What can you do with a Nursing degree from Western Governors University?

First, some facts. Of the Nursing graduates from Western Governors University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 227 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Great! Overall, with an average relevance score of 94%, Nursing graduates from Western Governors University have a substantially higher likelihood (+27%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 94%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 32% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Nursing graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Nursing graduate from Western Governors University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2015 from Western Governors University with a Bachelor of Science - BS in Nursing. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Adjunct Faculty
Walla Walla Community College
Jan 2019 - Aug 2020
As an Adjunct Faculty at Walla Walla Community College, the individual directly utilizes nursing knowledge and teaching skills associated with their Bachelor's in Nursing, making it highly relevant.

Nursing Instructor
Walla Walla Community College
Aug 2020 - Present
In the role of Nursing Instructor at Walla Walla Community College, the individual leverages their nursing expertise daily, directly aligning with their Bachelors degree in Nursing.

Nursing Instructor
Ascend Learning
Oct 2021 - Present
The position of Nursing Instructor at Ascend Learning requires the application of nursing principles and education methods, which are core elements of the Bachelor's degree in Nursing, thus making it directly relevant.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Science - MS
Western Governors University
2020 - 2020
ABOUT

Caring and compassionate Registered Nurse with a demonstrated clinical background, excellent communication skills, attention to detail and recently obtained HEDIS experience. Driven to explore all avenues to identify gaps in care and utilize my recent training knowledge of HEDIS specifications and data collection. With my on-line chart review and mock/experience of abstraction/HEDIS data, I would be an efficient and motivated asset to your team.

What jobs can you get with a Nursing degree from Western Governors University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


The job market for graduates with a Bachelor's degree in Nursing from Western Governors University (WGU) is diverse, displaying a wide range of roles that these individuals have taken on since completing their studies. A significant number of alumni have pursued positions as Registered Nurses (RNs), Nurse Practitioners, and Case Management Nurses, which directly utilize the nursing knowledge and skills cultivated during their academic training. Roles such as these highlight a clear alignment between the education received at WGU and the core responsibilities of nursing practice. For instance, positions like Registered Nurse at various healthcare facilities and Nurse Practitioners in specialized areas of care are prime demonstrations of this relationship, as they require the direct application of clinical skills, patient interaction, and comprehensive medical knowledge necessary for effective healthcare delivery.

However, not all job titles held by WGU nursing graduates maintain this strong relevance to the nursing field. Some have ventured into roles that, while they may use some nursing principles, do not directly engage with core nursing skills. For example, positions such as Healthcare Recruiter and Clinical Informatics Specialist do imply a certain level of healthcare understanding, but lack a strong requirement for the specialized clinical competencies that form the basis of nursing practice. Similarly, roles focused on health administration or management, like Director of Nursing or Clinical Director, incorporate nursing knowledge but may also predominantly involve oversight and decision-making without daily clinical interaction.

Overall, the job titles of WGU nursing graduates tend to cluster heavily in areas directly related to nursing practice, such as clinical roles where hands-on patient care is central. This indicates that the education provided equips its students to thrive primarily within traditional nursing roles. Yet, there is also a notable presence of alumni working in other health-related capacities that capitalize on their nursing background to inform their work, even if it does not involve direct patient care. This blend illustrates that a nursing degree offers flexible career paths, catering not only to those seeking direct patient interaction but also to those looking to leverage their expertise in broader healthcare contexts.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Nursing graduates (this is across all Nursing graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Western Governors University):

What kind of career trajectories do Nursing graduates from Western Governors University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates of the Nursing program at Western Governors University (WGU) seem to follow a generally positive trajectory in their nursing careers, with many securing relevant positions right after graduation and continuing to advance in the field over time. Most of the individuals listed who graduated between 2010 and 2023 have taken up roles directly related to nursing or healthcare, which indicates a strong alignment between their education and their career choices.

For instance, many graduates began their careers as Registered Nurses (RNs), which is often the most common first job for nursing graduates. A significant number of profiles show graduates starting as RNs, Case Managers, or in specialized roles like Nurse Practitioners or Healthcare Recruiters. This suggests that WGU nursing graduates are able to enter the workforce in roles that are not only relevant but also foundational for further career advancement. Over the first few years, it’s common to see them move into more specialized roles, such as Nurse Practitioners or Clinical Instructors, which often require additional training or experience.

Fast forward to five to ten years later, the profiles reflect a solid career progression. Many graduates have transitioned into leadership roles such as Nursing Directors, Managers, and Educators, demonstrating their growth in both experience and responsibility. A notable number have also taken on specialized positions, reflecting ongoing professional development, continued education, or shifts into other healthcare areas such as clinical informatics or case management. However, while it's clear that most graduates have managed to stay within the healthcare field, there are a few who ventured into roles that could be seen as less direct, like healthcare management or consulting, which still leverage their nursing background.

