WGU Indiana: Access To An Affordable, Fully Accredited Education for Busy Hoosiers

On this episode, we interview Alison Barber Bell, Chancellor of WGU Indiana, and Jacob Brown, Graduate of WGU's Master's in Business Leadership and Vice President of Fifth Third Bank. We discuss WGU's unique non-profit, accredited online degree program... from WGU's new Indiana offices downtown.

WGU Indiana is an online, competency-based university established to expand access to higher education for Indiana residents. The university offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing.

Degrees are granted under the accreditation of WGU, which is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Teachers College programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), College of Business programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). WGU Indiana has helped 7,500 Hoosiers achieve their dream of completing a college degree. Another 5,900 students are currently enrolled.

Facts about WGU Indiana:

• In 2010, Western Governors University was approached by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels about creating a state-based model for the university.
• Indiana became the very first state model and the first state-endorsed online university, creating positions for a local chancellor and local advisory board.
• WGU Indiana is a nonprofit, accredited, online university that serves students from all different backgrounds
• WGU Indiana is currently serving about 5,600 Hoosiers – a 166 percent increase in enrollment since 2011.
• WGU Indiana serves more than 520 active-duty military members, veterans or military family members.
• WGU Indiana has awarded degrees to more than 7,500 Indiana residents.
• WGU Indiana serves students who are not well-served by traditional colleges and universities; 72 percent are classified as underserved in one or more of four categories: ethnic minority, low income, rural residents, or first-generation college students.
• As of 2018, 86 percent of WGU Indiana’s students work full-time jobs while pursuing a degree.
• According to a recent Gallup-Purdue index, which provides insight into the relationship between the college experience and outcomes, WGU consistently scored higher than the national average when measuring school compatibility, mentorship, challenging curriculum, cost-worthiness and more.

WGU Indiana’s tuition fees are nearly half the national average. Tuition is about $6,500 per 12-month year for most programs, and it is charged at a flat rate, which means students can complete as many courses as they are able in any term, at no additional cost. On average, WGU graduates increase their pre-enrollment income by $12,600 within two years of graduation and by $18,400 within four years. With an average cost of $16,500 for a bachelor's degree, most WGU graduates see a positive return on their investment within two to three years.

• WGU Indiana — An affordable and innovative online education that's valued by employers.
• Indiana Small Business Development Center — Our sponsor, FullStack PEO, provided this resource for Indiana business professionals. The Indiana Small Business Development Center (Indiana SBDC) was created to have a positive and measurable impact on the formation, growth, and sustainability of small businesses in Indiana, and to help Hoosier Entrepreneurs start stronger, grow faster, and work smarter.