Western Governors University Reviews
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WGU has been a good experience.
School recommended by
Tony
on
July 23, 2010
5/5 people found this review helpful
I'm about to complete my 2nd term at WGU and have been very pleased. I work full time and I HAVE to have a full time income. WGU allows me to do this without sacrificing time with my family or my job. There is absolutely no way I could get my degree without WGU.
I've read a lot of reviews concerning the testing. "Tests don't reflect the course of study". My response is this: IT'S COMPENTENCY BASED! If you have any critical thinking skills whatsoever, you will be just fine.
The cut scores on a lot of the assessments are 53%! The tests are designed not to simply test you on memorizing the course of study. Instead, they are designed to make you actually think about what you have learned while going through the course of study, and then apply it when choosing an answer to a question.
I would definitely recommend this school to anyone looking to earn a degree. Two terms in, I am very happy with the experience.
Learn More about Western Governors UniversityA Great Education
School recommended by
Jared
on
July 21, 2010
3/3 people found this review helpful
My experience at Western Governors University was mostly positive. Like with anything, there are always things that can be improved but the school sends out a survey that allows students the opportunity to make suggestions on how to better things and I saw improvement from these surveys.
I just graduated with my BS in Marketing Management and i am very happy with what I learned, how I was able to learn it and the cost per semester.
I would recommend WGU to anyone looking for a degree program that allows self paced learning at an affordable cost.
Master's in Education- recommended
School recommended by
Anonymous
on
July 13, 2010
11/11 people found this review helpful
If you're a teacher, you know that the only real way to move up on the salary scale is to get a master's degree, and where you get your master's degree doesn't really matter, as long as it's from an accredited institution.
WGU fills the bill as well as any bricks-and-mortar university, and for a lot less money. No, it's not a life-changing educational experience, but I plenty of friends and colleagues who have done traditional master's degrees, and their programs weren't that great either. It's just another hoop you need to jump through.
This has not been a perfect experience by any measure. I've had way too many "right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing" experiences at WGU, probably because none of the people I deal with (course mentors, my own personal mentor, graders, etc.) actually work together.
I get the impression that they only lay eyes on each other once or twice a year, and they clearly don't spend a whole lot of time talking to each other on the phone or by email.
There's a lot of runaround--one person can tell you about this but not that, and the person who can tell you about that can't explain why another thing is happening, and nobody can tell you anything about why you didn't pass your assessment other than "go back to the course of study and review the reading."
For each course, there's a Course of Study with assignments to follow (many of which you never turn in, so if you can figure out which ones will actually be useful and which ones are busy work, you can save yourself a lot of time). There's also a set of required tasks in Taskstream, which is the work that actually gets graded, and I agree with other reviewers that the quality of the grading is hit-and-miss.
The Course of Study and the Taskstream assignments often don't align, probably because they're written by different people who didn't bother to talk to each other, so I have spent a fair amount of time trying to find out exactly what I'm supposed to do. Judging from the comments in the student communities, my experience is not uncommon.
Also, there's recently been a staff shake-up that seems to have resulted in lots of people being let go. In my case, my capstone chair is gone, which is unfortunate but would have been more of a problem if I'd been farther along in my research project and had to change chairs in the middle; one of my course mentors who was incapable of giving clear information is also gone, and good riddance!
This all sounds pretty negative, but I still recommend WGU for the master's in education program. It certainly hasn't been a perfect experience, but in the end, I will finish the program more quickly than I would at a traditional university, for a lot less money, and I've had a lot more flexibility than I would have had in a traditional program.
Stay clear
School not recommended by
A. Diaz
on
July 06, 2010
6/12 people found this review helpful
I had attended two years at WGU. My experience was horrible. My first mentor left and gave no goodbyes or reasons. My second mentor said the schools policies were not similiar to her own and she felt their intentions were not in the students best welfare.
I was ready to quit when I was reassigned a very nice mentor. She tried to help me get around the financial aide suspension, she felt it wasn't my fault with having two mentors and all. Anyway I was finally re-instated but- by the time that happened I lost semester time.
