Western Governors University High price of low-quality education Salt Lake City Utah

WGU is a great school.  Its for people who can study hard independently and work by themselves.  I can't imagine someone without real world practical work experience doing well.  This is why you must submit a resume.  Its not for everyone.  But for mature students who already have experience and are motivated its a great solution.  Only people who don't fit the profile complain and whine.

I have made a mistake in my life, and I offer my story to you, that you may learn from my error. It all started, as many things do in this life, with a desire to live my dream as  I was having trouble advancing in my career. I was in my mid 30s and thought about my high school friends who have respectable careers.

Now, I was not digging ditches or breaking rocks; but my advancement options were slim without a college degree. It seemed to me that I was training college graduates who would soon become my bosses. It led to much frustration, with me KNOWING that I had what it took to get a degree. I had after all graduated from college in Africa before coming to the States.

I was contemplating this problem, when I had what seemed at the time to be a bright idea. "Hey! This is about my life and my future, right? So why don't I just eliminate the degree barrier, and then my career will take off like a rocket!" I said to myself. It is a statement that will go down in history with a lot of other regretted statements. "How many Indians could there be?" said by General Custer. "Looks like a good day for a drive!" by JFK. "There! America On-Line now has complete Usenet access!" by some idiot system tech. Such was my decision of joining Western Governors University.

I navigated WGU's bureaucracy and enrolled. Despite having a degree from Africa, only 15 CUs transferred. My enrollment counselor reassured me that it didn't matter how many CUs I had transferred. "Since you know the material, you will quickly take assessments and move on,” She reassured me. I believed her, smiled, rejoiced, and thanked the creator of the universe who led me to WGU.
Little did I know.

Two weeks later, I received my financial aid package and noticed that I did not received Pell grant despite the fact that I was an undergraduate student. WGU had decided that my degree from Africa was an equivalent of a Bachelors degree here. That disqualified me from Pell grants. Again my mentor reassured me, reminding me that a little over $6,000 could get me my bachelors’ degree if I completed it in a year. "That would give you your US credentials to advance,” she said. It was only after I had spent my five terms there that I started to realize that my dream of getting a degree was leading me to the shadow of despair. The classes were getting harder to pass, and the study materials were just a bunch of one link after another.  Total crap. You might be better off going to a public library and reading real books. It became frustrating to deal with their crazy rules about retaking assessments, and I decided that this was not worth getting a heart attack.

As if that wasn't enough, I am now enduring further torture. I accumulated over $18,000 non-rechargeable loans that will soon be charging me crazy interests. WGU doesn't have scholarships to offer, and all the money that I owe was for their tuition. I now feel like a gambler in Vegas who kept playing knowing he was losing. Their CUs are not transferrable to any other schools, and I'm left to fight with transcripts that will only remind me of my foolishness. Their graduation rate (according to the US Department of Education) is 22% and that's not a good number for a college with credentials that you can't transfer to any other colleges. As anyone who has ever suffered this kind of loss knows, mourning will always be with you as you pay back those debts. Well, that is what I am dealing with now. It is a hellish torture, and there are many times when I just look out the window and contemplate why I shouldn't just jump out and get it all over with in one fleshy splat, rather than endure this constant agony.

Cheap degree both in price and quality.

But hey, if you're at the point in your career where just need to check the "I have a degree" box, then go for it.

I enrolled in WGU in January 2014 with an Associates in Business Administration. When my transcript was evaluated, my course mentor told me she had never seen them transfer that many CUs from a student before. Just before my second semester started they changed the Business Administration program I was in, which eliminated one of my 3 hour courses. Now, I have 34 CUs left - including this semester - until I get my degree.

I think you get out of the program what you put into it. Sure, it might be easy to plagiarize, but why do that to yourself? Sure, it might be easy to "skate by" but once again - why? The point of a "honor system" is just that - honesty. Don't blame the school if you scam your way through. You can do that in a conventional college (I sat in a class where at least ten people spent more time trying to figure out how to cheat than learning the material).

