Marketing at Western Governors University

Western Governors University's online marketing program delivers strong national results but faces stiff competition within Utah. With first-year earnings of $52,877, graduates earn 18% more than the national median for marketing programs and rank in the 86th percentile nationally. However, this same performance places them at just the 40th percentile among Utah marketing programs, where the median is actually higher at $53,882.

The debt picture is mixed. At $21,232, student debt is lower than both national and state medians, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40. This means graduates can reasonably expect to pay off their loans within a few years. The 17% earnings growth from year one to year four is solid, bringing graduates to $61,805 by their fourth year post-graduation.

The key trade-off here is clear: WGU offers a nationally competitive marketing education at a lower cost than most programs, but Utah residents have access to several stronger in-state options. If your child values the flexibility of WGU's competency-based online model or needs the lower debt load, this program delivers good value. However, if they can access programs like BYU ($64,256) or University of Utah ($56,011) at comparable costs, those would likely provide better long-term earning potential within the Utah job market.