I was never able to recover, and I couldn't receive the help I needed. It is true they have tons of evaluators, if you submit something today and it fails wait a week and resubmit-I guarantee it will pass. Very one sided and bias school, do not waste your time or money..
Rebuttal to the poor reviews
School recommended by
Chris
on
June 27, 2010
14/16 people found this review helpful
After reading these unhappy reviews, I cannot help but think that my experience is completely contrary. Whereas people stated that the school is not interested in a student's success and that WGU is only interested in making money, let me say that they are wrong.
My mentor has been nothing but supportive, knowledgeable, and encouraged me to work. The thing with this school is that you get what you put in. If you are motivated and enjoy applying knowledge, rather than simply regurgitating it, this school is for you.
The fact of the matter is that to succeed, your level of committment will determine your success. By working hard, seeking out answers, and applying yourself, this program will be worthwhile. If you want someone to tell you what to write, and what to think this program is not for you.
I am nearly done with my MBA and will recommend this program to anyone that asks.
WGU is great is traditional school is wrong for you.
School recommended by
Robert
on
June 16, 2010
26/32 people found this review helpful
WGU isn't a traditional school. It has a unique model that fits a variety of lifestyles, but requires a great deal of self-motivation to succeed.
At its core, its a series of study guides (courses), a series of learning resources (books, videos, online text, etc), a mentor (counselor), and course mentors (course counselors), who guide you through a self taught, standardized degree plan.
Barriers to your education the school handily removes are the logistics of delivering an education to you (no classes to attend), and the finances to fund your education (through grants and loans).
You supply the rest. You can capitalize on your own learning style, your drive to succeed, and your previous knowledge.
My average time to study is about 30 hrs per class. I take a pre-test to see where I am at, study those things I don't know, and sit for an exam, write a paper, or complete a project to show mastery of the coursework. If I fail (I havn't yet) I get to learn from my mistakes and try again.
Many barriers cropped up once I started. I found I was not studying enough, that I didn't have a good learning space to study in, and thus my performance was sub par. I didn't get anything done in two months, and wasn't any closer to a degree than when I had started.
I realized what I would have to change to succeed here, determined what to change, and I've enacted those changes. I have a set study schedule, and I have been able to earn 30 credits in my first term, which isn't over yet. I should graduate with a Bachelors of Science in IT with a security in a bit less than two terms, if I can keep up the pace.
The downside is I only get a year of schooling this way. I feel a little like I'm getting ripped off for three years of living the life of a student. I'm considering completing two masters programs. The MBA and Masters in Information Assurance, to make up for it.
As for the structure of the school, they take my suggestions seriously. Every employee of the school is given raises and bonuses based on student enrollment, graduation rates, and student satisfaction surveys. They have financial incentives to help me succeed. My mentor is really good too.
I have found the grading to be hard and fair. The classes are pass/fail, the GPA is set at 3.0, and psycho-metricians determine what level of competency must be shown to constitute a "B" grade, while most of my upper level classes are passed by earning an industry certification.
The general-ed classes are a roughly 1/2 of the program, a few are easy, a few are hard. Some people truly struggle with subjects. Its not possible to pass with a low C in any subject. You "get it" or you don't progress.
The upper level classes in my degree program almost always result in a certification. Some of those are easy. They all require study. A+, Network+, Project+, CIW web design & database certs, Microsoft certs, and Cisco certs.
Ok... I reread my review and it didn't quite capture the experience. I study 5 hours a day in a coffee shop or a bar. I have a laptop, and I'm either a little wired or a little drunk. I choose my poison based on the subject at hand. I read about 60 pages a minute, and retain most of it... sometimes I listen to headphones.
I take a break about every 15-20 minutes to go talk to someone about something not school related at all. Its honestly an incredibly pleasant, easy experience, and it doesn't feel like I'm working at all. When I finish a class I reward myself with a piece of delicious cake. School is making me fat. And smart. It rocks.
WGU is AWESOME!
School recommended by
Alesha Mckay
on
June 13, 2010
10/14 people found this review helpful
I am finishing up my 3rd term at WGU. I love this university, although the courses are hard, they r very do able. No university is perfect. I would recommend this school to anyone you like to learn independently!
