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WGU Tennessee Reaches 3,000 Enrolled Students in Three Years

WGU Tennessee Reaches 3,000 Enrolled Students in Three Years

By MP&F Staff

WGU Tennessee CommencementWGU Tennessee – a nonprofit, online university launched as one of the initiatives in Gov. Bill Haslam’s Drive to 55 effort – has reached 3,000 enrolled students after its third full year in the state.

To celebrate reaching the goal, the state-endorsed university has created the “Good Things Come in Threes” scholarship. Up to 10 scholarships of $3,000 will be offered to students across Tennessee who want to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree from WGU Tennessee.

“Reaching 3,000 enrolled students in just three years is a major milestone for WGU Tennessee, and I’d like to thank every member of the WGU Tennessee team for helping us get there,” said Dr. Kimberly K. Estep, WGU Tennessee chancellor. “While we celebrate this tremendous growth since our launch, we are also aware that many more Tennessee adults will need to access higher education in order to achieve their goals.”

WGU Tennessee has reached several milestones in its first three years, including:

  • Achieving more than 350 percent growth statewide
  • Awarding its 1,6000th degree in Tennessee
  • Forming more than 50 partnerships with companies and institutions across the state, including partnerships with all 13 of Tennessee’s community colleges
  • Awarding more than $950,000 in scholarships

Watch an announcement video, featuring WGU Tennessee advisory board members and footage from the recent commencement ceremony: https://youtu.be/E6Ud8QnaoKk

In addition to these accomplishments, WGU Tennessee has stayed true to its student-focused principles: providing a flexible and affordable option to working adults who want to return to school. In eight years, WGU has not raised its tuition of roughly $3,000 per semester – making it unique among higher education institutions in Tennessee.

“Our commitment to Tennesseans is as strong today as it was three years ago when we opened,” Estep said. “That mission will continue for another three years, 3,000 more students, and far beyond.”

About WGU Tennessee

WGU Tennessee is an online, nonprofit, competency-based university established to expand Tennesseans’ access to higher education throughout the state. Formed through a partnership between the state of Tennessee and nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Tennessee is open to all qualified Tennessee residents. The university offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the high-demand career fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing.

Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Teachers College programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).*

In addition to WGU Tennessee, there are five other WGU state-based, state-endorsed universities: WGU Indiana, established in June 2010; WGU Washington, established in April 2011; WGU Texas, established in August 2011; WGU Missouri, established in February 2013; and WGU Nevada, established in June 2015.

For more information, visit the WGU Tennessee website, tennessee.wgu.edu, or call 855-948-8495.