Western Governors University

Frequently asked questions

About Western Governors University

Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.

Where is Western Governors University located?

Western Governors University is located in Salt Lake City, UT, in the United States.

What type of institution is Western Governors University?

Western Governors University is a private university based in UT. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.

Is Western Governors University open admission?

Yes. Western Governors University reports an open admission policy to the federal IPEDS survey (IPEDS, admission policy reported in the 2024-25 IC collection), which IPEDS defines as accepting any student who applies. Individual programs, often nursing and other health programs, can still set their own entry requirements, so check the program you want with the college.

What is the tuition at Western Governors University?

Western Governors University's published in-state tuition is approximately $8,658 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.

How many students attend Western Governors University?

Western Governors University reports total enrollment of approximately 210,208 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.

How much does Western Governors University actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Western Governors University is approximately $12,548 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $12,064 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $12,734. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.

What is the graduation rate at Western Governors University?

Western Governors University reports a graduation rate of approximately 46% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.

How much student debt do graduates of Western Governors University have?

Students who borrowed at Western Governors University left with a median of approximately $11,116 in federal loans, and about 43% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.

How much do graduates of Western Governors University earn?

Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $60,615 for students who received federal financial aid at Western Governors University. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.

How should I verify final details about Western Governors University?

CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with Western Governors University.

How much do Nursing (RN) graduates from Western Governors University earn?

Western Governors University's bachelor's graduates in Nursing (RN) earned a median $97,114 four years after graduating, 9% above the $88,910 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $85,861; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $9,470 in federal loans at this college (about $100 a month on a 10-year plan), and had $22,660 in total federal debt including other colleges attended (same degree level). For context, registered nurses in Utah are paid a median $84,600 a year across all experience levels (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), a figure for everyone in the job, not only recent graduates.

How much do Business Administration graduates from Western Governors University earn?

Western Governors University's master's graduates in Business Administration earned a median $98,950 four years after graduating, 4% below the $103,485 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $83,321; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $13,165 in federal loans at this college (about $150 a month on a 10-year plan).

Which programs at Western Governors University have the highest graduate earnings?

Among the 26 programs at Western Governors University with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were IT Administration and Management, master's ($144,205); Computer Software and Media Applications, master's ($129,737); and IT Administration and Management, bachelor's ($129,303) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.

Does Western Governors University get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?

No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, Western Governors University's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $92,218, above the $34,635 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 nationally, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.