THE ABSOLUTE WORST DECISION I EVER MADE
School not recommended by
Mary
on
May 25, 2010
43/60 people found this review helpful
My name is "Mary" for the purposes of this review. I am currently enrolled at Western Governor's University in the Bachelors of Chemistry 2nd Ed. in order to gain my teaching certification to teach High school Chemistry. I was thrilled to be able to live "green" not have to drive my gas guzzling truck back and forth to the local university which is nearly 30 miles from my rural home.
I am extremely self motivated, and also intelligent by societies standards. I hold a BA in engineering and due to the fall out of the economy looked to retrain as a teacher. I love people adults and children alike. I HATE this school.
My 1st mentor did not give any course direction, she was EXTREMELY nice, but didn't get anything done. I was given a new mentor, she still didn't get anything done, but she was wonderful at taking notes, twisting words to her benefit while pretending to "be there for you" she was turning me in to Teacher's services as a student who had a "bad disposition". She stated to them that she recorded my phone calls (illegally) although I have nothing to hide, so I don't much care.
My struggle was with their testing. The material in the Course of Study did not match up to what was on the test. This has been stated by other students here and has been repeatedly stated by students in the WGU portal.
I finally got to speak at length with a course mentor about the testing issue, she asked me several questions about the test, then made me aware that I was right about the tests having issues. The very next business day was when I received the warning letter from teacher services about my "bad disposition" demanding basically an apology within 72 hours or "further action up to and including suspension will be taken".
An apology for what? Holding them accountable? I am two terms in, stuck with 10,000.00 in financial aid, credits that according to the local university are not transferable, and NOTHING but aggravation to show for it. I do not recommend this school.
I advise ALL to look closely at the reviews IN FAVOR of this school, they are the polar opposite of what is real. I am certain that they are the work of recruiters (who by the way tell you nothing) and the mentors. I am stuck here for now, until I finish this term and start over. BE VERY CAREFUL WHAT YOU SIGN UP FOR.
Do not waste your time if you are not a beginner.
School not recommended by
Stephanie Kelley
on
April 22, 2010
30/46 people found this review helpful
I already have an Associates degree in Human Service Management. When I went to enroll in this school after looking at my transcript (GPA 3.2) they were only going to credit me with 32 "units"
They said there was no way that they would accept my prior management classes or my writing classes.
Why would I (or you) waste your time repeating or paying for work you have already completed?
This school is primarily designed for teachers
School not recommended by
Sharon MacGregor
on
April 06, 2010
29/48 people found this review helpful
Things were going great with this school until I had to do a hands-on project, which would lead to my Master's thesis. I had to do it in a school or workplace, since my workplace would not allow it, i had to do it in a school. Well since I was not a teacher, schools were very hesistant to let me in and teachers were not really overly cooperative....so I didn't get the required response rate that I needed for WGU to count my project.
I thought perhaps my mentor could help, but she claimed she was restricted to give students any help in this area, and that she was merely a mentor. I posted on several educational websites and other areas to garner teachers' attention, but didn't get enough response, and unfortunately reached the time limit covered by financial aid and had to take a sabbatical.
I took all of my tests with WGU, but wasn't able to complete the hands-on work....so basically wasted 2 years and $20,000. A brick and mortar school would have been more help in getting you into a school to do a program required for you to complete your degree....WGU does not offer that type of help.
So unless you are a teacher already....they aren't much help. I am paying on a loan that I got ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for.
Rip off! Not based on compentency!
School not recommended by
Jen
on
April 05, 2010
22/46 people found this review helpful
A rip off! You get what you pay for! I have a B.A. and a M.S. in other subjects, but wanted to get an elementary teaching certification. WGU told me that I would have to complete about 20 prerequisite credits before even enrolling in the teaching cert program (International Baccalaureate credits are not accepted, either). You also cannot roll into the teaching cert program until after you completed the 6 month prerequisite program.
The majority of the required credits had duplicate content of undergrad and grad courses I have taken at other universities. They want your money and it is a farce that they say the program is based on competency (only if you pay for their courses!). They did not tell me about this until after I paid to have 3 transcripts sent to WGU and paid their online nonrefundable application fee ($65). I spent 6 weeks and over $100 trying to get answers and replies before giving up on the program.
