Watch CBS News

Want a High-Paying Job? Here's a Gem of a University That Can Help

If you're hoping to qualify for a high-paying job, how do you afford the time and costs of going back to school to get a necessary bachelor's or a master's degree?

I get this question all the time from readers, who probably email me because they've read my annual posts on the best-paying college degrees and/or the worst-paying college degrees.

Americans with college degrees clearly make more money than those with less schooling, but the time and money to earn a degree can be a deal breaker to many who desire an extra diploma or retraining.

A Revolutionary University

For those of you in that dilemma, I want to urge you to check out an intriguing (mostly) online institution that is low-cost and will also give you credit for lifetime experiences. The name of the school is Western Governors University, a nonprofit institution started by governors in western states who were frustrated by the quality, bureaucracy and price of their own public universities.

Western Governors University is clearly a more attractive alternative than for-profit colleges for Americans who are past the traditional college age. In its annual college edition, Washington Monthly calls the school revolutionary and it's easy to see why. WGU can offer degrees for about a third of the price of for-profit schools in about half the time.

WGU bases its degree offerings on what graduates in a particular field need to know after canvassing employers, industry experts and others. It will cost you $3,000 for a semester at WGU -- far cheaper than for-profit schools - no matter how many online credits you accumulate. How long you take to get through a class will depend on you. Remarkably the school allows you to go as fast through the material as you can based on what you already know.

Here is how the Washington Monthly explains it:

Pragmatic College Majors

The school offers a pragmatic lineup of degrees in the high-demand areas of business, education, information technology and nursing and other health professions. Much of the learning takes place online, but some work will require being in the field such as nursing and teaching.

If you are looking for a way to retrain and qualify for one of those highest paying careers, definitely check out Western Governors University. It could be your answer.

Lynn O'Shaughnessy is author of The College Solution, an Amazon bestseller, and the Shrinking the Cost of College workbook. She also writes her own college blog at The College Solution.

More on CBS MoneyWatch:

25 Colleges with the Highest Hidden Price Tags
The Nation's 25 Most Expensive Colleges and Universities
10 Most Expensive State Universities for Outsiders
25 Cheapest Universities: Are They a Bargain?
View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.