I am taking one class at a time. I have two courses this semester so I COULD fast track them but I know myself better than to try. It would save me money if I could cram more classes in but I'd rather do my studies the best way, not the fast and cheap way. Upper division courses at a University here are over $5K a SEMESTER; I'm getting my degree for the cost of a car. I even got a $600/semester scholarship. I paid off one set of student loans before I started at WGU. It's the only way I would even go back to school.

"Pass/fail" does take some getting used to. I was so worried when I took my Project+ Certification, but my mentor explained to me how the grading worked so I could figure my approximate letter grade. Is it that important to know you did better than everyone else? As a member of Phi Theta Kappa I can say at this point I know how intelligent I am, right now I need this for a better job. That's it. At the rate the next generation is going, I don't see how employers can be so s****.>

WGU gave me the chance to do something I wouldn't have tried at a conventional school. REALLY learn on my terms. It can't be a bigger waste of time than "Career Point Business School" where I couldn't even get through the curriculum - I paid them to learn the material at a "brick and mortar school" and all I ended up with was student loans. 

Your assessment of WGU is nowhere near what I'm getting. My Mentor holds an MBA; my last course mentors have been PhD's. The essay system, Turnitin and Takstream work very well for me. Yes, they initially go through a computerized system that looks for plagiarism and originality. From there, it is reviewed by a staff member. The feedback is very helpful and insightful. I recieved very high points on my rubricks (no grade) and passed the on my first attempt. It's probably because I read the instructions and followed them twice. I've been to the brick & mortar schools and WGU. WGU does not waste my time.

I graduated from WGU with a BS in Information Technology.  It was a good program, required a fair amount of work, and I was able to complete the program within the estimated time.  I was active duty military at the time, and WGU offered a solid education while I was deployed OCONUS.  Specifically, I wanted to attend WGU after speaking to several experienced professionals who explained that you just need a solid/practical education from an accredited university.  It was also explained to me (correctly I believe) that the vast majority of companies looking for new employees are only interested if you have a degree in your related field, not a transcript from an ivy league school.  Pass/Fail grading worked fine for me.  I now work for a very large defense contractor in the United States.  During the interview process my company wanted to verify my education/transcripts, and having a degree from WGU was not an issue.  If I wanted to manage a hedge fund, become a CIO of a major company, or practice law I may have needed a VERY EXPENSIVE degree from a top-notch school.  Instead I opted for a school that has a solid reputation and stands out among other online universities.

Finally, there will always be some that complain about WGU.  Don’t listen to the opinion of those who have posted about purchasing papers online, or indicating how easy it is to submit the work of others or simply cheat your way through the program.  The ease of skating through a program, or cheating is not a valid measure of a good school or program.  Anyone who sets their mind to it can cheat their way through school regardless if it’s online or brick-and-mortar.

Roobah, you also misspelled embarrassment. You're missing an R.

WGUI Student.

WGU does not do multiple classes at once. Your information is incorrect. You are given the number of classes to earn your 12 units and you are advised to work through just one class at a time.

It is no different than any other college. They all give you a list of classes that you are expected to finish in the term. I had an AAS when I started and it was one of the first things I was told.

The first college I went to I was doing 4 classes at once. Sorry but you have the class list backwards.

 Endorsed by State Governors but it is a non profit COMPANY.

Ok - Regionally accredited. So is Harvard. If you read - they are also DETC Distance accredited.

Take it from a WGU grad.

You will not learn SKILL. What you will learn is how to just pass through a maze of mysterious graders.

There are no professors.

You can purchase the papers online - reword them and submit them. They will not pass. Only just submit

half your paper. Then, when it comes back " Nice start, it needs expanded". That is when you add the remainder of

your work. If it comes back again, take parts from approved areas and copy to not approved sections. Then it will pass.

My course mentor - got so upset that a section of my paper would not pass - he wrote it for me. He got a 3 out of 4.

