra course, a basic English skills course, and video presentation. Most of my courses in the first term were basic foundation courses, but they were a challenge, and appeared to be on a college level. 

WGU is an excellent option for people who have busy schedules, or live in a rural area.

Someone mentioned that a BA in education is much easier than a BS in education at any University... I don't think so... the only difference between a BA and BS as far as a teaching degree goes is a Foreign Language requirement.  Otherwise, the programs are virtually the same.  I've just graduated from a 'brick & mortar' University in MI with a degree in Elementary Education/major - integrated science/minor - early childhood education and I cannot imagine becoming a certified teacher through online "courses".  Additionally, most states require teachers to partake in two separate field experiences with a cooperating teacher and a university supervisor - make sure they are part of the program.  All in all, as far as an education degree/certificate, this place just seems fishy.

The WGU Experience
As an alumnus of this school, I would caution anyone considering admission to research both program and entire institution before venturing into an agreement with WGU. The domains that are taught here (yes, DOMAINS - NOT individual courses) are not easily recognized or accepted by other institutions of higher learning. This in itself causes great problems for those who actually graduate from WGU. Another matter to take into consideration is this - if you wish to change from one domain to another without completing the original domain, said original will remain on your transcript as "Not Passed" when you dropped said original domain in lieu of entering another. Again, a definite problem when attempting a transfer of credits to another institution, as well as trying to gain employment upon graduation from WGU. Take this as a warning, once committed to the WGU experience, you may find yourself in a negative position after graduation, having to retake the same degree you just earned at another college or university. In short - look elsewhere!

@Be Informed, who is uninformed 

Everything thing I quoted was said to me by a WGU Enrollment Counselor. 

No, I do not work for Columbia College. Just making people aware of other options.

Actually, it sounds like YOU work for WGU, and if so, you all need to have a meeting and get on the same page about how things work.

I am in mid-process of enrolling in the MBA program with WGU. I have a B.A. from a private, liberal arts college. I would love to hear from others who are currently in or have graduated from the MBA program at WGU.

[QUOTE]. . .
First, they don't transfer in alot of your credits from other schools.
[/QUOTE]

Depends on what credits and which school.

[QUOTE]
Second, you must be on the roll BEFORE they will tell you if any of your credits will transfer.
[/QUOTE]

I've heard of some issues regarding transfer credits not being reported promptly, but you can contact the transfer team directly and ask.  You shouldn't have to be enrolled first.

[QUOTE]
Third, you must be on the roll BEFORE they will tell you if you qualify for any loans and the amounts.
[/QUOTE]

That I don't know about.

[QUOTE]
Fourth, they do not give out grades, so I'm not sure how they go about a GPA.
[/QUOTE]

Neither does Brown University.  Look them up.

[QUOTE]
. . .Also, if you end up in the end only needing one more class, then you will be paying for an entire 6 months ($2,890) for one class.
[/QUOTE]

Incorrect. Their policy is to provide refunds for partial terms.

[QUOTE]
I switched to Columbia College in Missouri, which has a brick and mortar school, distance campuses, and complete ONLINE degree programs. Their costs are comparable to WGU. Check them out.
[/QUOTE]

Sounds like you work for Columbia College. . .

I'm one proctored test away from completing the BS IT. I started a year and a half ago, and have paid about 9000.  I had many classes transfer in from WKU but they were mostly general ed classes ... but I think thats pretty normal people. 

Keep in mind the intentions of some of these reviewers. 

The end all for me is if you want to be told this is what you have to do to graduate...now go do it.  Then your great for WGU. If you want to take a class here and there without any focused plan to graduate then dont go to WGU.  You need to be motivated and ready to finish your degree.

After I take this last exam I am reenrolling for my MBA IT. Expecting to finish it in a year giving me BSIT, MBAIT for 15,000 in 2.5 years.  Cant think of any place else that can beat that.

I 'almost' signed up with WGU.  I want you to be aware of a couple of things before you make your decision.  First, they don't transfer in alot of your credits from other schools. Second, you must be on the roll BEFORE they will tell you if any of your credits will transfer. Third, you must be on the roll BEFORE they will tell you if you qualify for any loans and the amounts.  Fourth, they do not give out grades, so I'm not sure how they go about a GPA. 
The kicker for me and deciding NOT to go to WGU is that they wanted me to enroll and begin classes BEFORE they would tell me which of my credits would transfer and how much I could receive in student loans. Also, if you end up in the end only needing one more class, then you will be paying for an entire 6 months ($2,890) for one class.
I switched to Columbia College in Missouri, which has a brick and mortar school, distance campuses, and complete ONLINE degree programs.  Their costs are comparable to WGU.  Check them out.

Not true! You know how much money you get for any school when you apply for FAFSA. Almost all of my credits from almost 8 years ago transferred.  You do have to apply to the school before you will know which ones but any school does that. Applying is NOT enrolling. And you know well before you enroll how much student loan money you are getting and how many credits have transferred. If you don't plan out your courses well and end up having less than 12 credits left you are charged $240 a credit. Get your facts straight before you rant about something and you won't look like an idiot.    

@Happygolucky

WGU doesn't offer a BS in Chemistry.  It is not a science school, it is mostly for teachers.

I don't who keeps saying that LAUSD does not accept degrees from WGU but here is the Board of Education link that specifically says WGU is an accepted school within their program requirements.

134.186.81.79/fmi/xsl/CTC_apm/browserecord.xsl?-recid=106&-token.1=recordlist

I for one and seriously thinking about taking the plunge into an education for a BS in chemistry with WGU for the state of Texas.

Is Brown University an Ivy League school?  Probably not, but it's a well known (probably first or second tier) school.  Do they use GPA?  No.

Why do people exaggerate so much? Most state schools are under $10,000 a year, not $40,000 and also have online programs. At least WGU is non-profit, so it's probably a whole lot better than schools like UoP and Devry.

Okay, I have managed to read every single comment placed here. For better or worse.  Amazing how dictated our society has become in regards to education.  Simply Amazing. Degrees, Online or B&M get you in the door. What should it matter if it is competancy based or GPA (which is very skewed).  
Kudos to WGU for breaking the mold and going againts traditional education. Look around "Traditional anything" isnt working as well anymore. Money can buy an education for even the worst of idiots. Just Sad.  

Thank you for all the information I have acquired here. Now, I am even more convinced about not going back to school even though it is 100% paid for.

Wow I clicked this link by accident.  Here is some good objective advice.  

If you can afford a bricks/mortar school and have no kids or a job that does not require travel, then go to bricks and mortar.  I travel for my job and I just physically can't go to school.  I also can't afford a degree that is $40,000....so this is the best option.   
A lot of this feedback has to do with attitude, confidence, and the ability to make it through this program.  If you can't say, "yes, I went to an online school," without shame...then don't do it.  On the other hand if you can say, "this was my option....yes I went to an online school, paid for everything myself, and I learned a lot" with confidence...well, people respect that.  Trust me, its more than most people can say in the U.S.  I'm living well, have a great job, and WGU is a part of that success.

exactly.  Devry's cost for a B.S. in Computer Information Systems?  $69000.  No joke.  WGU?  If you are extremely unmotivated, probably still under $20k.

@ Ex-Faculty

If you do not complete your degree @WGU, you will absolutely waste your money.  They do not have credit hours to transfer.  The teaching degrees themselves are professionally accredited by NCATE, which is the gold seal for teacher certification.  The major pain is getting students paired up for student teaching.  WGU does not have enough contacts to know where a good placement is.  You pretty much need to find a teacher willing to do it and tell WGU who it is.

This is why WGU has a 70% + retention rate. :)

Nope, I don't work for WGU.  I will say this though-- their enrollment department needs an overhaul.

