Do any WGU graduates have jobs?

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Lots of in-school threads, but anyone here a graduate of the program with an actual nursing job because of the degree they obtained at WGU? I know someone who is thinking of doing the bridging program, and I'm just wondering if a well-known, prestigious hospital is going to question a degree from this school.

Thanks.

It's fully accredited and it's non-profit. Don't see the issue.

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YEEEESSSS!!!

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Specializes in Occupational Health; Adult ICU.
That's great for you, and I am glad you had such a good experience.

That being said, I am surprised you find it surprising that people are wary. I don't hire people, but I have heard anecdotally of people not being able to get jobs or paying exorbitant amounts of money to get a degree they can't use. As nurses, it would be unwise to not have some corroboration or evidence when making a decision about furthering one's education, which is why I checked in here.

I seem to have struck a nerve, and that was not my intention, but let's be honest, some online programs ARE looked down upon, weather or not they deserve to be... hiring managers make that decision, not the person who went through the program.

But thanks for your insight and congrats on your publications.

Note: I think I'll be entering WGU's ADN (RN) > BSN program in a month or three. I'm in no rush but MUST get a BSN to keep my job as my hospital is working towards Magnet status and degree % is important in that respect.

A few thoughts come to mind. I think it very wise to question and be concerned about online courses. Do a simple google search "wgu + complaint" and you will find many, many complaints. Do a simple search looking for percentage who graduate from various colleges (especially in this instance WGU) and you will be shocked--I guarantee that.

I love to research, it's my nature and WGU is interesting. One sees tons of complaints alongside tons of rave reviews. There is a lot of online stuff written about WGU and its % of students who graduate is listed in many areas.

Though I'm new in my move in this direction what I see is that WGU wants students who are 1) Working as RNs (meaning active) 2) Prospective students who show sincere interest and depth, and 3) Self-starters.

This is why they ask for a resume. I think, and it's just my opinion that WGU is very much aware of their low ranking as far as producing successful graduates. I also think that the nursing degrees, especially (and I'm guessing here) the RN>BSN degree is likely one of their highest ranking areas where students actually graduate.

From a distance I see that their courses are perceived as easy by many. But when looked at in the light of the many complaints that one finds I suspect that it's those who did well on a prior degree (or degrees) that find it easy.

I see comments about writing and that distresses me. If a person is not comfortable writing, if a person is not comfortable doing research and is not going to be an avid student I suspect their chances of dropping out are high. On the other hand, a person who has one or two prior degrees, who graduated with a GPA of 3.3 or higher and who will be an avid student will find it, perhaps not easy, but fun, and I think fun equates with easy for a lot of us.

It's wise to remember that many will borrow to go to college, if not most. To not graduate will, I guarantee this, eventually hurt. Those loans become due and the US Government will hound you to death--they will destroy your credit and even pull payments from your social security checks should you get that old and still owe.

So I'll applaud those who question an online course of study. It really is not for everyone. And there are areas (one sees this in complaints) where WGU's degrees may not have sufficed for certain jobs or state requirements (this seems more a teacher issue). A person can always call HR at a hospital where they work or want to work and ask and it might be wise to call your state Board of Nursing and ask them if it matters. Some BON's are helpful, some are not, it depends upon your state. For me WGU seems adequate for my needs but I'll still do plenty of due diligence.

And btw, WGU does seem to have a significant history of complaints around billing, so it seems wise to get everything in writing, and never rely on verbal promises. We don't know if the issue(s) was one originating from WGU or simply a misunderstanding, but I've seen enough complaints in this area that I'll be only sending a virtual one-time use credit card as I don't want to see unexpected charges pop up a month early and from my research this seems to have been an issue.

Just my long-winded two cents....

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Just curious, where did you find the matriculation rates? I'm a wgu grad and would be interested in seeing them.

In a lot of ways, I think Wgu is similar to a community college---in the sense that pretty much anyone is accepted to begin a course of study. Due to this, of course they have a ton of drop outs. I'm not surprised, but am interested in seeing the numbers.

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Note: I think I'll be entering WGU's ADN (RN) > BSN program in a month or three. I'm in no rush but MUST get a BSN to keep my job as my hospital is working towards Magnet status and degree % is important in that respect.

A few thoughts come to mind. I think it very wise to question and be concerned about online courses. Do a simple google search "wgu + complaint" and you will find many, many complaints. Do a simple search looking for percentage who graduate from various colleges (especially in this instance WGU) and you will be shocked--I guarantee that.

I love to research, it's my nature and WGU is interesting. One sees tons of complaints alongside tons of rave reviews. There is a lot of online stuff written about WGU and its % of students who graduate is listed in many areas.

Though I'm new in my move in this direction what I see is that WGU wants students who are 1) Working as RNs (meaning active) 2) Prospective students who show sincere interest and depth, and 3) Self-starters.

This is why they ask for a resume. I think, and it's just my opinion that WGU is very much aware of their low ranking as far as producing successful graduates. I also think that the nursing degrees, especially (and I'm guessing here) the RN>BSN degree is likely one of their highest ranking areas where students actually graduate.

From a distance I see that their courses are perceived as easy by many. But when looked at in the light of the many complaints that one finds I suspect that it's those who did well on a prior degree (or degrees) that find it easy.