The graders are not instructors. They do not tell you about that .........do they ???!!!

WGU is a highly accredited and highly computerized diploma mill.

I helped a guy breeze through his MBA in two terms. WGU hired Turnitin. It is a company that is paid to find out if your work has ever been submitted. NEVER - put in page numbers or your name because that is plagarism. DO NOT listen to your " Mentor" every where else calls them counselors. If you list the instructions: A1ab) What I did on my Summer Vacation - that is plagarism. If you quote somebody and give credit - that is Plagarism. These Canned courses have been written so many times -- it is impossible to pass the Turnitin computer. There is only so many ways to write - Net Present Value / NPV of 4%.

Go ahead and enroll. If you sign up for too many courses, the graders will never let you pass !! Then it rolls over as a NO PASS then you lose your financial aid. No incompletes / with draws . Your percentage of NO PASS courses drops below federal standards.

Good Luck !

If you are a hiring manager -- hire the Brick and Mortar applicant.

My degree, I could care less. I wish I had my money back.

Michael,

I actually worked as an Enrollment Counselor for WGU for a few years and believe me after being fired in such a crappy way I never thought I would have anything nice to say about the university. You actually can get a great education at WGU w/o breaking the bank plus you can graduate sooner and my husband is proof of that.

When my husband applied to WGU, he also had an associate degree but he did not receive as many credits as he hoped he would. In the end he was actually happy because those new courses he took really helped to get a better understanding of the IT field and helped him to land a great job. I am sorry that your admissions officer promised that most of your credits earned would be honored. WGU and other universities can not always take the majorty of credits for many reasons, sometimes a student's classes are outdated, perhaps the student's grades where below a C+, perhaps the past classes just don't match up to the new degree and in my husband's case his degree was not from a regionally accreditated school.

You are correct that if you want to earn A's too impress an employer, WGU is not a place to go. The average age of a WGU student is 35+ which means they are most likely they are in the advanced stage of their career and are looking to quickly prove what they already know through assestments not classes and spend more time on subject matter that they are not familiar with.

And the last, but not the least, in "normal colleges" I have never taken one subject at a time it was usually 3 classes a semester. I am not sure why you took exams for several subjects at once, the point is to master one subject at a time. WGU offers 6 month terms instead of semesters so that students can complete a minium of 12 credits but students can earn more credits the sooner they complete their 12 credits.

As a graduate of WGU, I am deeply offended and appalled by the negative comments that would imply that a WGU education is low quality. I worked diligently while in the program and was challenged by the rigorous material. Of the three degrees that I currenlty hold, I feel that WGU provided the best learning experience. I have had no trouble at all with employment and have even worked overseas as a result of the education I received. I do not feel it is appropriate to downgrade an entire insitution and, essentially, all of its students because you had a poor experience. My education was well worth the money spent and I have received similar reports from fellow graduates. 

Another factor to consider is that some results may vary according to the impression an individual makes on a prospective employer. Often, it has nothing to do with the institution one has graduated from. If you fail to market yourself appropriately, then it is your weakness and not the fault of the institution. Sometimes there is even employer bias that has nothing to do with the individual or the institution. In either case, I assert that WGU is a fantastic institution and I highly recommend it to anyone that is interested. 

I'm just a reader of the student's complaint.  

Then I read a rebuttal which has enough details on WGU specifics, that I might presume the person who replied is in some way employed with WGU.

Then I look at all the spelling errors and grammatical errors in the rebuttal response to the complaint of "low quality education," and I have to think to myself, "Yep, that rebuttal certainly confirms everything the complainant had to say about WGU's quality of education."

YIKES!  What an embarassment for WGU!  Turned me off!  

Roobah

WGU is a very different education.  If you are already up to speed on a subject, the WGU format allows you to simply prove your competency and move on.  If you are not, you are expected to learn it.

