Utah school profile
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, Utah · Private Nonprofit
Compare with other schools (up to three)
What we see in the data
At Western Governors University, net price is what families actually pay after grants and scholarships. For families in the $0–$30,000 income band, that was about $12K per year, about the same as the median among private nonprofit colleges in Utah ($12K), and lower than the median among colleges nationwide ($15K).
Finish on time means completing within the normal time frame for the degree (for example, six years for a four-year bachelor's degree). About 46% of students finished on time, about the same as the median among private nonprofit colleges in Utah (46%), and lower than the median among colleges nationwide (58%). That is lower than the 65% of full-time freshmen who returned for year 2.
Typical pay six years after starting was about $70K, higher than the median among private nonprofit colleges in Utah ($53K), and higher than the median among colleges nationwide ($36K). Graduates who borrowed had a median of about $8K in federal loan debt at graduation, about the same as the median among private nonprofit colleges in Utah ($8K), and lower than the median among colleges nationwide ($10K). Ten years after starting, typical pay was about $61K; median federal debt was about 14% of that pay (College Scorecard affordability signal — not ED's program score).
About 39% of students at Western Governors University received federal Pell grants (a common proxy for lower family income). Pell students finished on time at a lower rate (39%) than the school-wide average (46%) — see Who attends below.
Pathways & Outcomes compares each school to Utah and national pathway medians using federal and state data. Numbers are school-wide averages — not every major or program. Small graduating classes may be hidden for privacy. Apprenticeships and some trade programs are not included.
Compared to Utah & national medians
Full comparison to medians among Utah colleges and colleges nationwide that report each measure in College Scorecard (not enrollment-weighted).
| Measure | This school | Utah median | US median | vs medians |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net price ($0–$30k families) | $12K | $17K | $15K | Below Utah · Below US |
| Finish on time | 46.2% | 71.4% | 58.3% | Below Utah · Below US |
| Typical pay (6 yrs after starting) | $70K | $34K | $36K | Above Utah · Above US |
| Typical pay ÷ net price (6 yrs) | 5.8× | 1.7× | 2.5× | Above Utah · Above US |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $8K | $8K | $10K | Near Utah · Below US |
| Debt vs. 10-yr pay | 14% | 26% | 26% | Below Utah · Below US |
| Return for year 2 (full-time) | 64.6% | 69.4% | 75.7% | Near Utah · Below US |
Headline comparisons
Cost, completion, and pay — the three measures families ask about most — charted against the same medians.
Lower is better for families.
Costs & aid
Net price by family income
What full-time undergraduates actually paid per year after grants and scholarships, by family income band (federal College Scorecard).
| Family income | Net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $12,064 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $12,436 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $12,578 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $14,824 |
| $110,001+ | $12,734 |
Published costs
Published sticker prices where reported. Net price bands above show what families typically paid after aid.
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Published tuition & fees (in-state) | $8,658 |
| Published tuition & fees (out-of-state) | $8,658 |
| Total cost of attendance | $16,728 |
| Books & supplies | $200 |
Affordability & loans
Federal loan outcomes from College Scorecard. Does not include Parent PLUS or private loans. Repayment rates describe historical cohorts, not a guarantee for future students.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median debt ÷ median pay (10 yrs after starting) | 14% |
| Share earning at least $25K (6 yrs after starting) | 70.6% |
| Share earning at least $25K (10 yrs after starting) | 73.3% |
| Borrowers repaying any principal (3 yrs) | 54.2% |
Who attends
Enrollment & context
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate enrollment | 155,088 |
| Enrolled full-time | 9.8% |
| Enrolled part-time | 90.2% |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 39.4% |
| First-generation college students | 47.1% |
| Median family income of students | $46K |
| Students who borrowed federal loans | 43.2% |
| First-year retention (full-time) | 64.6% |
| Student–faculty ratio | 42:1 |
Student body shares
Shares of undergraduate students by gender and race/ethnicity (federal College Scorecard). These describe who enrolls — not completion or pay by group.
Gender
| Group | Share of undergraduates |
|---|---|
| Women | 55.6% |
| Men | 44.4% |
Race & ethnicity
| Group | Share of undergraduates |
|---|---|
| Two or more races | 3.9% |
Outcomes for Pell & first-generation students
Pell grant recipients are a proxy for lower family income; first-generation students are those whose parents did not complete a bachelor's degree. Compare each row to the school-wide figures above — not every student matches these groups.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Finish on time (Pell students) | 38.6% |
| Finish on time (all students) | 46.2% |
| Median federal debt (Pell students) | $8K |
| Median federal debt (first-generation students) | $8K |
| Median federal debt (all borrowers) | $8K |
| Borrowers repaying any principal (3 yrs, Pell) | 44.6% |
| Borrowers repaying any principal (3 yrs, non-Pell) | 68.6% |
| Borrowers repaying any principal (3 yrs, first-generation) | 53.1% |
| Borrowers repaying any principal (3 yrs, not first-generation) | 55.2% |
Programs with reported earnings
Fields where Scorecard reports median pay with at least 30 students in the earnings cohort — sorted by typical pay, not by major popularity. Each row is one major and credential level at this school.
