Western Governors University (WGU) conferred 50,168 degrees to 49,564 individuals in fiscal year 2024, a historic milestone for the national online, nonprofit university. In North Carolina, WGU conferred 1,343 degrees last year and now has more than 8,900 graduates across all 100 counties.

Significantly, 67% of those graduates were from one or more underserved populations — students of color, first-generation, rural or low income — a demonstration of WGU’s ability to impact the economic and social mobility of its students.

“We are reinvigorating the pathway to opportunity and having an impact at scale,” said WGU President Scott Pulsipher. “WGU’s educational model, which is student-centric and personalized, works. We are positioning our graduates to start and advance careers in high-demand fields, meeting workforce needs and strengthening the vitality of their families and communities.”

WGU offers more than 80 certificate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in business, education, health and technology fields in all 50 states. It is among the largest universities in the country, with a focus on providing programs that are accessible, affordable, flexible and that address critical workforce needs.