I'm speaking from my experience only, so please don't think I'm claiming this is true for everyone.  With that said, my experience with WGU has been that material I know has been an easy pass.  A few term papers (so far it's been 2-6 papers per class) written on the subject prove my knowledge.  Whatever I don't know, I have to learn.  

For resources, I have access to e-books for each class.  I have a course mentor who explains what I need to know in private, small group, or online classroom formats.  Depending on what I need, I'll get help via an email (quick questions), a phone call, or an online session (so I can see "the board").  Most of the instruction I've received in math has been via online private tutoring sessions.  For other subjects, the online classroom settings (webinars) have been very helpful.

Webinars are offered on various schedules, or you can access recorded webinars and email your mentor any additional questions you might have.  I have access to communities for additional support.  And if I don't know where to find something, I have a student mentor who points me to the right people (and keeps me on my toes with weekly check-in phone calls).  This is all included in the price of tuition.

The flat rate per 6-month term (like a semester) covers as many units as you can complete, so depending on how much time you're wanting to put in each week, you can make this very economical or very expensive.  My first two terms, I only completed 9 units (probably 4-6 hours per week) so that was VERY expensive.  Last term I completed 12 units, so the cost is pretty average.  This term, I'm working less and dedicating double the amount of time to school, so my plan is to complete 24-27 units.  Several other students have completed over 30 units in a term -- less than $100/unit!

If you're disciplined (I wasn't at first, but I've gotten better) then it's great.  If you're big on personal responsibility and holding yourself accountable, you'll do well.  But don't think it's easy -- it's harder than a brick and mortar school.  It's much, much different.  And for me, it's been much better.  

Let's begin with the facts. WGU is a Regionally accredited University.  It is 100% web-based, and allows you to accelerate through the program as quickly as your proficiency and experience allows.

Grades - The pass/fail competency-based learning model does not hinder your transcript, it enhances it.
For example, in order to pass a class at WGU, you need to obtain a "B" score or greater, whether your final exam is "Performance" based (where you turn in your work), or "Objective" based (when you take the exam in a monitored environment IE: Proctored). You may pass a class at a traditional school with a "C"
grade, but WGU expects a "B" grade or better.

Learning environment - If you prefer to study at your own pace, WGU is ideal. If you require a classroom environment, keep looking. WGU offers a course mentor for each course, as well as an online library and user groups, which allow students to interact w/each other. Again, make the choice that is best for your
learning style.

Cost - Before I enrolled at WGU, I researched just about every online university that offers IT programs.
To date, I do not believe their is a higher rated, cost effective University available.

Before you enroll, make a list of every conceivable topic that is important to you. Do not make a decision before you do due diligence, as a few of the previous posts imply.

I am presently starting my third semester at WGU, and could not be more pleased with my experience.

I am a student of WGU.  I, myself, enjoy and respect the school immensely.  I do understand why the two people made their negative comments.  Their experiences and/or perceptions were negative ones.  So, they have a right to share and warn everyone of what they've experienced.  I would do the same.

This is why it is important for everyone to do their due diligence.  So, please... don't stop at this website.  Peruse others and get all the facts and information that you can.  That's what I did. 

Two other friends of mine performed their own due diligence. One registered this August of 2010 and the other will start his classes in October.   My coworker is considering transferring from his present school to WGU.  I advised him to research the school first, and then make a decision.

I researched WGU and other schools I considered before I decided on WGU.  I've been a student at WGU for four months now.  I've taken and completed four classes.  The classes are challenging and enlightening.  I studied hard to pass my assessments.  The mentors (counselor) are available anytime I need them, especially my assigned mentor.  We talk once a week, and he answers any questions or issues I may have.

The school has an excellent concept, allowing professionals to prove what they know, while studying at their on pace.  Online education definitely fits my lifestyle, and WGU is the perfect online school offering the best program and cost for me.

It's up to you.  Get all the information.  Remember that people's experiences are different, and make "your educated" decision. 

Western Governors University is the right school for me.  Get the right school for you.  I wish you the best.

I have seen a few comments about this school and yes it is indeed worthy of being called a rip-off.