I agree.  Something doesn't quite work right there.

they sure are out for your money i applied and knew the test well but still didnt get accepted. they already started to send me emails to apply in 6 months! no way gonna do that!

I am so thankful for this website. I think I had better face the music and take the GRE, and head for a brick school. The info. in these reviews is both damning and enlightening - very useful. Thank you, Norm!

I was told by my Enrollment Counselor that credits/courses will NOT transfer anywhere...only the BA, BS or MS, itself will transfer. 

After reading all of this, I am having 2nd thoughts about this school. It sounds like I will end up just wasting my time and money :(

i applied waiting to see if i get excepted. does any one know how i can meet the students? can i have access to anything yet or do i have to wait till i am an official student

Thanks im gonna apply and see what happens

@teach right

All schools accept WGU teaching degrees.  They are NCATE accredited.

how can i check if my school district accepts WGU? i want to apply for the interdisciplinary program but now im thinking of reconsidering if its going to be useless.

Obviously, this is just the South, so just imagine how many non-profit schools across the country offer online courses and/or programs.

"WGU Credits Will Transfer. I just checked with University Of Washington Credit Eval. Dept, and they confirmed that they do accept WGU Degree and Credits."

If you do not complete the degree, it is not accepted.  WGU does not have credit hours but competency based assessments.  They do not transfer individual courses nor do they count for pay raises unless you COMPLETE the degree.

This school is almost perfect... 

"Unfortunately, we have discovered that we cannot always guarantee that the educational experience for students living outside the United States will meet our high standards for quality and convenience. It is our expectation that these issues will be resolved in future years." - WGU

Resolved in future years? I wonder when? I hope they don't charge exorbitant out-of-state/international fees.

@ Ex-Faculty - WGU Credits Will Transfer. I just checked with University Of Washington Credit Eval. Dept, and they confirmed that they do accept WGU Degree and Credits.

Lets get one thing straight, WGU does not offer transferable credits.  Nothing you take at WGU will transfer... ANYWHERE.  If you start taking courses at this school you better finish or you are wasting your money.  If you do finish, you will get an NCATE accredited degree, at least in teaching which is not a bad credential and accepted everywhere for certification.  The rest of the degrees that lack professional accreditation are not really worth the time accept for the RA.

HM : All. Ivy league schools use GPA. I can't think of one that doesn't. In fact, WGU is the only school that I know of which does not utilize GPA. Sure you can take classes pass/fail, but they will not help your academic standing. 

Stanford will never switch to that. I don't know where you get your reputation. Schools without GPA don't have Cum Laude rankings. Do you really think Stanford will give up its status as a top ranked university? Don't think so.

Also, many state schools now have distance education programs, so why bother getting a degree from WGU?

WGU is fine for a last resort, but I wouldn't expect to find a job with it on your resume.

I am suprised to see so many negative reviews. 

I am currently enrolled with 48 credits complete for IT network managment and design. this degree gives you industry certifications from CompTIA, CIW, and a full MCSE as well as an accredited bachelor's degree. 

The mentors are kind of worthless, they are not teachers, they are more like project managers that gather resources and try to keep you on track. If you are self motivated then you can complete this, if not you will drop out. The same is true for any other degree program.

For all looking at the nursing programs...
Last year I completed my RN-BSN in 6 months. I put in a lot of time and work, but only costing 4,000 instead of the alternative was enough push for me. I am now close to completing my master's in nurse education. In both programs I have learned a great amount of applicable material. The key to sucess is self motiviation and good planning. I would recommend this program to anyone. 

The mentor that you have may make a difference in the perception of expierence. My first mentor, RN-BSN, was great. She was knowledgeable and helpful. The mentor that I have now is not so great, anyways if you get a mentor that you don't like, ask for a new one!

WGU is a difficult school, especially if you don't have the discipline to complete online classes.  

I have been at this school since June of 2005.  I have 5 classes (assessments) left to complete my degree (this includes my capstone project).

I have taken time off for medical reasons.  When all is said and done, I will probably have $40,000 of debt from attending WGU.

If I had to do things over again, I would have gone to college right out of high school, finished my associate's degree, then bachelors, then my master's degree.

That said, I am very happy that I am about to finish my degree.  I am obtaining a Bachelors of Science degree in Finance (this program has since been discontinued).

I worked in the finance industry for 10 years.  I am trying to decide what I want to do for graduate school.  I don't think I would attend WGU again as I am not very disciplined when it comes to online learning.  For example, my past 6 month term I had four assessments (classes) to complete for a total of 12 credits.  I completed the first one within a month.  I completed the last three within a month, but it was very difficult!

Overall, if you can handle online courses, I would recommend WGU.  If not, attend a traditional brick and mortar university.

I don't completely understand what you are saying. Please clarify. Are you saying that she scary because she is not qualified? Are you saying that it is scary that WGU supposedly just allows their students to 'slide through' without learning a thing? Are you saying that her personality is scary? What are you saying exactly?

I know a diploma prepared nurse who had zero college credits that was awarded a BSN from WGU in only one year (with no foreign language, etc. etc.). She got her Masters the following year.  And she is a very, very scary person.  I'd run from WGU because of my personal experience with the quality of persons they allow to graduate.

I completed both my BAIS and my Masters in Special Ed from WGU.  I am completely satisfied.  Any college that you attend will have pros and cons.  The bottom line is whether or not independent learning is for you.  It definately was for me!  I have been teaching for 4 years with my BAIS and completed my MS in May.  My husband is also enrolled in the BAIS program and he is loving the experience.  For those of you thinking about WGU, call and ask questions but before you ask questions of anyone else, ask yourself if you are prepared to be independent or not.  I have had job offers from 3 different counties in TN and basically got to choose which county to work in!  I would recommend WGU to anyone who is serious about their education!  I cannot speak for the other states in the US, but TN does not have a problem with WGU's accredidation.

I know you live in Northern California but this might interest you.

The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest in the country, will not accept credits/units from WGU.

Summary:
WGU is a competency-based university and is not credit based. Therefore, at this time unit credit for coursework completed through WGU is not eligible for salary point credit for LAUSD teachers."

This is still true. If you are with LAUSD don't go to WGU.

I don't know if your school district feels the same way as LAUSD does about WGU but I would check into it carefully if I were you.

I'd agree that there are practices at WGU that need to be examined, but I don't think they should be in danger of losing their accreditation.  The school was founded on some solid ideas, but they continue to have areas to improve on execution.  I'm hoping their upcoming affliation with the state of Indiana will motivate them to sharpen up.
About your points:
1. Any good CEO should be watching an organization's stats and numbers.  It is, however, easy to get carried away with the stats and ignore the organization's mission.
2. About outsourcing course development-- this is becoming an increasing trend.  WGU happens to be one of the leaders in this area, is all.
3. To provide low cost tuition for working adults, they're going to have to be stingy on materials.  To repeat a little, they need to keep their mission in their sights.
4. If Mendenhall has financial interests in course developers, a complaint needs to be lodged with the organization's board or directors or what-have-you regarding conflict of interest.
5. Colleges are going to be drawn increasingly to the idea of objective assessments as students are being challenged to pay their educational costs.  Ever heard of CLEP, DSST?
6. Any degreed manager who dislikes dissent needs to review Organizational Behavior coursework. 'Nuff said.
I was worried for a bit that WGU would be in danger of losing their accreditation after I finish my studies with them.  I am now hopeful that the WGU Indiana arrangement helps them wise up.
If you don't like Mendenhall, Norman, escalate it to their board.  If you can't do that, maybe there's another college you'd enjoy working at more.

@JasonTelling by your comment, you don't know this, but lots of IVY League school/Private school don't use GPA format and instead use Pass/No pass. So, lots of companies don't hire based on your GPA; If you're applying for an entry level Attorney position, they will definitely want to know that but it's getting harder for them. I believe Stanford my be switching soo, too.