Overall, the trends suggest that WGU nursing graduates tend to establish successful careers in nursing and related fields. Most seem to remain engaged in nursing practices and healthcare administration, indicating that their education is well-respected and provides a solid foundation for various roles within the health sector. So if you're eyeing a nursing degree from WGU, the data certainly looks promising for creating a productive and fulfilling career in nursing!

How hard is a Nursing degree from Western Governors University?

Honestly, getting a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing at Western Governors University (WGU) can be a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, WGU’s flexible, self-paced learning style lets you move as fast or as slow as you need, which can definitely make it easier than traditional nursing programs if you’re motivated. However, nursing isn’t exactly a walk in the park! You’ll still face tough classes filled with intense clinical skills, complex concepts, and loads of studying. It requires a good amount of dedication, time management, and self-discipline to juggle everything, especially since you’ll have practical components and exams to tackle. So while it might be easier in terms of structure, the content itself can be challenging. Just be ready to put in the work!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 1 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Nursing.

Do Nursing graduates from Western Governors University tend to make good money?

So, when taking a look at the nursing graduates from Western Governors University, it seems like a lot of them are doing pretty well financially. Many of them have landed roles as nurses, nurse practitioners, and even in educational positions shortly after graduation, which generally means they've been able to start working in relatively high-paying jobs right off the bat. Fields like healthcare typically offer decent salaries, especially for specialized roles, and it looks like these grads have progressed upward, taking on roles with more responsibility and higher pay over time. For instance, those who became nurse practitioners or took on management roles are likely earning significant salaries compared to their earlier RN positions.

However, the specifics of their earnings can vary widely depending on location, specialization, and experience. Some have also shifted roles or taken on multiple positions at once, which can impact their income either way—possibly leading to better earnings or causing financial strain due to overload. But overall, if you're looking at the big picture, many of these grads seem to be carving out solid careers for themselves, and with the demand for healthcare workers remaining strong, it's safe to say that they're probably doing decently on the money front.