In addition, the enrollment counselor would take at least 2 weeks to respond to my emails and phone calls. I never did receive a response from inquiries with the transcript evaluation department. Poor, poor service. You are a number to them, not a person!
This type of learning worked for me!
School recommended by
Joy Pendleton
on
April 02, 2010
39/46 people found this review helpful
I needed to go back to school and get a degree, I decided on teaching and found WGU. Everyone learns in different ways and for me this was the best match out there. I was able to work at my own pace, my mentor worked with me all the way. Everyone from the top right to the lowest employee have been willing to talk to me and assist me in anything I have questions or needed from the college. I started with 21 transfer credits and I was able to receive my BA in education in 14months, I worked hard and was rewarded. Any snags were overcome with help from my mentor or the student serveces dept. I worked hard, and it is hard work, but I made it. After getting my BA I decided to try for my Masters in education. Wow, I thought I worked hard for my BA but being dyslexic I had to work even harder. Again everyone at the University worked just as hard with me. Any and ALL problems were handled in a professional manner. If you feel you do not have a good match with your mentor you can talk to student serveces and get a different on without any hard feelings from the college. They not everyone works well with everyone else.
I have both my BA and my Masters in education and am very pleased. I have made life long friends, earned both my degrees and at a resonable price. If you are a good self starter and not afraid of work, this could be the college you are looking for. My son is now attending the IT department and my daughter in half way through the teaching school. They are having the same response from the college as I did.
Looking for a great college go for it.
Do Not Consider This "School"
School not recommended by
Truth B. Told
on
March 30, 2010
15/48 people found this review helpful
WGU was a terrible experience from beginning to end. From the first day you're assigned a "mentor" who's supposed to help you along the way. She was nothing but a constant problem. The program (MBA) started off being a lot of work, but worthwhile and challenging enough. I even tested out of classes along the way. Then came many re-writes of papers over and over again for rediculous reasons. Then came the last two exams for the entire program and they were absolutely HELLISH! After all of that time, effort, and money invested I really thought I was going to flunk out. Honestly, I have never failed at anything in my life. It was horrible because I had to take the last two exams SIX times before I passed them. The fees? $60 per exam and you only get 6 chances, so I literally passed the last two exams on the very last allowed attempt. Coincidence? I'm doubting it. Especially since I failed both exams by 1% on my 5th attempt. WGU is a scam and they're responsible for the lowest portion of my life.
Waste of time
School not recommended by
Roxana
on
March 15, 2010
17/48 people found this review helpful
I decided to take my classes at WGU to get my bachelors in Accounting. It is regionally accredited and the tuition costs are not expensive. I wanted to get my degree in two years....they just dont let you advance... I am going to change school, but the loan has to be repaid....You only have to read and read the books,but you dont practice. Definitely, I dont recommend this school..
So far so good...
School recommended by
Angela
on
February 23, 2010
40/45 people found this review helpful
I enrolled in November with about 60 previous college credits and have had a very positive experience thus far. My mentor has been there every step of the way.
I had one goal when I enrolled and that was to graduate as quickly as possible. I've worked in the corporate world for numerous years and feel that I have a good grasp of most business concepts. Through WGU's objective assessment options, I have been able to test out of 5 courses in three months and expect to graduate by the end of the summer.
I have yet to participate in any of the learning communities, as I feel that that would only slow me down. It is; however, nice to know that participation is not required but these communities are there if you need them.
If you are looking for a traditional educational experience and a lot of guidance, then this may not be the right school for you. If you; however, are looking to accelerate your degree, are a self starter and feel that you can do will with self-guided study, then I would highly recommend WGU.
WGU is great!
School recommended by
anonomous
on
February 01, 2010
40/45 people found this review helpful
I have been attending WGU for a year and a hlaf. I started form scratch, with only a HS diploma. I have completed 2 yrs of work with this past year and a half. I am now considered a junior, that fast. I have a full time job, and family. I found that all the mentors have been great, with the exception of one. In that case, I kept in close contact with my academic mentor and got through the course. YOu get what you put in on your own merit and schedule. There are no required chats, group work or meetings. They are there if you need them, but are not required. The mentors for the course work, you have acces to them via phone, email or chat- all you have to do is ask. I am extremely happy with my choice to attend WGU!!