I have been researching this school for quite some time and have come to the conclusion that after wasting time, effort, and money they are not a good choice.

I am a 32 yo. working student. After dropping out of school in 1996 I thought I finally found an accredited school that fit just right. Little did I know that I was doomed to dissappointment.

Yes WGU is accredited. Yes thier degrees are worth something, but only after you and your prior college/university have done all the hard work. This school judging from what I have researched basically is looking for students that are almost completed in thier degree. They promise a full transfer of credit and or tell you your life experience is accepted. This is true to a point. However you find that they will not transfer most of your credit. They will tell you to go to a community college for six months and then come back. That being said they just do this to squeeze out your prior education and life experience and put you through 3-5 years of thier incompetence. They collect money, award you a degree after you pay them, and last but not least they pat themselves on the back for it and get accredited!!!

Don't even consider going here if you are reading this. You may as well go somewhere else that is more expensive, with true professionals, and a staff that is actually educated by someone other than themselves (WGU). Ask them what thier degree is and where they recieved it and you will hear WGU.

True they are not for profit. True they are accredited, but they only achieve this on the backs of real people and professionals that know what they are doing.

Hello There,

I'm sorry to hear your bad experience with WGU, but as a student in WGU people who read this report they should hear the other side of the story too.

First of all, WGU dose not promise a credit transfer and this is very well explained on there website and I'm certain the enrollment counselor explained that to you on the phone, also WGU does not preform a pre-admission evaluation so they can't tell you how many credit will be accepted. So in short, it is impossible to promise you any thing about your credit transfer, and this is just like any legit university "YOU APPLY AND YOU WILL FIND OUT AFTER WORDS & THERE IS NO PROMISES".

Second, The FIRST course you take at the university is "Education without Boundaries" in this course they explain in details how everything works and how the exams been carried out and marking scheme. and they clearly mention that it is your responsibility as a student to understand everything before you start and they did very good job in explaining every single detail and they will test you afterwords with what they explained.

but apparently, you ignored it and started giving out fuse accusations.

Third, you are talking about the quality of education is low ! THERE IS NO CLASSES AT WGU, it is self study based and if you have questions you can talk to subject matter at the university and they will answer your questions buy phone, email community website . but if you want a class to attend to ... I'm telling you "SORRY BUDDY THIS SCHOOL NOT FOR YOU". this school for motivated people who can study on their own.

fourth, the mark "pass" means it is B or grater and when you will graduate WGU will convert the pass to your corresponding mark. SO if you got A+ it will show up as A+ not as Pass on your final transcript.

I'm very sure that if you asked your enrollment counselor he / she would explain that in details. or simply if you ever took the "Education without Boundaries" course you would know by know and stopped giving out fuse accusations.

fifth, 3, 6, 12 unites not POINTS and that is up to the university to decide NOT YOU, there is colleges with 12 or even more credit hours, that is all depends on the length of the course and what is covering, for example: would you accept getting 3 unites on a course that contain the followoing:

Quantitative Literacy course covers: College Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, Statistics, Probability, and Problem Solving.

will that is acceptable to you to be a 3 credit course ? I will leave the answer to you and just to let you know it is a 6 credit course at WGU. so the unite represent the amount of work that is involved and subject length.

Finally, I wish you all the best with your school, but please stop posting fuse accusations and next time try to open your eyes and ears and try to understand university policy before you make such a report.

Hello There,

I'm sorry to hear your bad experience with WGU, but as a student in WGU people who read this report they should hear the other side of the story too.

First of all, WGU dose not promise a credit transfer and this is very well explained on there website and I'm certain the enrollment counselor explained that to you on the phone, also WGU does not preform a pre-admission evaluation so they can't tell you how many credit will be accepted. So in short, it is impossible to promise you any thing about your credit transfer, and this is just like any legit university "YOU APPLY AND YOU WILL FIND OUT AFTER WORDS & THERE IS NO PROMISES".