What buzzwords do Nursing graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Nursing (this is across all Nursing graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Western Governors University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Nursing?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Nursing (ordered by the average relevance score of their Nursing graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
University of Pittsburgh 100 11
University of Louisville 100 18
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania 100 11
Excelsior College 100 12
Austin Peay State University 100 11
Widener University 100 22
University of Missouri-Columbia 99 12
Towson University 99 29
San Diego State University 99 19
Florida Atlantic University 99 21
University of Virginia 99 19
California State University-Long Beach 99 11
University of Massachusetts, Amherst 99 10
Quinnipiac University 99 26
Fairfield University 99 23
Columbus State University 99 10
University of South Carolina Upstate 99 15
University of Scranton 99 10
Angelo State University 99 10
Aurora University 99 12
Auburn University at Montgomery 99 10
Viterbo University 99 10
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston 99 15
Drexel University College of Nursing & Health Professions Division of Undergraduate Nursing 99 11
Galen College of Nursing 99 13
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) 99 11
Duquesne University School of Nursing 99 11
Michigan State University 98 16
Liberty University 98 24
Grand Valley State University 98 20
University of Delaware 98 20
Northern Arizona University 98 26
Northeastern University 98 20
University of Connecticut 98 15
Drexel University 98 18
Boston College 98 13
University of Massachusetts Lowell 98 11
Minnesota State University, Mankato 98 12
North Dakota State University 98 14
California State University San Marcos 98 16
New Mexico State University 98 10
Tarleton State University 98 10
University of Portland 98 20
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh 98 10
Purdue University Northwest 98 11
Curry College 98 20
Mount Saint Mary College 98 15
University of St. Francis 98 10
Regis College 98 16
Clarkson College 98 10
University of Wisconsin-Madison 97 18
Brigham Young University 97 27
San Francisco State University 97 23
James Madison University 97 28
California State University-Sacramento 97 12
Illinois State University 97 13
Brigham Young University - Idaho 97 26
University of Cincinnati 97 22
Ball State University 97 12
Old Dominion University 97 13
West Chester University of Pennsylvania 97 15
University of Illinois at Chicago 97 15
University of Louisiana at Lafayette 97 20
Stephen F. Austin State University 97 17
Seton Hall University 97 10
New Jersey City University 97 10
Miami Dade College 97 19
West Coast University 97 126
The College of St. Scholastica 97 27
Molloy College 97 25
Indiana University Kokomo 97 10
Resurrection University 97 16
Penn State University 96 27
University of Central Florida 96 37
Texas A&M University 96 13
University of Florida 96 21
University of Arizona 96 15
University of Kentucky 96 14
The University of Alabama 96 16
University of South Carolina 96 14
University of New Hampshire 96 14
Boise State University 96 15
San Diego State University-California State University 96 12
Marquette University 96 13
University of San Francisco 96 33
University of Massachusetts Boston 96 19
Saginaw Valley State University 96 15
University of Missouri-Saint Louis 96 10
Ramapo College of New Jersey 96 16
Seattle University 96 22
National University 96 19
Bethel University 96 17
Creighton University 96 10
La Salle University 96 20
Midwestern State University 96 10
Saint Anselm College 96 10
King University 96 12
Mount Saint Mary's University 96 12
Mississippi University for Women 96 11
College of Mount Saint Vincent 96 14
Holy Family University 96 12
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center 96 13
Samuel Merritt University 96 16
Arizona State University 95 42
Florida State University 95 13
Purdue University 95 24
University of Michigan 95 15
West Virginia University 95 18
University of Arkansas 95 29
Kennesaw State University 95 12
Sam Houston State University 95 16
The University of Akron 95 17
University of Miami 95 14
The University of Texas at El Paso 95 15
Loyola University Chicago 95 22
Azusa Pacific University 95 28
Capella University 95 51
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi 95 19
California Baptist University 95 34
Winona State University 95 19
University of North Carolina Wilmington 95 12
Wilmington University 95 11
Salem State University 95 14
The University of Toledo 95 11
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 95 12
Stevenson University 95 10
University of Indianapolis 95 11
Valparaiso University 95 12
SUNY Brockport 95 12
Salve Regina University 95 10
MidAmerica Nazarene University 95 10
The Ohio State University 94 26
The University of Texas at Austin 94 22
University of South Florida 94 34
Western Governors University 94 227
San Jose State University 94 21
Kent State University 94 35
University of Pennsylvania 94 12
Texas Woman's University 94 39
Saint Louis University 94 18
Chamberlain University 94 250
Lamar University 94 16
University of Texas at Tyler 94 19
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 94 10
University of Michigan-Flint 94 14
Georgia College & State University 94 11
Bemidji State University 94 11
Pacific Lutheran University 94 11
Saint Xavier University 94 13
Jacksonville University 94 18
Wagner College 94 12
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 94 22
University of Detroit Mercy 94 16
Aspen University 94 10
Grand Canyon University 93 195
Auburn University 93 17
East Carolina University 93 36
Baylor University 93 13
Oakland University 93 23
Eastern Michigan University 93 14
California State University-San Bernardino 93 10
Texas Christian University 93 25
Northern Kentucky University 93 10
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 93 10
Villanova University 93 30
Indiana Wesleyan University 93 46
University of Central Missouri 93 10
Hunter College 93 18
Adelphi University 93 38
Sacred Heart University 93 15
Simmons College 93 10
University of Maryland School of Nursing 93 10
Ohio University 92 123
The University of Texas at Arlington 92 125
University of Rhode Island 92 27
Indiana UniversityPurdue University Indianapolis 92 11
Jacksonville State University 92 15
Olivet Nazarene University 92 17
Walden University 92 22
Union University 92 13
Mount Carmel College of Nursing 92 24
Loma Linda University 92 10
UT Health San Antonio 92 14
Southern New Hampshire University 91 25
New York University 91 17
Clemson University 91 21
Northern Illinois University 91 26
Weber State University 91 18
Indiana State University 91 14
South Dakota State University 91 16
Nova Southeastern University 91 33
Madonna University 91 14
Dominican University of California 91 13
Lourdes University 91 11
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 90 11
Western Kentucky University 90 10
University of Alabama at Birmingham 90 16
East Tennessee State University 90 20
University of Missouri-Kansas City 90 11
Case Western Reserve University 90 10
Davenport University 90 12
York College of Pennsylvania 90 13
South University 90 42
Cedarville University 90 15
Regis University 90 15
Chamberlain College of Nursing 90 116
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center 90 44
Nevada State College 90 11
University of Phoenix 89 59
University of Washington 89 13
University of Utah 89 11
University of Tennessee, Knoxville 89 16
University of North Carolina at Greensboro 89 14
Winston-Salem State University 89 17
St. Petersburg College 89 13
Barry University 89 17
Herzing University 89 15
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center 89 17
Florida International University 88 22
Georgia Southern University 88 19
Montana State University-Bozeman 88 11
Southwestern Oklahoma State University 88 10
University of Nebraska Medical Center 88 13
George Mason University 87 18
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 87 13
Kaplan University 87 17
Immaculata University 87 15
Alverno College 87 13
Duquesne University 86 13
McNeese State University 86 17
University of Mississippi Medical Center 86 16
University of North Florida 84 14
Western Carolina University 84 10
University of West Georgia 83 13
Chamberlain College of Nursing-Addison Campus 83 14
Maryville University of Saint Louis 82 11
American Sentinel University 81 11
Thomas Jefferson University 80 12
Malone University 76 10
Georgia State University 74 14