How To Send Scholarship Money To College

Tuition & Financial Aid

More than $20 million in scholarships awarded last year.

Great news! Through the generosity of numerous corporations and foundations, plus special federal government appropriations, WGU maintains a robust program of scholarships made available to qualified students.

Scholarships are one of the many ways in which WGU removes obstacles from your path to achieving your education goals and improving your career opportunities. It's part of our investment in the future of our students.

Student receiving diploma at graduation

Year of You Scholarship

Resiliency Grant

For students who are facing significant financial barriers in pursuing a WGU degree.

Resiliency Grant

Leadership Scholarship

Scholarship eligibility and information.

Scholarships are for new students and returning WGU graduates.

Scholarships are available for new WGU students and returning WGU graduates, depending upon specific eligibility requirements for the particular scholarship. Students are eligible to apply for these scholarships within 90 days of starting a degree program, either before or after.

Scholarships are competitive programs.

Recipients will be chosen based upon their academic record, financial need, readiness for online study, and current competency, plus other considerations specific to the individual scholarship.

Students can receive only one scholarship per degree program.

If a student qualifies for multiple scholarships, the review board will consider each opportunity and select which one to award, if any. WGU employees and their spouses are not eligible.

The general application is required for all WGU scholarships, and lets us learn more about you and which scholarships you may be eligible for. To access the application, you will need your MyWGU student portal credentials, which will be sent to you shortly after Step 1. NOTE:You are eligible to apply for scholarships within 90 days of starting a degree program, either before or after. You must complete the application within 90 days of your intended start date.

Based on what you tell us in Step 2, we'll let you know which scholarships you might be eligible for. Finish up by reviewing the recommended opportunities and completing the supplemental application for each scholarship you'd like to be considered for. These additional applications need to be submitted within 5 days of submitting the general application.

Common questions about scholarships.

How do you select scholarship winners?

It depends upon the scholarship. In general, we award scholarships based on the following factors:

Meeting the basic eligibility requirements
Answers you give on the scholarship application
An interview with a scholarship counselor

Some scholarships are also based upon evaluations of prior college transcripts and other tests. We encourage you to apply.

When will I find out if I'm selected?

WGU evaluates scholarship applications on a continual basis because we start new students in their programs every month. Often we are able to make an award decision within 8–10 weeks of receiving your application. In most cases, you will also need to have applied for admission and been accepted to the university. An Enrollment Counselor can help explain the process.

Do I get the scholarship all at once?

No. Scholarship awards are divided into a set amount per term. This amount is credited against your tuition due for each term. The details are explained in the description for each scholarship.

Can I also apply for financial aid?

Yes. You probably should apply for federal financial aid, too. Scholarship awards will only cover a portion of your school expenses, and financial aid can help pay for the rest. You can apply for financial aid while you are waiting for a decision about your scholarship application. It will not hurt your chances to win a scholarship. Here is full information on financial aid.

Recognizing our donors.

We'd like to thank our donors who make these scholarships possible.

Next Start Date

Start the 1st of any month—as soon as you complete enrollment!

Ready to move forward toward achieving your goals? Millions of dollars in available scholarships can put the dream of a college degree even more within reach! Get started today—the first step is to apply for admission.