The online school helping Washington level up
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Illustration: Gabriella Turrisi/Axios
Western Governors University, a nonprofit online school, is quietly transforming how working adults in Washington earn degrees.
Why it matters: WGU's flat-rate tuition and competency-based model have helped nearly 14,000 Washington students — and 47,000 alumni — earn degrees faster and cheaper, advocates say.
The big picture: The school's model — in place for nearly 30 years and built around employer-designed programs, virtual labs and simulations — is gaining momentum as a national workforce blueprint.
Driving the news: The Departments of Labor, Commerce and Education last week released a sweeping plan to shift away from the "college for all" model and invest in skills-based, employer-led training that echoes WGU's efforts.
- It prioritizes apprenticeships, AI-powered tools and outcome-based funding to realign the U.S. workforce with high-demand careers.
How it works: Most WGU students are "working learners" with full-time jobs and an average age of 33, president Scott Pulsipher told Axios.
- WGU charges a flat tuition rate of about $4,000 per six months.
- It offers 75 bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as certifications across business, education, healthcare and technology.
- The average bachelor's degree student finishes in 2.5 years at a cost of about $20,000, according to the university.
WGU — now the nation's largest university, with more than 180,000 enrollees — was founded in 1997 by a coalition of governors, including Washington's Mike Lowry, to build a pipeline of skilled workers.
What they're saying: "Western Governors University exists to change lives for the better," Pulsipher said. "We do that by increasing access to high-quality education at affordable costs."
By the numbers: Nearly seven in 10 alumni say their degree was worth the cost, almost double the national average, per a 2024 alumni survey by Gallup for WGU.
- The typical alumni salary boost is $22,000 annually, per the university.
The other side: Some critics argue the model sacrifices critical thinking in favor of transactional training, and a 2017 federal audit said courses resembled correspondence classes and student-faculty interaction was limited.
- WGU pushed back and the Department of Education ultimately declined to pursue action.
WGU has pointed to success stories in its ranks, such as Natalie Worden-Cowe of Shoreline, who parlayed her degree into a job at Microsoft after an injury ended her music career, according to the school.
- Rain Ruh, a Swinomish tribe member, earned her BS in Business Management in nine months while working full time as a marketing manager with the Swinomish Casino & Lodge.
What we're watching: Whether WGU's model — which mirrors the America's Talent Strategy blueprint — becomes a template for future federal funding in higher ed.