ANYONE in California that graduated from a BA in Education program and has landed a job? I live in Northern California and just can't make it to a traditional school. I work in the law field and it's demanded as heck.
Thanks!

You said:

"The BS degree I obtained in education from a state school, the usual college experience, was a much EASIER program than WGU."

Really???? What state school are you talking about?

Is WGU Teachers Program accepted in Michigan. I heard it was and had recoprocity with MI?

WGU is not for people trying to do the traditional route to getting a job... you know, moving out of your parents house, living in dorms, signing up for classes, ditching half of them your first year, half-assing it until you get to the classes in your major... etc...

I have a job, and I would recommend this school to anyone wanting to move up in their profession.  I am a teacher.  I get a raise when I obtain a masters.  I am more marketable with a masters, everywhere!  The BS degree I obtained in education from a state school, the usual college experience, was a much EASIER program than WGU.  I am being challenged by WGU.  I am learning the things that I should have in my B.S. program while WGU builds upon that so I can master it. 

I am happy with WGU, No course was a breeze.  I would rather do the competency based program than one where I don't learn from my mistakes.

I wouldn't get a degree from WGU and then go job searching... use it to advance in your field.  So, those wanting to sit in 4 hours of class a day, stare at the pretty girls and day dream, then attend a typical university.  If you want education, you know, to learn, then sign up for WGU.

As a WGU grad, I must say "STAY AWAY". Although I did learn a lot, this school is NOT held in high regard in the private sector. I work for an IT company which sits on WGU's board of advisers. Yes they support WGU (for public perception only, and considered to be charitable), but they will not promote or reimburse WGU educational expenses to their employees. WGU will NOT help you get a promotion, and is secretly considered to be a "joke". 

Think about it, would you hire someone from a school that doesn't have a GPA?

Norm,
I have had some very bad experiences with WGU but I have to say there was only one course I took in which the study material was different than the assignment/test. Admittedly this should never happen but according to your comment, it seems to happen all the time. This hasn't been my experience in the accounting program. Also, the students buy the textbooks so why would Mr. Mendenhall care if they are cheap or not?

Western Governors University is run by an egomaniacal business man, Bob Mendenhall, who makes a mockery of higher education. In meetings with his senior staff he requires that they review numbers that are different from those he supplies to his Board and tells his staff not to reveal the real numbers to anyone. He is focused solely on keeping students enrolled so that he can continue to collect their Financial Aid payments even when the student is not capable of doing the work. His mantra is “SAP, SAT and RET,” not student learning or student achievement. Courses are developed often by junior faculty without doctoral degrees. In fact Mendenhall runs an MBA program with almost no doctoral faculty. He has refused to try to conform to standard certifications in the field such as AACSB and ACBSP because they require trained and credentialed faculty. In actuality no courses are ever developed at WGU. Why? It costs money to develop academic courses. WGU writes competency statements by placing some number of individuals in a room, asking what is required for a specific job and then they write a list of competencies. Next staff is required to find "Learning Resources”, but Bob Mendenhall does not like it when faculty select traditional text books for Learning Resources. Why you ask? Because text books cost money. Mendenhall prefers SCORM objects created by vendors who have traditionally served the corporate professional development market. Why? Because they are cheap. And on by the way Mendenhall has financial interests in companies that develop SCORM learning resources. The problem for students is the Courses of Study, WGU’s name for a syllabus, are based on textbooks and their taxonomy and terminology, not the cheaper Learning Resources and therefore when students go to take an exam, guess what they are presented with tests that do not match up with the Learning Resources materials. To add further insult to injury, WGU does not use any of the traditional instructional design models. The one they created certainly is not based on academic theory or rigor, For example, Mendenhall likes it best when the assessment strategy is totally objective. Why? Again, it is cheaper. Mendenhall can assess his students without any faculty assistance. And, yes Faculty cost money.Last but certainly not least the culture is one of fear and hostility. As one faculty member so correctly stated, “As you know, WGU does not allow dissent.” Bob Mendenhall’s solution for dissent is to fire everyone. Last year it was the Deans. This year the most vocal Senior Faculty Members. And, everyone on the staff is laughing because on Mendenhall’s newest goals for the year list he added to make the list of the Top 100 places to work.One can only ask how Sal Monaco, the relatively new Provost, can work in an environment filled with academic dishonesty and lack of ethics. WGU should not be an accredited institution.

Before I go off about how horrible WGU let me make it clear this in NOT my first online school.  I completed my associates online and did some continuing eduacation through another college online.  
I have not once found the work challenging.  I have yet to open a book, have passed every exam and essay given to me. There is no way to contact a "teacher" when you have questions.  I have asked the "mentors" in individual subject areas for help and the feedback I was given was a direct copy and paste of the task rubric.  What a joke, I can read that for myself.  How about a little guidance, mentor?  
My assigned mentor has had no contact with me in over three months.  The last email I got was to cancel a scheduled phone call and to let me know they were moving positions and I would be contacted shortly by my new mentor.  I've never heard from anyone since.  
The grading process is slow at best.  There have been numerous times when it took weeks to receive anything back and one more than one occasion I actually had to email the school and complain.  When revisions are needed the feedback is usually so vague that you are left scratching your head.  NEVER once has there been any type of constructive feedback so that I would actually learn from it and improve on it.

My name is "Mary" for the purposes of this review. I am currently enrolled at Western Governor's University in the Bachelors of Chemistry 2nd Ed. in order to gain my teaching certification to teach High school Chemistry. I was thrilled to be able to live "green" not have to drive my gas guzzling truck back and forth to the local university which is nearly 30 miles from my rural home. I am extremely self motivated, and also intelligent by societies standards. I hold a BA in engineering and due to the fall out of the economy looked to retrain as a teacher. I love people adults and children alike. I HATE this school. My 1st mentor did not give any course direction, she was EXTREMELY nice, but didn't get anything done. I was given a new mentor, she still didn't get anything done, but she was wonderful at taking notes, twisting words to her benefit while pretending to "be there for you" she was turning me in to Teacher's services as a student who had a "bad disposition". She stated to them that she recorded my phone calls (illegally) although I have nothing to hide, so I don't much care. My struggle was with their testing. The material in the Course of Study did not match up to what was on the test. This has been stated by other students here and has been repeatedly stated by students in the WGU portal. I finally got to speak at length with a course mentor about the testing issue, she asked me several questions about the test, then made me aware that I was right about the tests having issues. The very next business day was when I received the warning letter from teacher services about my "bad disposition" demanding basically an apology within 72 hours or "further action up to and including suspension will be taken".
An apology for what? Holding them accountable? I am two terms in, stuck with 10,000.00 in financial aid, credits that according to the local university are not transferable, and NOTHING but aggravation to show for it. I do not recommend this school. I advise ALL to look closely at the reviews IN FAVOR of this school, they are the polar opposite of what is real. I am certain that they are the work of recruiters (who by the way tell you nothing) and the mentors. I am stuck here for now, until I finish this term and start over. BE VERY CAREFUL WHAT YOU SIGN UP FOR.

wow I am amazed! This "Mary" had the identical experience as I did same degree program same issue with mentors and same issue with course work not matching the material on the exam and the exact same problem with being threatened with disposition letter after questioning content. I am up to my eyes in student loans and actually changed programs from chemistry to another science after passing the chemistry...believing that there was more bs and heartache to come. I am almost done, my phone calls were also illegally recorded and now they have changed it to an automated system that always records after I threatened to sue them.
I would not recommend their chemistry program to my worst enemy. As far as my "disposition" WGU loves to use that to control their students and holds it over your head... I personally already work for a school and can prove with my 20 year successful work history that I do not have a disposition issue. 