| Field of study | Credential | Typical pay (4 yrs) | Earnings cohort | Debt | Graduates | Debt vs. pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | Master's Degree | $144K | 510 | $12K | 4,220 | 8% |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | Master's Degree | $130K | 90 | $13K | 788 | 10% |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | Bachelor's Degree | $129K | 238 | $16K | 4,220 | 13% |
| Management Information Systems and Services | Master's Degree | $126K | 678 | $13K | 1,585 | 10% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Master's Degree | $112K | 3,861 | $14K | 7,799 | 12% |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Master's Degree | $112K | 136 | $14K | 3,023 | 12% |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | Bachelor's Degree | $109K | 1,982 | $23K | 1,551 | 21% |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | Bachelor's Degree | $108K | 39 | $24K | 0 | 23% |
Top programs by completions
Credentials awarded in the 2023–24 school year (federal completions survey), with typical pay and federal loan debt when Scorecard reports them. Debt can be blank when federal data suppress a program cohort; we use additional Scorecard debt fields when available.
| Field of study | Credential | Typical pay (4 yrs) | Debt | Graduates | Debt vs. pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Master's Degree | $112K | $14K | 7,799 | 12% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Bachelor's Degree | $97K | $23K | 7,799 | 23% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Graduate/Professional Certificate | N/A | N/A | 7,799 | N/A |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's Degree | $99K | $13K | 7,397 | 13% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Bachelor's Degree | $84K | $22K | 7,397 | 26% |
| Curriculum and Instruction | Master's Degree | $70K | $9K | 5,296 | 13% |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | Master's Degree | $144K | $12K | 4,220 | 8% |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | Bachelor's Degree | $129K | $16K | 4,220 | 13% |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | Post-baccalaureate Certificate | N/A | N/A | 4,220 | N/A |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | Bachelor's Degree | N/A | N/A | 3,267 | N/A |
Completions by award level
100,468 Credentials awarded in the 2023–24 school year (federal completions survey).
| Award level | Completions |
|---|---|
| Doctoral | 50,258 |
| Bachelor's | 50,064 |
| Master's | 124 |
| Doctoral research | 22 |
| Award level 20 | 0 |
| Other award | 0 |
Utah labor context for top fields
Statewide IPEDS completions vs. BLS employment by field — not job placement at this campus. Higher ratios mean more Utah graduates per related job opening.
| Field (top by graduates) | Grads here | Utah median wage (related jobs) | Utah supply ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health professions | 7,799 | $62K | 162 graduates per 1,000 Utah jobs |
| Business | 7,397 | $68K | 57 graduates per 1,000 Utah jobs |
| Education | 5,296 | $65K | 194 graduates per 1,000 Utah jobs |
| Computer and information sciences | 4,220 | $97K | 130 graduates per 1,000 Utah jobs |
Institution finances
Endowment, state tax support (public colleges), and Parent PLUS loans. Endowment values come from IPEDS via College Scorecard. Many small schools do not report them.
Endowment
Endowment market value at the start and end of the most recent fiscal year reported to IPEDS. Endowment per student divides year-end value by undergraduate enrollment.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Endowment (year-end) | $3.3M |
| Endowment (year-start) | $2.6M |
| Change over fiscal year | +$688K (+26.1%) |
| Endowment per undergraduate | $21 |
Parent PLUS loans
Median Parent PLUS loan debt among graduates who borrowed. These are federal loans parents take out, separate from the student's own federal loan debt above.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Parent PLUS debt at graduation | $11K |
Institution facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Highest degree offered | Graduate |
| Predominant award | Predominantly bachelor's |
| Accreditor | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
| Campus setting | Suburb, large |
| Address | 4001 South 700 East Suite 700, 84107 |
What this means for you
These questions turn Western Governors University's public data into a next step — not a ranking or a guarantee.
- Compare this school to others on your list — averages above hide big differences between majors.
- Open the programs table for typical pay and debt in your field, not just school-wide numbers.
- Compare up to three schools side by side before you apply.
- Ask the financial aid office for net price at your family's income band — not sticker tuition.
- Ask whether students like yours typically finish on time and what they earn in your student's intended major.
- Pair typical pay with federal loan debt in the programs table — completion alone does not guarantee strong pay.
Related Utah research
- Part 3: Early-Career Earnings by Utah Pathway Type
- Part 4: Where Utah Students Start
- Part 5: Net Price Reality for Utah Families
- Part 7: Completion Rates Across Utah Institutions
- Part 8: Student Debt vs. Early Earnings
Data sources
- U.S. College Scorecard (school-wide outcomes)
- IPEDS directory (2023–24)
- IPEDS tuition and costs (2023–24)
- IPEDS completions (2023–24 award year)
- IPEDS finance survey endowment (via College Scorecard)
- College Scorecard Parent PLUS loan medians
Methodology · UNITID 433387
Pathways & Outcomes uses AI tools to help draft reports and data briefs from verified public data and analysis. A human editor reviews every publication for accuracy, data consistency, clarity, methodology alignment, and discrepancies before release. AI does not determine what we investigate, what we publish, or what conclusions we reach. Editorial policy · About our team