Corruption at WGU
School not recommended by
Anonymous
on
January 27, 2010
23/73 people found this review helpful
I am currently attending WGU so I have to remain anonymous because of the retaliation from the "Evaulation Department." Do not go to this school!! Your grades are at the mercy of "evaluators" who have total control of your work. The evaluators are 'secret' and if you file a complaint about your grades, the evaluators will collude to cover-up their mistakes. Your "Mentor" will not help you, in fact everything at WGU is designed so that you, as a student,can never have direct access to any director.There is no Academic Affairs Dept. It is appalling that this school has accreditation. Utah should be ashamed of itself!!
BA Intermediate/HS Social Studies
School recommended by
Cynthia Balderson
on
January 14, 2010
34/41 people found this review helpful
I enrolled in WGU in an HR program since my military experience supported it. After one semester, I realized that I really want to teach, not do HR the rest of my life. The change of major happened seamlessly! You get out of any school what you put in. The first semester, I put in plenty, the second, nothing. After I changed my major, I reallized the only thing hampering my progress now is my full-time job! I may actually stop working for awhile in order to accelerate progress in school. If you are truly a "lifelong learner" and enjoy learning on all fronts, this is the place! You can draw upon your life experiences and prior knowledge and thoroughly enjoy WGU. I'm hoping to be ready to demonstration teach within the next year.
Graduate Program-ELL
School recommended by
Darlene Townsend
on
November 19, 2009
50/59 people found this review helpful
I will finish my degree from Western Governor's University in June. I have had a wonderful experience with the school. The flexibility, price, and curriculum have fit my needs. When I took my Praxis test, I was prepared because of my classes at WGU. I have to say it has not been a spoon fed experience as some have described. In the past, good grades came easy for me. I have had to work very hard to pass some of the objective exams and tasks. However, I would expect no less from an accredited graduate program. I read one post that suggested that if one didn't pass a task the first time, they could just submit the same task, and it would be passed without a problem. I DON'T think so. The graders have been very diligent and consistent. I have submitted numerous papers, and for a few, I actually got them back a third time. We really do learn from our mistakes. The rubrics are there, and the graders do use them. I would definitely recommend WGU to any learner who is serious about getting an online degree.
Hard but Good
School recommended by
Mary
on
October 02, 2009
64/69 people found this review helpful
Found this university to be a refreshing change to the traditional university. They GET what it means to be an adult. The flexibility of the programs are unmatched and the tuition is remarkably low. It truly allows one to go at their own pace. But dang, it was not easy. Very very rigorous program I went through. Truly an independent learning environment so if ur not organized, can't prioritize your time well, like to learn things on your own, and have a good 15 hours a week or more, ur gunna hate it at WGU. The degrees teach the latest skill sets needed in the work place today and the place is accredited up the ying yang. Very very credible! My mentor was very helpful in getting me through. There was a lot of help. But it was still always up to me to get it done. No group projects. AGain, not for everyone but wow it was just great for me. Thanks for letting me put in my two cents.
MBA/IT is a good program
School recommended by
Tony M.
on
September 07, 2009
39/49 people found this review helpful
I have completed half of my MBA degree. From my experience, this is the only regionally accredited online MBA program with such a low price. There is no spoon feeding but there is support to point you in the right direction. I would choose this school again and I look forward to the $20k pay raise with my MBA and my existing ten years of experience. One thing that comes to mind is don't expect a magical degree to win a corner office job. You need to work hard at brand name companies and network with people get to the interview table. Winning a high paying job is based on your degree level and certifications (35%), your experience (25%), and your personality/ network (18%) (and a few other minor factors). Remember, a degree is only 1/3rd of the way to the summit.
Negative reviews are related to Teaching programs only
School recommended by
Dave
on
August 28, 2009
63/88 people found this review helpful
This school is a great school however if you read the reviews here and from other sites you will notice ALL the negative reviews are from people currently enrolled or who've just graduated from there teaching programs.