About a year ago I wrote this:

"Wondering Why???? May 21, 2009 at 2:30 p.m.

The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest in the country, will not accept credits/units from WGU.

Summary:
WGU is a competency-based university and is not credit based. Therefore, at this time unit credit for coursework completed through WGU is not eligible for salary point credit for LAUSD teachers."


This is still true. If you are with LAUSD don't go to WGU.

Hey John,

Why don't you keep you negatively out of here. WGU is RECOGNIZED, why do you think such companies like dell and microsoft are listed on the school's webpage? They're not a for-profit, its because they see it as a legit school to earn a degree instead wasting your time on-campus schools filled with idiotic professors (who only 40%) have any profession experience.

wasted my time and money in this school. Employers are looking for people that WENT TO COLLEGE... NOT sit on his/ass ASS going to college. I dropped out after my employer said "what is wgu?" i was embarrassed but pretty much said im get my degree from wgu.. its only BUT its accredited!!!! boy how embarrassing! so i dropped out and i go to central michigan university offside campus here in metro detroit.. ( ITS online and in traditional class rooms.. but employers dont know cuz.. its central michigan.. NOT western governor's university.. ONLINE!!!) so do your research.. ask around call places and see if they even will THINK about howing someone that sat at home having someone else do their work for the degree. just so you know.. i thought i knew what i was doing with wgu tll i asked around.. now i made the right choice.. GO MICHIGAN!.
gooooood luck!!!!!!!!!!!!! on your ass!

I just wanted to know if WGU's BSN program is good and if its respectable. Would it look good in a resume or would it be turn down like university of phoenix? I also wanted to know if anyone has attended this program in this school? Does anyone know if i would be able to use the BSN degree to go to a grad school? would the degree transfer?

Under the BRN is says the address of WGU is in the orange county california, however i thought they were in utah... does anyone know if thats another branch of the main campus?

i did a lot of research but theres no reviews of alumni saying their degree was transferable or if there degrees help them get better jobs....

thank you for your answers :)

Question: Has anyone from Ohio pursued a post-bach or masters in elem. teaching through this program.  I am having trouble right now trying to find out if I can get licensed in Ohio as an elem teacher before i committ to the program. I spoke with the board of education in ohio and they said as long as its state approved, Im guessing in Utah, and is program approved then I wont have a problem, but does that mean I would have to transfer a my license to my own state.  Im confused?

I am also trying to find info about the RN-BSN program. The price is right, but if there is no one that has completed this program on this entire review website, then forget it. I cannot find any independent info. And it is very difficult to extract any detailed information from the "mentor." I don't think they really know the answers. Too much of a risk for me. I think I will check Walden out but probably will go to my local university due to cost. 

Does anyone have any suggestions out there? Know of any quality, AFFORDABLE online RN-BSN programs?

I am working on the Capstone Project, aka my last class, in the Business Management program. I have found the school to be difficult by way of class work, but find as many have stated that the mentor support and resources provided are more than acceptable. 

I found the school very appealing as I have been able to apply my work experience as a project manager for a large corporation directly to the degree program. Several class requirements were easily met by simply adapting a project I recently completed for work, or by using templates and research I use for work every day. 

I was able to accelerate the program form 5 year to 17 months by putting in 20 ours a week. This was largely because I have been working in the management field for some time and found the classes correlated with actual work experience nicely. 

And....

For those who believe that the degree will not be respected or feel it necessary to leave it off their resumes know this, The CEO of the company I work for has both a B.S. and M.B.A. from WGU and referred me to the school because he greatly respects and understands the degree of difficulty the programs offer.

I am so happy for all of you people who have wonderful things to say about WGU and are enjoying your program so much. However, I sincerely hope you never encounter any problems whatsoever with your programs or the wonderful bubble you live in will be burst.

For my part, I am a highly motivated self started and I whizzed through all of my courses except the last 6 or so. I still have to complete these but I have taken a term break to recoup from the frustration I experienced in my Accounting degree program.

My problems started when Taskstream kept returning my assignments but gave very ambiguous reasons for doing so. This ambiguity made it so I couldn't correct the assignment because I had no idea what was wrong with the assignment. When I asked the accounting mentor for assistance, they would just reiterate "word for word" what the directions or the Taskstream grader already said. Through trial and error, I had to find out on my own what the graders were looking for.

Also, in the last class I've taken so far, both the teacher and Taskstream both told me to do my composite depreciation assignment in a way that disagreed with the directions in the course material and with industry standards that I researched on my own for over two weeks (instead of getting two weeks worth of assignments done). During this time, the accounting mentor who reviewed the work I did on the assignment actually changed my work (did the work for me) and told me to submit the corrected spreadsheet and that I would pass if I did. I refused and demanded academic or industry documentation that stated that the mentor's and Taskstream's way of calculating composite depreciation was correct. I never received this.

In the end, I was told that my way of calculating the depreciation was correct and to go ahead and submit it to Taskstream and I would receive a passing grade.

I hope none of you hit any bumps in the road because, if you do, you're going to crash.

WGU is a fantastic school for MOTIVATED people. If you want an easy program do not go here. You have to be very self disciplined to complete the majority of the coursework yourself. The Mentor has regular calls to help keep you on track, but it's really up to you.

I suspect that many of the people that disliked the program would have been better off at a non-competency based online program that has a bit more structure.

I finished my BS in 18 months (I've been working in IT for over 10 years) and there were some very difficult classes. I plan on beginning an MBA within the next 4-5 months and I am still considering WGU.

My only reservations stem from how other perceive this school, not about the program or my ability to be successful at it.

As VP of a $100M company, but without a diploma, I knew I had to get my degree out of the way. I didn't realize how much work I assigned myself to when I enrolled at WGU. My learning experience is twofold.  Half of the coursework confirms my 25 years experience. The other half of my learning at WGU is new information that I immediately take back to the office. 

I'm 2/3 complete with the BS Business Management program. Some terms I've completed only 14 credits, and other terms I've completed 22 credits.  Same tuition price! It's up to me as to how fast I can go, primarily driven by the craziness in my work and family life at the time.  Simply put, this a very inexpensive way to get an education.  My neice is a sales rep for U of Phoenix and she couldn't get me a better deal at the family discount rate.  My estimate is that I will have paid only $15k for my entire BS degree.  That's a steal for a degree that is accredited by four of the six national accreditation boards.  

Someone complained that the exams are a joke.  Not so.  For every course that requires a 3 hour exam (which covers the entire college text book.  Good luck with that!), there is a related course that requires significant research to write 1 to 4 papers on the same subject.  This is a balance of testing you on theory and also on your ability to apply the knowledge. I'm an accomplished research writer, having been internationally published. Yet, some of my papers are critiqued strongly where I had to make significant revisions. I'm not skating through this degree.  

Also, this on not an online program where all the students log in each Tuesday with the instructor. It is a competency program where your tests can comfirm your existing knowledge, and you study then test on the areas that you don't yet know. You'll do a lot of work to complete all the requirements.  If you're not someone who can study and learn on your own then WGU may not be for you.  You can take the entry exam and say that you're OK to study on your own, but if you lie to yourself and WGU then you've wasted your time.  

I will say that once you commit to WGU, you're better to stay in their program. Their terms are 6 months long, which makes it difficult for other schools to assess and recognize WGU credits to a semester or quarter term calendar for transfer.  

Some independent statistics that I found before I enrolled:    WGU only accepts 37% of its applicants.  Kaplan and Capella accept 100% of those who apply.  So, which school is interested in educating and graduating students, and which are out for your money?

I evaluated graduate schools for 7 years before I decided on WGU. Currently, I am working on a Masters degree in Instructional Design and I am confident that the educational and scientific concepts we cover in the courses are of great academic and professional value. Yes you have to become acquainted with many new concepts but, overall I will say that it was the best choice.

