Webster Groves Resident Graduates from WGU Missouri

Webster Groves resident Kara Siebe, who graduated from WGU Missouri this year with a Master of Science in Educational Leadership, was officially recognized at WGU Missouri’s commencement celebration on August 4th. The event was held at the William D. Purser Center in Chesterfield to honor the 704 students who graduated from WGU Missouri in 2018, the largest graduating class to date. All 2018 graduates, and their families, were invited to celebrate recent accomplishments and mingle with Chancellor Dr. Angie Besendorfer, WGU Missouri staff, alumni and fellow students.

Siebe was joined by nearly 50 graduates from throughout the state at the celebration. Kendra Austin-Burris, Director of Supplier diversity for Express-Scripts, gave the graduate address to the students and 100 of their guests in attendance. As the only online, nonprofit university endorsed by the state of Missouri, WGU Missouri provides an affordable and accessible path to college completion for working adults throughout the state. The university, created in 2013 by former Governor Jay Nixon in partnership with Western Governors University, now has more than 1,500 alumni and 2,841 students currently enrolled.

“This celebration was a special moment for our hardworking students who have reached their goal of obtaining a college degree,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Chancellor of WGU Missouri. “These graduates consist of working adults, many of whom were raising families and working fulltime while going back to school. We are proud of the accomplishments they have made during their time at WGU Missouri and wish them all the best as they continue to advance their careers and build better lives for their families.”

This year’s graduating class is made up of a diverse student body. Specific stats are as follows:

WGU Missouri Commencement by the Numbers

• WGU Missouri graduates represent 160 cities across the state and more than 80 counties.
• 383 undergraduate and 321 graduate degrees were conferred.
• The average age of the graduates is 41; the youngest grad is 19; the oldest is 73.
• 97 percent of the graduates are over the age of 25.
• 42 percent of the graduates represent the first generation in their family to complete college.
• 30 graduate degree programs and 31 undergraduate degree programs are being represented.
• Degree distribution by college:
  • College of Business – 219
  • College of Health Professions and Nursing – 238
  • College of Information Technology – 65

• The time to graduation is 28 months for undergraduates and 20 months for graduates.
• 71% of graduates are female; 29% are male.
• Nearly one-fourth of graduates live in rural parts of the state.
• 68% of graduates are underserved (low-income students, minorities and first-generation college students)

WGU Missouri’s online, competency-based model allows students to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. As a result, many students can accelerate their studies, finishing faster and saving money. Tuition is charged at a flat rate of $3,500 per six-month term for most programs, regardless of the number of courses completed. On average, students are able to complete a bachelor’s degree in less than three years, many while holding a full-time job and raising a family. The online model also enables students to enroll and study from anywhere across the state, and complete coursework at a schedule that works best for them. For more information, visit missouri.wgu.edu.

About WGU Missouri

WGU Missouri is an online, competency-based university created to expand access to higher education for Missouri residents. The university offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. WGU Missouri faculty members serve as mentors, working one-on-one with students, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction.

Established in 2013 through a partnership with nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Missouri is open to all qualified Missouri residents. The university is nonprofit and self-sustaining on flat-rate tuition of about $7,000 per year for most programs.

Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Teachers College programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE*).

More information is available at missouri.wgu.edu or by calling 855.948.8493.

*Western Governors University offers nursing programs that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 5380, Washington DC 20036, 202-877-6791).