The school and its study model
Online degrees with a flat price per six-month term. Compare the program, your study pace and transfer evaluation before estimating the total cost.
Western Governors University is an online university headquartered in Utah. It offers bachelor's and master's degrees through its schools of business, technology, education and health, with no campus to attend. Start dates fall on the first of every month. The big difference from a typical college is the billing: tuition is paid per six-month term, not per credit, and covers as many courses as you complete in that term toward one degree. Programs are competency-based, so you move on once you show mastery. That makes WGU a natural fit for working adults who already know part of the material.
What matters for a career change
Start with your target program, available study time and the credits you can transfer.
Flat tuition per term
You pay one price per six-month term, not per credit.
WGU says the price covers as many courses as you complete in a term toward one degree program. Undergraduate business tuition is $3,850 per term.
Monthly start dates
Terms begin on the first of every month.
You do not have to wait for a fall or spring semester to begin.
Competency-based courses
You move on when you show you know the material.
The business administration page says exams are taken whenever you feel ready, and the degree ends with a capstone written project.
Review transfer credit first
Credit is reviewed course by course.
The catalog allows up to 75 percent of a program to transfer. Ask for the evaluation before your first term.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Flat tuition per six-month term: $3,850 for undergraduate business programs, plus a $200 resource fee.
- Fully online, with a new start date on the first of every month.
- Transfer credit can cover up to 75 percent of a program.
- Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), with programmatic accreditation for nursing, computing and teacher licensure.
- Programs cover business, technology, education and health.
Cons
- No campus, so there are no in-person classes.
- Each additional term adds tuition and the resource fee.
- WGU will not award transfer credit once you have begun your program.
- Technology programs cost more than business: $4,125 per term for computer science and $4,425 for cybersecurity.
- Each term adds a $200 resource fee on top of tuition.
Tuition and fee structure
Prices are per six-month term for terms beginning on or after October 1, 2026. Each term also carries a $200 resource fee.
Western Governors University plans at a glance
| Plan | Price (USD) | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Business undergrad | from$3,850/ term | Flat tuition for all undergraduate business programs.
|
| Technology degrees | from$3,925/ term | B.S. in Information Technology, Cloud and Network Engineering, and Data Analytics.
|
| Graduate business | from$4,850/ term | Flat tuition for all graduate business programs.
|
| RN to BSN | from$5,325/ term | Nursing for working registered nurses.
|
Business undergrad
Flat tuition for all undergraduate business programs.
- $200 resource fee per term
- As many courses as you complete
Technology degrees
B.S. in Information Technology, Cloud and Network Engineering, and Data Analytics.
- Computer Science and Software Engineering are $4,125
- Cybersecurity is $4,425
Graduate business
Flat tuition for all graduate business programs.
- $200 resource fee per term
RN to BSN
Nursing for working registered nurses.
- Also the rate for the Nursing B.S. program
WGU at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Utah |
| Format | Online only |
| Institutional accreditor | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) |
| Cost model | Flat tuition per six-month term |
| Resource fee | $200 per term |
| Application fee | $65 one time |
| Start dates | First of every month |
| Transfer credit | Up to 75 percent of a program |
| Fields | Business, technology, education and health, including nursing |
How it works
Apply and pay the application fee
The application fee is $65 and is paid once.
Send transcripts before you start
Official transcripts should arrive by the 5th of the month before your start date. WGU aims to finish the evaluation within two weeks.
Pay tuition for the term
Tuition for the full term is due on the first day of the term. A payment plan is available.
Work through courses at your pace
Take as many courses as you can complete in the six-month term. Exams are taken when you feel ready.
Finish the capstone and graduate
Business administration ends with a capstone written project, a business plan.
Build a realistic study budget
This example budgets four six-month terms in an undergraduate business program. It is a planning scenario, not a completion-time estimate.
- Tuition4 terms × $3,850
- $15,400
- Resource fees4 terms × $200
- $800
- ApplicationOne-time fee
- $65
$16,265 total
Business degree · four termsUses the published business tuition and resource fee for terms starting on or after October 1, 2026. Assumes unchanged rates for four terms. More terms or different program charges change the total. Source notes dated November 2, 2026.
Is WGU a good fit?
WGU vs. the alternatives
WGU
- Flat price per six-month term
- Online only
- Up to 75 percent transfer
- NWCCU accredited
Concordia University Texas
- $550 per credit hour online
- Austin campus
- SACSCOC accredited
- Start Now Scholarship can lower it to $350
Keiser University
- Per-semester billing
- 19 Florida campuses plus online
- SACSCOC accredited
- Many programs on campus
The right pick depends on whether you want a flat term price, a per-credit price or a campus.
Before you sign
Sources and editorial notes
We compared the school’s published information. We did not enroll in or test a program. Ratings are editorial estimates. Source notes are dated November 2, 2026. Confirm current tuition and program requirements with the school.
- WGU Accreditation: NWCCU institutional accreditation; CCNE, ABET and CAEP programmatic accreditation; Utah headquarters. Checked November 2, 2026.
- WGU 2026-2027 tuition: tuition by program for six-month terms starting October 1, 2026, including $3,850 for business bachelor's degrees, $3,925 for IT, $4,125 for computer science and software engineering, $4,425 for cybersecurity, $4,850 for the MBA and $5,325 for RN to BSN. Checked November 2, 2026.
- WGU Tuition and Financial Aid: tuition paid per six-month term, monthly start dates, tuition due on the first day, new rates from October 1, 2026. Checked November 2, 2026.
- WGU Business Degrees Tuition and Fees: $3,850 and $4,850 business tuition, $200 resource fee. Checked November 2, 2026.
- WGU Technology Degrees Tuition: technology tuition per term. Checked November 2, 2026.
- WGU Business Administration Bachelor's: 61 percent finish in 19 months, competency-based exams, capstone. Checked November 2, 2026.
- WGU College Transfers: transcript deadline, two-week evaluation, no credit after the program begins. Checked November 2, 2026.
- WGU 2026 Institutional Catalog: 75 percent transfer cap, $65 application fee. Checked November 2, 2026.
Alternatives
Keiser University
Concordia University Texas
Cedar Crest CollegeFrequently asked questions
How does WGU charge tuition?
Per six-month term, not per credit. You pay one flat price for as many courses as you complete in the term, plus a $200 resource fee. Undergraduate business programs are $3,850 per term for terms beginning on or after October 1, 2026.
Is WGU accredited?
Yes. The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) is its institutional accreditor. Some programs also hold programmatic accreditation, such as CCNE for nursing and ABET for computer science and cybersecurity.
How much credit can I transfer?
WGU's catalog says you can transfer credit up to 75 percent of your program, and WGU sets the maximum for each program. Credit is reviewed course by course.
Can I transfer credit after I start?
No. WGU says it will not award transfer credit after a student has begun their program.
How should I estimate the total cost?
Ask how many courses remain after the transfer evaluation. Budget for the number of six-month terms your study schedule can support. Do not treat another student’s completion time as a promise.