I'd be highly surprised if WGU lets someone pass a class on the basis of a 750-word essay.  The entry exam alone requires a longer essay than that!. . . and there were such a thing as a 750-word essay evaluation to pass an English course, you better believe it would have to be flawless!

Sounds like your friend was misinformed, or pulling your leg.

Any reviews from a graduate or current student in BS Health Care Informatics?
Thanks!

I am working on a Masters degree in education and so far it ranges from a silly cake walk to mad frustration where staff does not answer emails and when they do, it is a re hash of the same misprinted literature. It is cheap, but WGU is not very interested in students. Of course, they say they are but, actions or lack of actions, say more. WGU is not what they said it was and the work is irrelevant, unclear and misguided.
What can one do? Look elsewhere before you sign up with WGU.

I just graduated from the MBA program and I can tell you without reservation that any "growing pains" are no longer a problem (if they ever existed.) The program was equivalent to any other MBA. Most people don't realize that there isn't much difference in what is taught from one MBA program to another (see the book 10 Day MBA for discussion.) Bottom line is the WGU MBA should be more highly valued because anyone who completed it absolutely MUST be highly motivated to complete all of the required courses with no one pushing them. I would pit myself against a Harvard MBA grad any day in any test of MBA knowledge. Why? Because we studied the same books! And I worked by butt off to get top scores on all the exams. So the question is not if WGU is good enough for you but are you up to the challenge of 2 years of independent learning with no one to hold your hand.

I must say that I love online education, because I don't have to waste time in a classroom listening to a lecture, when I could spend that time reading the material myself and doing whatever homework is necessary. Having said that, I think schools like WGU do a disservice to their students. I work with more than a few people who are getting their degree from similar schools, and one is actually doing it through WGU. I must say I was dismayed when he told me that his English class consisted of writing a 750 word persuasive essay. That is it, one essay, and he gets credit for a freshman English course. Due to my line of work I often interface with managers, and whenever the subject of education comes up, I’m almost always told that they would not even consider hiring anyone with a degree from WGU or others like it. 
Like I said at the beginning, think online education can be a great tool (I did my last two years online), but schools like WGU give online education a bad name. I graduated from University of Maryland University College, which has an excellent resident program as well as an outstanding online program. If you are looking for a place to earn your degree online and at the same time be able to transfer your credits or pursue a Masters degree at another traditional university, I would highly recommend UMUC. There are also many other traditional universities with great online programs, you just need to do your research., but most likely won’t be able to pass class by writing one small paper.

I am currently a student at WGU and have WASTED my money!  They claim to let you accelerate classes, but have changed my degree program courses, therefore, I have not had a class in OVER A MONTH!  I am stuck, no coursework to work on, and they took my money.  They make you pay for time not credits and haven't put me in a class in more than a month!  I know that it is supposed to be legitimate, but so far they have scammed me out of my money big time!  I have taken MANY online courses, so working on-line is no problem for me.  I would advise everyone to STAY AWAY FROM WGU!

I absolutely love WGU!  I just completed a BS in Netowrks Design and Management through WGU and loved my experience with WGU.  The mentor was there for me every step of the way and the courses were challenging.  I learned so much and I also earned several industry recognized certifications (CompTIA, Microsoft, ...) through the program.

The keys to being successful in a distance learning program are discipline, dedication and determination.  They are not going to spoon feed you like your local brick and mortar school.

Allocate time to study, stick to your schedule and be prepared to work if you are going after a degree from WGU.  If you do these things and make it through the program, you will feel an immense sense of accomplishment and pride.

I LOOOOVE WGU and would never go back to the traditional universities ever! I have had a wonderful experience with student services, my mentor and the teachers.  I love that I am being challenged and I have such confidence in myself now from completing the classes that I have so far.  It's a great school and your degree will be recognized when you graduate! The above comments stating otherwise are ridiculous.  A good friend of mine graduated from WGU and landed a job within weeks and making excellent money!

I am majoring in early childhood education and my current boss is very impressed and will definately hiring me when I graduate!

Go WGU!!!

I finished my BS in Finance in 14 months!!

WGU is an amazing school for those who will not accept nothing but victory.  At times I wanted to quit this school and never look back!

The best thing I even did was to suck it up and stop moaning! I got it done!

I think the school has probably changed a lot from earlier comments in 2006 and like a lot of schools, they will probably continue to change as time goes on.  I am finishing up my first sememster and have found some courses challenging and some not as challenging.  I think it depends a lot on your background.  I see a lot of comments about lack of help or mentor problems.  Again, it probably depends on who you have.  I have had a great experiences with my academic mentor and course mentors.  I previously took an online course at Indiana University and can tell you that I absolutely hated it, got NO help at all from the course professor, not even a return email with class questions.  It took me a full year to finish that one course (because of my procrastination) and while I got an A in the class, I would probably give that program bad reviews if asked.  Everyone is different and just because a program works for one person, doesn't mean it works for everyone.

I haven't seen any posts about the Special Education program.. does anyone have some hints for me? Also, I just took that entry assessment and while it seemed failry easy I'm still SO nervous!

CALLING ALL RNs!!! I am looking into WGU for RN to BSN program but I'm not seeing any nursing comments. Can anyone who's attended here for nursing please post their reviews?

Know what kind of learner you are. I thought I was a read, think, write kind of learner. But I find I am a read, talk, think, write kind of learner. I have no fellow students in a classroom, no cohort, no discussion groups to help me process the material. The provided on-line chats do not fill the need. They are one-way. Like this posting...

Regarding GEORGE's comment:

It is indeed difficult to enter the graduate programs of most schools with a pass-fail transcript.  However, it is not impossible, and there are also MANY schools now that admit students holding ANY valid regionally-accredited Bachelor's degrees.  You may need to take a GMAT or some leveling courses, but many students graduating from local schools have to do those things as well.

Regarding the application pre-assessment:

I did mine with all kinds of racket going on in the house, which I would definitely not recommend.

Imagine going in that you're taking a test in your high school English class and in your toughest high school math class.  Not the final or midterm, mind you-- just an average chapter test you've already studied for.  The preassessment is a little tough, but doable if you take your time and think your way through it.

Waste of time and they don't help you or answer any of your questions. No one answers your questions. If you ask your "mentor" a question, he or she will just tell you to go read a page in the textbook.  If you ask again, they will just tell you to go read a page in the textbook.  If you are stuck on a problem and genuinely need help, they will just tell you to go read a page in your textbook.

Perhaps I missed this commentary. Has anyone graduated from WGU and moved on to a top-tier bricks and mortar MBA program, i.e., University of Chicago GSB? Please let me know.

Thanks

I'd like to start at WGU, but I am nervous about the pre assessment test.I haven't been to school in twenty years.What level and type of math is there, and what about english grammer and punctuation? Outside of takeing the twelfth grade over. what should I study to pass?

I am or was an online professor for graduate school students for a nationally known college, with both brick and mortar and online. I am retired.
  And i can tell you it is very difficult to get accepted into a traditional school with a Pass/Fail transcript. This kind of degree is good for certain circumstances: job promotion, job qualifications (non-academic), self-esteem, etc.  There are always the exception. My comment is generally true.

I have recently enrolled in WGU. My work schedule just will not allow traditional classes. After looking at other online IT degree programs, I was impressed that WGU includes the certification exams in the tuition cost. To those of you considering getting your teaching degree through WGU, let me just say this; my step-daughter was referred to WGU by the Tennessee Dept. of Education.