I see comments about writing and that distresses me. If a person is not comfortable writing, if a person is not comfortable doing research and is not going to be an avid student I suspect their chances of dropping out are high. On the other hand, a person who has one or two prior degrees, who graduated with a GPA of 3.3 or higher and who will be an avid student will find it, perhaps not easy, but fun, and I think fun equates with easy for a lot of us.

It's wise to remember that many will borrow to go to college, if not most. To not graduate will, I guarantee this, eventually hurt. Those loans become due and the US Government will hound you to death--they will destroy your credit and even pull payments from your social security checks should you get that old and still owe.

So I'll applaud those who question an online course of study. It really is not for everyone. And there are areas (one sees this in complaints) where WGU's degrees may not have sufficed for certain jobs or state requirements (this seems more a teacher issue). A person can always call HR at a hospital where they work or want to work and ask and it might be wise to call your state Board of Nursing and ask them if it matters. Some BON's are helpful, some are not, it depends upon your state. For me WGU seems adequate for my needs but I'll still do plenty of due diligence.

And btw, WGU does seem to have a significant history of complaints around billing, so it seems wise to get everything in writing, and never rely on verbal promises. We don't know if the issue(s) was one originating from WGU or simply a misunderstanding, but I've seen enough complaints in this area that I'll be only sending a virtual one-time use credit card as I don't want to see unexpected charges pop up a month early and from my research this seems to have been an issue.

Just my long-winded two cents....

Thanks, appreciate it. Wasn't trying to "strike a nerve;" as you mentioned, there are opinions on both sides, and I am doing my due diligence to speak with real people to formulate an opinion. Perhaps my OP was poorly worded, but I legitimately couldn't find anything where someone said, point-blank, "I graduated from WGU and now have a job using the degree from WGU." I don't think what I was asking was unreasonable... I've spoken to nursing instructors from my undergrad school, as well as a few coworkers, and most have not heard of WGU, and nearly all have agreed that an online school requires further research. As a fairly new grad, I heed these words carefully.

And I had no problem in the job market. I had two job offers before even graduating, so, I appreciate your concern for me, but I'm good :)

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I just graduated from WGU's prelicensure BSN program. I had several job offers from various facilities in the Texas Medical Center. I will be working for one of the most prestigious healthcare facilities in the medical center. I had no problem getting the job or interview not once did anyone question where I went to school the only question they had was when was I taking NCLEX. I found the program very hard but its doable. If you want something YOU HAVE TO DO THE WORK! I worked 40-50 hr weeks and managed to graduate on time. I can say that I spent many nights awake until 2 or 3 in the am to finish work only to get up again at 5. The facility where I will be working is a magnet facility, and I just kept hearing how they loved WGU graduates.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
In a lot of ways, I think Wgu is similar to a community college---in the sense that pretty much anyone is accepted to begin a course of study. Due to this, of course they have a ton of drop outs. I'm not surprised, but am interested in seeing the numbers.
Yep. WGU is an open-admissions virtual college...anyone age 16 and older will be accepted if a determination's been made that the prospective student may benefit.

Open-admissions schools (read: community colleges, some city universities, some online schools) tend to have high student attrition rates because nearly all prospective students are accepted, including individuals who might be unprepared to handle college-level coursework.

The typical community college in Podunk, USA has a 20% graduation rate, plus or minus a few percentage points. The typical open-admissions big city university, such as Chicago State University, has less than a 10% graduation rate. Since these entities accept anyone and everyone, students who are underprepared usually do not graduate. It's the same story with WGU.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

I actually remember someone here a few years ago who did the "entrance interview" who actually was NOT admitted to the program (RN-BSN). So no, not everyone is granted entrance. Also, my understanding is that the pre-licensure program is highly competitive, with small cohorts.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I actually remember someone here a few years ago who did the "entrance interview" who actually was NOT admitted to the program (RN-BSN). So no, not everyone is granted entrance. Also, my understanding is that the pre-licensure program is highly competitive, with small cohorts.
I'm referring to admission to WGU in general terms, not admission to their nursing programs. WGU's nursing programs have more competitive admissions criteria than general admission to the school, just like a junior college's nursing programs have more competitive admissions criteria than general admission to the junior college.

They'll admit anyone aged 16 and older into their other degree programs as long as a determination has been made that the prospective student may benefit. These admissions standards are on par with most community colleges and open-admissions city universities.

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Specializes in Outpatient/Clinic, ClinDoc.

They'll admit anyone aged 16 and older into their other degree programs as long as a determination has been made that the prospective student may benefit. These admissions standards are on par with most community colleges and open-admissions city universities.

Actually, there are quite a few people who can't get into the IT program, from reading reddit. You need either certain prior college credit or an industry IT certification so most folks opt for one of the easier certifications to get them in. Still not much more than the local community college, but I do notice a lot of grumbling about this. :)

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Specializes in MedSurg.

I was told to be wary of the "for profit" online programs listed here. WGU has a very good reputation.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_for-profit_universities_and_colleges

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Lots of in-school threads, but anyone here a graduate of the program with an actual nursing job because of the degree they obtained at WGU?
I'm revisiting this discussion with an update...

Next week I'll be starting my new job at a major insurance company as a case management RN. I got this job largely because of my WGU degree, but of course it is the interview that seals the deal. The salary is great and it is a work-from-home position that facilitates my escape from the bedside.

So, to answer the original question that had been presented months ago, WGU graduates do obtain 'actual' nursing jobs with regular frequency.

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