Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT 84107
About Western Governors University
Western Governors University is a private research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, enrolling about 155,088 students. Western Governors University awards degrees and certificates tracked in federal College Scorecard and IPEDS reporting. Published tuition for full-time study is about $8,658 per year before aid; net price varies by family income. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $60,615 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Western Governors University charges about 0.3× the national private non-profit median tuition ($8,658).
- Versus the Utah median, sticker tuition is at.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 46.18%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $60,615.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Western Governors University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 1108% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Governors University | $8,658 | $12,548 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Utah (state median) | $8,658 | $10,360 | 21 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Western Governors University really?
Key findings
- Western Governors University charges about 0.3× the national private non-profit median tuition ($8,658).
- Versus the Utah median, sticker tuition is at.
Western Governors University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $8,658
Finding Western Governors University charges about 0.3× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $8,658. That is about 0.3× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Utah median ($8,658), sticker tuition is at. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 27% below.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Western Governors University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Western Governors University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Western Governors University is $12,548.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $12,548 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $2,188 above the Utah median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $6,152 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Western Governors University, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Western Governors University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Western Governors University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$8,658
Avg. net price
$12,548
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $12,064 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $12,436 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $12,578 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $14,824 |
| $110,001+ | $12,734 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $34,632. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Western Governors University is known for
Top program completions
- Business Administration and Management, General5,919
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse5,592
- Curriculum and Instruction5,296
- Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance3,702
- Learning Sciences3,267
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Western Governors University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Western Governors University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Western Governors University.
Campus
Location
Salt Lake City, UT
City / state
- ZIP
- 84107
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 33% below the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Rocky Mountains
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Size
Enrollment
155,088
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 225,309
- Graduate
- 55,120
- Full-time share
- 100%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$11,116
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 39.42%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Western Governors University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Western Governors University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Western Governors University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $6,070 | $6,070 | $12,349 |
| 2014 | $6,070 | $6,070 | $10,431 |
| 2015 | $6,070 | $6,070 | $9,862 |
| 2016 | $6,070 | $6,070 | $10,957 |
| 2017 | $6,070 | $6,070 | — |
| 2018 | $6,670 | $6,670 | — |
| 2019 | $6,670 | $6,670 | $9,805 |
| 2020 | $6,670 | $6,670 | $9,969 |
| 2021 | $7,452 | $7,452 | $11,835 |
| 2022 | $8,010 | $8,010 | $10,580 |
| 2023 | $8,300 | $8,300 | $10,442 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Western Governors University reported total enrollment of about 155,088 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 44% male and 56% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (50.4%), Hispanic or Latino (15.6%), and Black or African American (14.3%). About 39.42% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 47.1% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
100.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Western Governors University in 2024 is 155,088 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 225,309 students. Graduate enrollment is about 55,120 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
64.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
33.07% 100% Completion Time
46.18% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 33.07% of students graduating from Western Governors University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 50% male / 50% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 11% male / 89% female
- Curriculum and Instruction: 13% male / 87% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Western Governors University graduates earn a median of $60,615 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Western Governors University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $60,615. Median federal loan debt: $11,116. Average net price used in cost models: $12,548.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Western Governors University graduates report median earnings of $60,615 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Western Governors University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (45 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Western Governors University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Western Governors University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Western Governors University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$2.6M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Utah median 0.05× the median ($57.7M)
- Rocky Mountains median 0.14× the median ($19.5M)
- U.S. median 0.10× the median ($26.4M)
- Utah median 0.00× the median ($5,500)
- Rocky Mountains median 0.00× the median ($10,274)
- U.S. median 0.00× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 74.6%
- Utah median 4.1 pp above median (70.5%)
- Rocky Mountains median 1.3 pp above median (73.3%)
- U.S. median 16.6 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $6,375
- Utah median 0.77× the median ($8,316)
- Rocky Mountains median 0.85× the median ($7,458)
- U.S. median 0.84× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $2,776
- Utah median 0.45× the median ($6,230)
- Rocky Mountains median 0.41× the median ($6,852)
- U.S. median 0.38× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Western Governors University at a glance
Western Governors University
Western Governors University is a private non-profit institution in Salt Lake City, UT, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business Administration and Management, GeneralRegistered Nursing/Registered NurseCurriculum and Instruction
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian50.4%Hispanic or Latino15.6%Black or African American14.3%
- Opportunity College (2025)
- Higher access & higher earnings · Browse OCU directory
Schools near Western Governors University
Other campuses in Salt Lake City, UT when available, plus nearby institutions in Utah.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within Utah, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Western Governors University located?
Western Governors University is located in Salt Lake City, UT.
What is Western Governors University's tuition?
Western Governors University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $8,658 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $12,548 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Western Governors University cost?
Reported tuition is $8,658 and average net price is $12,548 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $8,100 annually.
What explains Western Governors University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($12,548), completion (46.2% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($60,615). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Western Governors University?
Western Governors University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 225,309 students, White (50.4%), Hispanic or Latino (15.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Western Governors University?
About 47.1% of students at Western Governors University are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Western Governors University earn?
Median earnings are $69,572 six years after entry and $60,615 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Western Governors University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 46.2% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Western Governors University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $11,116.
Is Western Governors University public or private?
Western Governors University is a private nonprofit institution located in Salt Lake City, UT.
Is Western Governors University an HBCU?
No. Western Governors University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Western Governors University a tribal college?
No. Western Governors University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.