I'm currently pursuing a B.A. in Special Education. I was previously enrolled in the B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies (elementary ed.) program. My SpEd classes at WGU are not easy. I have to learn so much about SpEd law and legal issues, curriculum adaptation, assessing students, and all about IEP's. The course of study at WGU is DESIGNED to show you what areas you will be tested on, and what needs to be read and understood in order to pass the exam. It's kind of like a blue print for learning. It pin points what needs to be learn, and helps you determine when you are proficient in a specific area of study. This is done at regular universities too. It is not uncommon for a professor to have you learn things "on your own" or with a group of people via text book at notes. The difference between those universities, and WGU, is that you don't pay $10,000 plus a year, and you can study in solitude, without paying a professor to tell you to do so. And you save time and gas on commuting.

You cannot "fake" and "guess" your way through any college and WGU is no exception. If you make "guessing" a habit, how are you going to learn to be a competent teacher? Or a competent business person? Or a competent IT person? You can "luck" your way through a degree, but how are you going to "luck" your way into knowledge?

The courses are not easy. The math for example can be pretty intense. You have to do geometric proofs, probability, statistics. If you think proofs are easy, you are either intelligent (which is a good thing), or don't even know what the heck I'm talking about (which is bad). The algebra was difficult also, as was the stats. Also, this was for the elementary ed. degree. The math in the social science, science, and math program is MUCH more difficult. And yes, other courses are difficult too. 

Online universities are not for everyone. They require extra discipline and dedication. It's easy to get lazy and put things off because you know you have 6 months time to get everything done. But remember, you are paying per term, not per class. You can do as little as 12 units, or as many as 24 and possibly more!

That said, universities aren't for everyone. If someone has had multiple negative college experience, or if someone isn't becoming educated like they should, and therefore have to drop out, they probably shouldn't be in a university. They should be learning a trade, or just working.

Online classes are extremely difficult. In my opinion they are more difficult than traditional classes. The primary reason is that the student must be able to take ownership of his education. It is not like going to a traditional class for a couple of hours and listening to a lecture. But, most people who are looking for online programs don’t have time for traditional classes. The ones who struggle the most aren’t prepared for the ownership and under estimated the amount of work required. There is no classmate to lean on in a virtual environment like there is in a traditional school. 

I am new at WGU, and just starting the MSISA program. Have I had some issues, certainly? Nothing I cannot handle. Let me share a comparison. While I was able to leverage tuition reimbursement, I was enrolled in Boston University’s Masters Program for Information Security. There was a Professor for the class. WGU doesn't really have a Professor for the class. He/she would initiate each module with a video clip talking about the section objectives. After that you interfaced with assistants assigned to the class. This is pretty much what WGU does with mentors. Some of the assistants at Boston University held full time jobs outside the university and some remained focused on their assistant positions. Some responded very quickly and the others poorly. Some contradicted the curriculum and required books, etc…. This is some of what I've encountered at WGU. The point is that every situation has pros and cons. The pro for Boston University was the school has a tremendous history. The con for me was that Boston University charged approximately $800.00 a credit hour. So, here I am at WGU, trying to find the right fit for my situation. I will add more posts as I progress and give honest feedback. 

No problems thus far.

I am looking a University which offer online programs, WGU offers BS in elementary education which I am interested in.I am very thankful to any feedback so that I can make a good choice.

I am in the process of "maybe" starting WGU. I am a working single mother and need to get my bach. for teaching done in a flexible setting. WGU sounds great...now I read all this and I am confused! Please some feedback they say they are accredited in Illinois for teaching, I can't get a straight answer either way from anyone. I want this to be a good eperience (as we all want) and do not want to make a wrong choice. Also I am a veteran and heard their f.a. office sucks at getting vet stuff going. Thanks people for your time and input

I do have a BA/BS from an Internationally Accredited Business School.  

I have just taken the Readiness Assessment Exam.  The math part was a little challenging, because I have been out of school for 20 years. I have done extensive research on the school.  I even have an analysis spreadsheet that compares this school to others like U of Phoenix, Ashford U, Argosy U, and South University.  In the end, this school seems to fit my personality the best.   

Hint: To prepare for the essay part, write a thesis about the school.  Why you want to go there?  What do you plan to get out of it?  I have learned so much about myself and the school from own thesis.  When it comes to writing an essay, I just cut and paste.  This may sound a lot, but it is all worth it.

Does any one know about RN program in WGU?

This university is strictly for independent, resourceful, self-motivated students. It was great for me. Anyone that generally needs frequent interaction or motivation or frequent clarification from the instructor should NOT apply to WGU.  Some personalities work great with WGU, some don't.  It doesn't mean the school is bad, it just fills that niche that supports completely independent learners.  I really enjoyed my experience there and learned just as much there as when I went to Pitt for two years prior to that.  The education is more than sufficient and has helped me with my current job in many ways.  Just make sure you're right for the school before you apply...many people just aren't as you can tell from the reviews.  Thanks!

Can ayone who graduated from this school with something in teaching please email me i'd liek to ask a few questions.. I am thinking about attending. Thanks.. gonzjoha@kean.edu

I am looking into this program for Business management. With everything being online how do you test? Do you have to take a CLEP at the end of the course or are the test online as well?

I would stay away from WGU, I spent the time to go through the enrollment process,and had transfer credits. They seemed to be in a rush to get my money for tuition. But when I asked about my transfer credits, they got beligerent and the next day I was dropped from admissions. They won't refund any of the money paid and won't answer my e-mails or phone calls. I am thinking about filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.

I went to WGU for accounting and dropped because it is a very bad program and also because the CPA exam in my state requires you to graduate from an AACSB accredited business college. Nobody from WGU had the courtesy to tell me that their degree is not for people who want to become professional accountants. WGU states on their website that they are "accredited" but it does not mean they are accredited to sit in for the CPA exam. When I asked WGU about the CPA exam all I got was the run around.  My emails were forwarded to someone else who said he couldn't tell me the answers to my questions.

has anyone taken the RN-BSN program??

As with anything in life that you invest money and effort into, you must take the time to evaluate and research all options. WGU is competency based, and as such does not provide significant "hand-holding". Each course-of-study is a guide to assist in independent review of relevant material. Like all distance education it requires a lot of self-discipline to stay motivated and on pace. The faculty are available to assist but realize that they can only point the way to appropriate resources.

Another point is that the degree programs are somewhat general in nature, if the profession requires specific certification by a state or other body, make sure that body recognizes WGU. In some cases it may simply be that the organization has never had anyone apply with a degree from WGU. It may be possible to request that the organization recognize WGU since WGU is regionally accredited.

My employer for example did not originally have WGU on the approved list until I requested that WGU be added. Once they verified the accreditation, I was able to apply for educational assistance from my employer and was reimbursed for the entire expense.

A lot of these people that have bad things to say seem to have problems with what it takes to be successful as an online student. I came across a website that gives information on what it takes to be successful. RightEdu.org. They have some good information there. So all of you who are questioning if WGU is right for you, the real question is, are you right for WGU.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion about Western Governors University. Some say that it is awful and that they would never suggest it to others and some say that it is great, one of the best universities they have attended. Here it is... the answer. People who have experienced problems with Western Governors University let it get the best of them as you can have the same problems with traditional universities (scheduling, failing, whatever), the only difference is, you can blame all of your troubles on the fact that it is an online university and not that made of brick and mortar. I have been a student of WGU for enough time that I can tell you that some classes may be easier than others and some can be down right difficult. 

I Love this university and I do recommend it to all of my friends and co-workers. So, if you are thinking of attending WGU, please do read as many reviews as possible, but understand that regardless of the school, you will have negative individuals who just like to spew.. well, negativity and that is it.

Good luck to everyone.

Cheers!