Second, The FIRST course you take at the university is "Education without Boundaries" in this course they explain in details how everything works and how the exams been carried out and marking scheme. and they clearly mention that it is your responsibility as a student to understand everything before you start and they did very good job in explaining every single detail and they will test you afterwords with what they explained.

but apparently, you ignored it and started giving out fuse accusations.

Third, you are talking about the quality of education is low ! THERE IS NO CLASSES AT WGU, it is self study based and if you have questions you can talk to subject matter at the university and they will answer your questions buy phone, email community website . but if you want a class to attend to ... I'm telling you "SORRY BUDDY THIS SCHOOL NOT FOR YOU". this school for motivated people who can study on their own.

fourth, the mark "pass" means it is B or grater and when you will graduate WGU will convert the pass to your corresponding mark. SO if you got A+ it will show up as A+ not as Pass on your final transcript.

I'm very sure that if you asked your enrollment counselor he / she would explain that in details. or simply if you ever took the "Education without Boundaries" course you would know by know and stopped giving out fuse accusations.

fifth, 3, 6, 12 unites not POINTS and that is up to the university to decide NOT YOU, there is colleges with 12 or even more credit hours, that is all depends on the length of the course and what is covering, for example: would you accept getting 3 unites on a course that contain the followoing:

Quantitative Literacy course covers: College Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, Statistics, Probability, and Problem Solving.

will that is acceptable to you to be a 3 credit course ? I will leave the answer to you and just to let you know it is a 6 credit course at WGU. so the unite represent the amount of work that is involved and subject length.

Finally, I wish you all the best with your school, but please stop posting fuse accusations and next time try to open your eyes and ears and try to understand university policy before you make such a report.

Hello There,

I'm sorry to hear your bad experience with WGU, but as a student in WGU people who read this report they should hear the other side of the story too.

First of all, WGU dose not promise a credit transfer and this is very well explained on there website and I'm certain the enrollment counselor explained that to you on the phone, also WGU does not preform a pre-admission evaluation so they can't tell you how many credit will be accepted. So in short, it is impossible to promise you any thing about your credit transfer, and this is just like any legit university "YOU APPLY AND YOU WILL FIND OUT AFTER WORDS & THERE IS NO PROMISES".

Second, The FIRST course you take at the university is "Education without Boundaries" in this course they explain in details how everything works and how the exams been carried out and marking scheme. and they clearly mention that it is your responsibility as a student to understand everything before you start and they did very good job in explaining every single detail and they will test you afterwords with what they explained.

but apparently, you ignored it and started giving out fuse accusations.

Third, you are talking about the quality of education is low ! THERE IS NO CLASSES AT WGU, it is self study based and if you have questions you can talk to subject matter at the university and they will answer your questions buy phone, email community website . but if you want a class to attend to ... I'm telling you "SORRY BUDDY THIS SCHOOL NOT FOR YOU". this school for motivated people who can study on their own.

fourth, the mark "pass" means it is B or grater and when you will graduate WGU will convert the pass to your corresponding mark. SO if you got A+ it will show up as A+ not as Pass on your final transcript.

I'm very sure that if you asked your enrollment counselor he / she would explain that in details. or simply if you ever took the "Education without Boundaries" course you would know by know and stopped giving out fuse accusations.

fifth, 3, 6, 12 unites not POINTS and that is up to the university to decide NOT YOU, there is colleges with 12 or even more credit hours, that is all depends on the length of the course and what is covering, for example: would you accept getting 3 unites on a course that contain the followoing:

Quantitative Literacy course covers: College Algebra, Measurement and Geometry, Statistics, Probability, and Problem Solving.

will that is acceptable to you to be a 3 credit course ? I will leave the answer to you and just to let you know it is a 6 credit course at WGU. so the unite represent the amount of work that is involved and subject length.

Finally, I wish you all the best with your school, but please stop posting fuse accusations and next time try to open your eyes and ears and try to understand university policy before you make such a report.