In my opinion they expected too much hand holding and then got frustrated when things didn't happen as fast as they liked.
Notice there are NO bad reviews from IT or Business degree people - Interesting isn't it!
This means its the students in the teaching programs who are unfairly reviewing or slamming the school.
B.S. Finance
School recommended by
Jessica K
on
August 04, 2009
83/91 people found this review helpful
I found Western Governors University to be an excellent experience. I just earned my BS in Finance last month and learned more than I ever thought possible. I have attended other traditional schools and found the teachers at Western Governors to be in almost every case more easily accessible and knowledgeable as at the other Universities I attended.
Furthermore, TASKSTREAM which is used by Western Governor as the sight which you submit all assignments and then who grades them is not unique to Western Governors. TASKSTREAM is also used by schools such as the University of Vermont, University of Illinois and GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY. Anyone who knows anything knows that George Mason offers an excellent education!
It should also be noted that schools such as George Washington University now offer completely online degrees that are highly respected. Because of Western Governors affiliation with the Western Governors association along with outstanding education, I see a bright and respected future for this University. I should also mention that I have had absolutely NO problem getting into an excellent ABA Law School with my WGU degree.
For those of you complaining, I hope you will at least do a little more research on what you’re complaining about before posting “ambiguous reviews” on this website. Overall, Western Governors is a great school and anyone who can use a computer and has some motivation will complete their program with an average amount of difficulty which should be expected when earning your degree. I was able to complete mine in 10 months and 7 days without transferring any previous credits at about 20 hours per week.
Now, if you are looking for a free handout as it sounds that some of you are, this is not the school for you. I suggest you instead sign up for one of those un-accredited universities that will print you a fake degree for a fee, otherwise, pull up your pants, use your brain and act like a grown up before attempting a college that was designed for real grown-ups.
Recommended for the motivated
School recommended by
Ben
on
July 27, 2009
46/53 people found this review helpful
Without divulging in details, I was able to complete a BS in Finance at WGU in 2009 and in an exceptional time. It was not based on the ease of the work; one needs to be self-motivated and able to understand the not-confusing process of Taskstream etc... I found my mentor to be very helpful, I did not find there to be a push recruiting style and I did not happen to need the financial aid so did not deal with this end of the program. I did find that WGU is what they advertise it to be, self-paced, quality and challenging. For those nay-sayers that cannot grasp the clear instructions of the tasks required or who struggle without direct supervision, don't apply. For those independent of mind and driven either by time, economics or whatever, this university is THE PLACE to get your degree. I am currently considering the MBA program through WGU and will certainly attend within the next six months when my personal economy allows it.
Highly recommended for independent learners
School recommended by
WGU Student
on
July 26, 2009
52/55 people found this review helpful
Hi,
I enrolled in WGU one year ago. I am VERY PLEASED with the school. I transferred from a major University because they did not offer enough online classes. Nor did my former school offer online classes in my major.
I have found WGU to be a wonderful and challenging school for those who ENJOY learning ONLINE and do not need the classroom environment to succeed. However, for those of you who need a little more time and attention you can easily find that in the WGU student learning communities.
The community mentors are experienced educators who will work with you to ensure your success. There are also wonderful individual mentors and a student support hotline.
If you are serious about learning, WGU is the way to go.
I do agree that some of the taskstream assignemnts and the objective exams are poorly written. HOWEVER, this problem lies with TASKSTREAM and PROMETRICS who are PRIVATE COMPANIES that WGU contracts to provide provide Comprehensive assessments to their students. The same companies provide services to OTHER ONLINE and Traditional Schools. The assessments are not always as clear as the training material. Therefore, you may spend quite a bit of time trying to interpret the question being asked.
The school utilizes Thinkwell and other wonderful training resources. I would suggest they contract these companies or a better assessment developer to provide test. My only other recommendation would be offering more grants and scholarships to existing undergrad students! However, financial Aid is available for those who qualify!
Overall, my experience thus far has been GREAT! I would suggest that you give WGU a try. You will be glad that you did!
Special Education Major