I am seriously considering WGU to pursue a BS degree in Acounting. Does anyone have first-hand experience with WGU with such an academic endeavor? Can you marticulate into a program to obtain or sit for a CPA license? Has anyone completed the WGU program and obtained state CPA licensure? Is so, what state? Thank you for your feedback!!!

I've read the majority of the posts and feel motivated to enroll in the MS Info. Security & Assurance at WGU.  Their requirements to pass third-party industry certifications such as the CISSP as part of the curriculum is credible in my opinion (the CISSP is considered a gold standard for information security professionals). I'm not deterred by administrative anomalies and feel I can take the bull by the horns if it happens to come my way in the form of a disrespectful or under-achieving "mentor" or what-have-you.

My main concern is the program not being a Center for Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education although the curriculum seems to align with many of the NSA (National Security Agency) criteria for such. However, I know that many have applied but few were chosen for that distinction.  WGU will probably never attain the distinction because it’s not a traditional research and lecture institution.

I suggest one perform due diligence and ask potential employers (such as a school district) about their perception about WGU's credentials and the qualifications met and unmet by a potential WGU degree.  That's what I plan to do because I may want to teach on the college level some day.  I'd hate to learn that a masters from WGU isn't recognized (for academia) after all the time and effort I'd have spent.

Entrance Exam for the Bachelor's degree at WGU? You mentioned www.mathtv.com.  There appears to be a lot of material there.  Are you suggesting that all of it be reviewed???  Any more specifics would be appreciated.  Thanks!

The exam is a basic assessment of your writing, comprehension and math skills.  It is not something to be feared if you have decent pre-algebra skills.  We're talking fractions and an occasional singe variable or simplification problem.  Go to www.mathtv.com, watch the videos and don't sweat it.

Regarding all the negative reviews; the vast majority, and I've read them all, aren't worth the electrons they're displayed with.

i want to get the Bachelor's degree in elementary education at WGU. Is anybody out there in this program? tell me about your experience. Thanks

Please advise as to the nature of the entrance exam.  The quote "You only have one opportunity to satisfactorily complete the WGU Readiness Assessment in any 6-month period" has me spooked.  I'm concerned about my math skills, having not touched trigonometry or beyond in over ten years.  I'd rather wait a few months to review than take a six month penalty.

Regarding the transfer of courses from WGU to other colleges. This in NO WAY reflects on WGU, positively or negatively.

I am a transfer councilor at U. of Washington, and the criteria for transfer of courses have a lot to do with:

(1) Prior arrangements we've had with the colleges. For instance, many community colleges work with us specifically to guarantee transfer credits. 
(2) Length of term. Colleges that don't have a standard 12-14-week course schedule have problems transferring credits. Since UW is on a semester system, we often have delays and problems transferring credits from colleges that have a quarter system, like UCLA.
(3) Content of courses. Every university teaches more or less the same set of skills and information for their degree, but the way they break those into specific courses is widely varied. For instance, some colleges may offer an entire course on 20th century literature, and others offer an entire course on just the mystery genre. 

It's true, we obviously look at accreditation as well. We don't accept courses from schools that are not regionally accredited. But the reason we would not transfer credits from WGU, is because it's difficult to determine the above three parameters. WGU system just doesn't "fit" the standard university model.

In response to jeff; this is a great BSN completion program for veteran nurses who have already gained the experience on the job but do not have the 'paper' to back it up. I am in my second semester and will graduate next spring. Every other program was either ridiculously over priced or would have taken way too long. Yes, you need to be computer savvy to navigate to all of the websites for the coursework and tasks but, thats what the first course EWB is all about.

WGU is a school that allows students to use real world experiences and real world resources to learn material that is applicable to their work environment. WGU is not for students who want to learn about a new field. For an example, if you were a car mechanic but want to break into the HR field, you would have a difficult time with WGU. However, if you are already an HR professional without a degree and you want to reinforce your experience with a degree, then WGU is perfect for you! Sometimes subjects are a breeze, just like traditional schools, because a lot of the stuff you already know. WGU just provides you with assessments to “certify” your knowledge. 

There are, however, courses that will challenge you. I learned the basics of physics, and it was a HARD course for me because I never studied the subject, but I prevailed. I did! I taught myself using the learning resources, textbooks, eBooks, prerecorded lectures, simulation exercises, science labs, and the internet. I even conducted an experiment guided by an online lecture and reported and discussed my results with other students. You also have access to learning communities where you can chat with course mentors and students and find even more resources.  I’m telling you, I love this school. If you find it too easy, congratulations, maybe you are just really smart. WGU fits my personality: I don't need or care to have someone hold my hand. I would rather be given a topic and left alone to learn it my way, but if I do need help, someone is there to lend assistance. That's the WGU way!

I can understand the skepticism regarding WGU and online universities but think of it this way: 1. You teach yourself things every day. Heck, you taught yourself to walk once; all you needed was a guiding hand. 2. You are still attending class; it’s just online and on paper. The course of study is the syllabus, the guided learning tool is the instructor, the learning resources are the books, libraries, labs, articles, and exercises needed to learn and practice, and mentors and community leaders are tutors and student aids. 3. Your assessments reflect what you should know: For an example, my assessment for business ethics was to create an ethics program for an organization. I was then able to take that knowledge and, guess what, take the lead on the implementation of an ethics program at my job.  A few classes have proctored multiple-choice exams, which for some, might not be that challenging. However, another course, covering the same material, will have an exam that requires you to demonstrate your competency. 

WGU may not be for everyone, but for individuals who are self motivated, who do not mind conducting research on their own, and who is comfortable with their ability to read and comprehend, this college may be for you. I see online schooling as an innovative approach to learning that will be embraced by the generation of internet lovers

Western Governors University holds numerous awards, recognitions, and most importantly, accreditations.  Jeff's comment above is completely without merit and speaks more to his lack of knowledge about online education than it does WGU.

This school is not a real school. If you have to ask about it - that is your answer. Home schooling without real teachers - maybe my mother could give me a degree. I am very scared of the RN's who feel this is an option - go to a real school with a BSN progression program. Self taught - what a joke!!!!

I'm thinking of taking the plunge and pursuing the postbac. certificate in social science education. I'm curious to how the demonstration teaching portion is carried out. Would anyone like to share?

The 19 states are listed on the wgu website.

Your inability to find information != gullibility in others.

I am trying to get into the RN-BSN program at WGU.Can anybody tell me or give comment about this program?

I am not sure what all the whining about "online colleges are not taken seriously so go to a traditional school" is about. I work for a major Telecom and have had no problems getting promoted with my degree from WGU. At my company almost everyone has a degree, most from "traditional" universities. For those looking to enter the field you need to understand that getting a degree is only one piece of the puzzle. If you think your going to get a degree and land a high paying job without any other effort your kidding yourself. In IT you will be judged on your degrees, certifications and experience. You need all three. Working in IT means a lifelong dedication to upgrading your skill sets. If your not willing to make that kind of commitment you need to find another career.

I realize that this may be equivalent to asking which company was behind the paint tubes used by Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, but just which 19 Western States are behind WGU??? Nobody - I mean NOBODY - bothers to include this little detail, but being of curious and irreverent mind (is California a part of the team or not, and if no, why, and what does that say about the school's credentials?), I naturally wonder which western-US states make up this roster (and I also wonder, if the school is as hot as they make it out to be, why this roster is not named). Which makes the rest of yous look pretty "reverent" (gullible), I would say.

I am so sorry that I went to WGU. It turned out to be such a bad experience and a waste of money. They expect you to go to websites and read textbooks to do their assignments just like any other school. The WGU difference is that the websites are a bunch of broken links. The textbooks don't have information that has to do with the assignments. Then when you ask about it you get accused of cheating. I would not recommend WGU to my worst enemy.

