Advertorial
In an effort to empower residents in the Twin Cities region to go back to school and further their education, Western Governors University (WGU)—which serves more than 5,000 current students and graduates throughout Minnesota—has announced it will offer up to $100,000 in scholarships to newly enrolled students residing in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.
Each “Bridge to Success” Scholarship is valued at up to $5,000 and is open to new and returning students interested in earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree from the fully online, nonprofit university.
Each scholarship will be applied to WGU’s already-low, flat-rate tuition of about $3,800 per six-month term for most bachelor’s degree programs and will be credited at a rate of $1,250 per term, renewable for up to four terms. New students can apply for the “Bridge to Success” Scholarship online at wgu.edu/bridge through June 30, 2022.
WGU, which was created 25 years ago to help meet the ongoing need for an educated workforce, offers a competency-based approach to learning that allows students to leverage previous education, training and work experience to earn their degrees quickly. Students complete their programs by studying and taking tests on schedules that fit their lives, advancing as soon as they demonstrate they’ve mastered the subject matter.
The university offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the high workforce need areas of business, IT, education and health professions, including nursing. All programs are career-focused and equip students with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce.
One-Year MBA program
One graduate program path that has been growing in popularity among professionals is the university’s one-year MBA program, which offers students a flexible and accelerated pathway to earning their graduate degrees. WGU offers three specific, one-year MBA programs: IT management, healthcare management and a traditional MBA program option. Each requires students to master competencies across 11 courses geared directly toward a student’s applicable career, placing emphasis on learning real-world skills. Although the program is accelerated, students get the same industry-focused coursework they need to advance their careers as they would if they were using a traditional education approach. The university’s MBA program tuition is $4,530 per six-month term, meaning students can finish their MBA in only 12 months for just $9,060.
Career-boosting education
Going back to college as a busy adult can be challenging, but for those looking to be promoted at their current job or move into a higher-level position at another organization, having added skills and education can be necessary to help them stand out against other internal or external candidates. As jobs become increasingly complex, so will the education required to fill them. For those looking for increased opportunities and stability in their careers, earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree will give them the skills they need to advance.
To learn more about WGU, its students and graduates and the Bridge to Success Scholarship, visit wgu.edu/bridge.
Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.