At WGU, you earn your degree based on what you’ve learned, not how long you’ve sat in a classroom. We call it competency-based education, and it means you spend your time focused on what you need to learn, not rehashing things you already know. Western Governors University is an online university driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs. WGU has flourished into a national university, serving more than 50,000 students from all 50 states. The university continues to open doors for adult learners who need flexibility to achieve their education and career goals. WGUs innovative competency-based academic approach makes it possible, allowing individuals to fit their education into their lives, not the other way around.