These reviews are a bunch of crock! It's impossible to get a degree in 6 months. You have to pass about 20 assessments to graduate. Just go to the WGU website and download the program requirements to know how many assessments it will take to get your degree.  For each assessment, there is a pre-assessment and it takes at least 3-5 business days to get your pre-assessment test results back. If you pass the pre-assessment, then you have to wait to get approved by your mentor to refer yourself to take the actual real exam with the proctor. To get refered and schedule the exam can take about 2 weeks. After you take the actual real exam it takes another 3-5 business days to get your exam results back. The exam results don't tell you what you got right or wrong. If you don't pass, the WGU policy is that you have to wait 2 weeks to reschedule. There are also about 50 written tasks or performance assessments that you have to pass to graduate. These are essays of about 2-3 pages. For each of the written tasks it takes 3-5 business days to get them back graded. If the tasks are not correct you have to keep doing them until they are right and grading them takes another 3-5 business days EACH TIME that you have them graded. Giving the benefit of a doubt to the person who claims to have graduated in 6 months, that person would have had to pass 10 pre-assessments on the first try and then pass all the final exams on the first try.  Then that person would have had to pass every single written task (approx. 50) that requires about 2-3 pages of writing on the first try. With a full-time job working 40-50 hours a week, commuting, and raising kids, getting a degree in 6 months would have landed him on Oprah and every single major TV show faster than you could say eat me, clown!

I graduated from University of Phoenix in 2007 and was planning on enrolling at WGU, all these reviews are trivial,because today the national rate for unemployment is at 10.9% all time high since the great depression.

Many had graduated this past month from Fully Accredited University's such as Penn State, University of Florida, Northwestern to name a few and guess what people Bachelors or Masters degree, they're all still jobless and perhaps living with their parents.

My best suggestion to everyone JUST DO IT :) and follow your heart. Remember nothing in life is guarantee, however it would not hurt to try. You don't want to be that person who is 65 years of age and thought "I wonder if" thoughts of the past. Just do it and expierence it yourself.

I got my Bachelors from UOPHX online 2007 in I.T. and I went from making $21 an hour to $27 an hour plus over time, enough to buy my Corvette and my new house in Texas.

So any degree will help, Enough of the Mariam Mopey and DEbbie Downer comments just go for it, like NIKE commercial say Just Do it. Remember this quote all of you

"YOU THINK EDUCATION IS EXPENSIVE TRY IGNORANCE"

I just would like to know if I get an MA in education from WGA.  Will this get me certified in Georgia?  I have my BA and I am on a non-renewable certificate.  I know that Walden will cover this, I know it sounds like a simple question, but I have 5 years to get this done. This seems like the cheapest and easiest way to go.  I teach now, but I need the perm. certificate.  Thanks

WGU is full of BS!
That's Bachelors of Science ;-) - The only BA's offered here are in regards to education, so you shouldn't be working in retail or waiting tables after attending this school.  Education, health, business and IT only.

I've been working in IT for 12 years and found WGU to be a great way to earn a BSIT.  Majoring in a field you've been working will greatly lesson the burden of completing courses, but I don't know if I would recommend it to people inexperienced in the field, as the testing is rigorous and lots of guys who are the "handy with computers" types end up dropping the program.  One out of three classes results in a industry standard certification, such as A+ or Oracle DB and I'm very glad to be refreshing some of my old certifications and getting new ones.

No, the credits will not transfer to another college.  The competency based approach of testing is a threat to the establishment of class time in traditional universities, which is why so few college level classes are CLEPable, But the degree is as good as gold. It is nationally accredited, unlike Phoenix and friends, and if you want to get your masters after from a better known school, WGU would be a good route.  So you'd better finish what you start.

The school was founded by the governors of several western states in response to the lack of educational facilities in the growing region.  Microsoft, Oracle, AT&T, HP and a few other big names in banking and health care are on the schools advisory board.  They assist in developing curriculum, provide materials and are very keen on the competency unit over the class time approach, so their is more of a vocational feel for the classes rather than a academic one.

WGU requires four different Praxis exams for the Special Education degree. This degree allows you to be certified in Pre-k through sixth elementary education and k-12 Special Education. The school is tough, but very rewarding, since I am able to do all my schoolwork at home. The school actually lets you choose where you want to do your demonstration teaching and sends someone to that school to grade your DT.

I have been VERY satisfied with WGU. I have learned much in the special education/ elementary education classes that I have taken.I feel well-prepared for the teaching field. The classes are not easy, despite what some have said. They were actually quite tough, and that is coming from a student who has had a 4.0 GPA throughout high school and community college. Nevertheless, I have a wonderful mentor, who keeps in contact with me weekly. If I have a question, she is quick to respond. The teachers at the college are very helpful when I have run into a problem that I can't figure out. 
I would recommend this college to anyone who is self-disciplined to do the work!

I have recently graduated, seriously like a week ago.  I have had a hard time finding a teaching job.  When I talked with members of Human Resources at the Eagle County School District in Eagle, Colorado they said that it was not because of my degree, but because of the economy.  I personally loved going to WGU, but I am a very independent person.  I want to start my master’s degree in special education, but I want to make sure that I can get a job after going to school here.  Can anyone relate?  Success Stories?  How long it took you to get a job?

Here is my two cents on WGU:

If you are unhappy with your mentor, request a different one.

If you have difficulties with grading, contact student services.

I've been to both a "brick and mortar" university and WGU.  And like any institution: you get out of it the effort you put into it.

I find a lot of these reviews sound like H.S. students that complain "It's so hard, why can't I use a calculator on my test!"  It's people who need hand held through everything and can't solve problems.

I absolutely agree with Big Chief. I have been a student at WGU since November of 2006. I started as a freshman of course. I could have chosen to breeze through the assignments and finish in 2 years or actually take my time and allow the information to be absorbed. I chose to do the latter. I only have two more semesters to go after this one and I am so excited to be a part of growing trend. Not only does WGU listen, they actually care. With everything that is new, kinks have to be worked out. New cars are often recalled, toys that are put out on the market are recalled as well as difficulties with cell phones, lost paperwork at other colleges, work and everywhere else. If you are a positive person, you see the glass as half full, I see WGU as a positive experience that is fulfilling my dreams and will help me to support 6 children. Yes, I have 6 children (4 at home full time) I plan to own and operate my own business as my major is Business Administration. So I won't have the problem of trying to find a job. Success is defined from a personal point of view and it just depends on what you are looking for. No matter what, hard work and persistence pays off, no matter how much you paid for your degree! It's the work and the knowledge of that actually counts. So I say learn while you can so that you can teach others to do the same.

As a teacher and school administrator for over 20 years I can tell all of you that most schools don't look too hard at the University someone graduated from, if you've got a degree and teaching license and you interview well, the University you graduated fom means nothing.

Life happens, we all get bogged down with unscheduled setbacks and unexpected events that alter our original plans.  WGU, like many other online schools are designed to help people get back on track and give them the opportunity to achieve their goals through less than conventional methods.

I can't imagine that anyone at WGU or any other institution sits around all day trying to figure out ways to make their student's lives miserable, they are all trying to do what is best for the University and the students enrolled there.

Maybe this is a "second-chance" school, which gives those who didn't or couldn't do well in a traditional college setting to have another go at it.  Like most things in life we all get out of it what we put into it.  Sometimes we just aren't quite ready to succeed.  It sounds like the people who enjoy WGU have a fantastic "Just do it" attitude; and by the same token it sounds like many (not all) of the disgruntled students are probably people who are in a little funk right now and find it easy to blame others for their problems. (Everyone does this, I'm not picking on you).

WGU is what it is, it is an opportunity. People have either used or squandered opportunities since the beginning of mankind.  My son, (who needed a second chance) will begin at WGU this summer, I hope he uses the opportunity that he is being given.