Western Governors University

    Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

    Western Governors University is a private nonprofit university in Salt Lake City, UT, with 155,088 students. In the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, the average net price after grants was $12,748 a year. The six-year graduation rate is 50.4%, and median earnings ten years after entry are $76,999.

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    • Private nonprofit
    • Large suburb
    • Master's university

    or ask about this college inChatGPTClaude

    Western Governors University acceptance rate

    Western Governors University has an open admission policy: it accepts any student who applies, so it reports no acceptance rate to the U.S. Department of Education (CollegesRef 2026–27 edition). Individual programs can still set their own entry requirements.

    What we know

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · latest data
    Admit rate
    Open admission
    accepts any student who applies
    Avg. net price
    $12,748
    per year, after aid

    Costs less than 69% of colleges

    National median $17,577

    Graduation rate
    50.4%
    within six years

    Near the national median

    National median 54.6%

    Median earnings
    $76,999
    10 years after entry

    Higher than 93% of colleges

    National median $46,702

    Students
    155,088

    Larger than nearly all colleges

    National median 921

    Western Governors UniversityMiddle half of collegesNational median

    What the numbers say about Western Governors University

    Each finding compares this college's federal figures with other colleges. Your own price and outcome will differ.

    Computed from verified data
    Price against similar colleges
    The average net price of $12,748 a year is about the same as the median of $13,397 across 5 private nonprofit colleges in Utah.
    Price by family income
    Families earning up to $30,000 paid $12,005 a year after grants, and families earning over $110,000 paid $16,397, a difference of $4,392: the lowest-income families paid 73% of the top bracket's price.
    Debt against earnings
    Graduates who borrowed left with a median of $12,500 in federal loans, 16% of the $76,999 median salary of former students ten years after they started. On a standard 10-year plan that is about $142 a month, 2% of a typical monthly salary.
    Who gets the best relative price
    Against other private nonprofit colleges, the price is lowest for families earning over $110,000: $16,397 a year, $13,125 under the $29,522 median for that income bracket.

    Dates and updates

    Get reminders before the FAFSA opens and before the usual early, Regular Decision and May 1 dates, plus an email when we update Western Governors University's cost, admission or outcome figures.

    We don't list this college's own deadlines; check its admissions site for those.

    Cost & financial aid

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · latest data

    Average net price

    $12,748

    What students paid per year on average after grants and scholarships. Your price depends on family income.

    Published price vs. what students paid

    Tuition & fees
    $8,730
    Average net price
    $12,748
    Tuition is the published yearly price. Average net price is the yearly cost of attendance (tuition, housing, food, books) minus grants and scholarships.

    Students receiving Pell Grants

    Pell Grant recipients
    47%
    Share of undergraduates who receive a federal Pell Grant, a common signal of how many students come from lower-income families.

    Free tools

    Plan your costs for Western Governors University

    Want it all in one PDF for up to three colleges? See a sample Aid & Loan Plan

    Outcomes & student data

    Federal data from IPEDS and the U.S. College Scorecard, not student reviews.

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · latest data
    50.4%

    Graduation rate

    First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time

    64.6%

    First-year retention

    Students who return for a second year

    6.6%

    Transfer-out rate

    First-time, full-time students who transferred to another college

    Median earnings

    $76,999

    Former students who received federal aid

    Graduate earnings by major at Western Governors University

    Is it worth it?

    What Western Governors University graduates earn against what they borrow and what the degree costs after grants.

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard, latest data
    Earnings, debt and payback at Western Governors University and similar colleges
    Latest official dataThis collegeSimilar colleges
    Median earningsFormer students, 10 years after startingSource: U.S. College Scorecard, latest data$76,999$59,897
    Typical federal debtGraduates who borrowed; about $142 a month on a 10-year planSource: U.S. College Scorecard, latest data$12,500$23,250
    Years to pay back4 years of average net price ($12,748 a year), paid with 10% of median earningsSource: U.S. College Scorecard, latest data6.6 years16 years

    Similar colleges: the median of 929 private nonprofit four-year colleges nationwide with the same figures reported. Payback is illustrative: it ignores interest, taxes and living costs, and earnings vary by major. Check a loan payment against earnings.

    Explore these programs

    Every field of study, with the colleges that offer it and what graduates earn.

    Programs A–Z

    Academics

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · latest data

    Total students

    155,088

    Carnegie classification

    Master's university

    A College or University that also has a large number of Master’s Degree programs.

    Is this campus your type?

    Five questions match you to a college identity, then show where Western Governors University sits for you.

    Take the fit quiz

    Location & details

    Where the campus is, how far it sits from a major city, and other colleges within reach.

    Western Governors UniversitySalt Lake City, Utah, United States

    Distances are straight-line miles, not driving distance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, tiles by OpenFreeMap and OpenMapTiles.

    Still have a question?

    Ask about admissions, cost or campus life at Western Governors University. Answers come from CollegesRef data.

    Ask CollegesRef

    Next step

    Premium Fit Report$29 once

    Your quiz result turned into up to 10 best-fit colleges, with reach, target and likely groups, costs, earnings and an action plan.

    Start with the quiz See a sample report

    Compare before you decide

    Admit rate, net price and outcomes for Western Governors University and Brigham Young University-Provo BYU Utah, side by side.

    Compare with Brigham Young University-Provo BYU Utah

    Frequently asked questions

    How much is Western Governors University tuition?

    Tuition at Western Governors University is $8,730 a year before financial aid in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. The average net price after grants is $12,748 a year.

    What is the average net price at Western Governors University?

    The average net price at Western Governors University, what first-time, full-time students paid after grants and scholarships, was $12,748 a year in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. Your own price depends on family income; the college's net price calculator gives a personal estimate.

    What is the graduation rate at Western Governors University?

    50.4% of first-time, full-time students at Western Governors University graduate within six years (150% of normal time), according to the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.

    What colleges are similar to Western Governors University?

    The closest matches are BYU, Westminster College, and Brigham Young University, based on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile.

    Data sources & last updated

    Last checked Nov 15, 2026

    Admissions
    U.S. College Scorecard · latest data
    Cost
    U.S. College Scorecard · latest data
    Outcomes
    U.S. College Scorecard · latest data
    Enrollment
    U.S. College Scorecard · latest data

    Figures come from federal reporting. Text marked “CollegesRef editorial” is our own summary, and similar-college lists come from CollegesRef matching. How we source data

    Keep Western Governors University on your list

    Save it to your Backpack and compare it with the other schools you are considering.

    Compare colleges
    1. 1. Save

      Add colleges to your Backpack as you research.

    2. 2. Compare

      Line up cost, admit rate, and outcomes side by side.

    3. 3. Share

      Email your Backpack to a parent or counselor.