With online degree programs, WGU is plugged in to the tech future of DFW
The Dallas-Fort Worth region is plugged in as a premier North American tech hub. Companies like AT&T, Texas Instruments, and Toyota — not to mention hundreds of startups — are attracted to the area, in part, because of its vast pool of talent. This includes new graduates just entering the workforce and experienced professionals operating on the cutting edge of the industry. The only thing struggling to keep pace with technology is the state of higher education.
College is increasingly costly, both in terms of money and time, making it more difficult for aspiring professionals to get the education and training needed to advance their careers. The tech sector is built on speed, efficiency, convenience, and affordability. Why can’t college be wired the same way?
From Cloud Engineering to Cybersecurity, WGU is on the cutting edge
Employer expectations are widening — and strengthening the value of multiple readiness signals in prospective employees.
A recent WGU Workforce Decoded Report surveyed 310 Texas employers, and 73% of respondents said that degrees remain important when evaluating job candidates. About 40% said that degrees and experience are equally as important. This means that, rather than trading one readiness signal for another when brining in new employees, more companies are looking for students with the full package: Degrees, credentials, and competencies.
Employers in every industry, and especially the tech sector, are looking for employees who can solve problems quickly and design solutions. That’s exactly how students earn their degrees at WGU. The online degree programs at WGU are designed with employers in mind, giving students the practical skills they’ll need to succeed in the market today — and tomorrow.
“The first highlight was during the MBA program when I got to work with a group of other students in different programs to work on a project,” says Vinicio. “It allowed me to use what I learned during the program to apply it to a business scenario.”
WGU is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, just like the University of North Texas or SMU, and because of its workforce-aligned curriculum, employers know this too.
Right now, WGU offers bachelor’s degrees online in these exciting fields within technology:
Computer Science
Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
Cloud and Network Engineering
Data Analytics
Software Engineering
IT Management
Information Technology
User Experience Design
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sponsored by: Western Governors University (WGU)
Some WGU degrees even include additional accreditation. For example, the B.S. in Computer Science program is further accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the global accreditor of college and university programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. ABET also accredited WGU’s B.S. in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance programs, which have also been recognized as a CAE (National Center of Academic Excellence) by the National Security Agency. This means that your WGU degree meets rigorous, government-approved standards for all cybersecurity education programs.
Technology is essentially about one thing: problem-solving. Whether you work in cybersecurity, computer science, software engineering, or IT management, your job is to meet a need, remove an obstacle, or improve efficiency. And that’s exactly what WGU aims to do for its technology students.
First, WGU costs less. Average annual undergraduate tuition and fees are 31% lower at WGU than a typical Dallas-based university or college. Students pay a flat rate tuition for each 6-month term instead of paying per credit hour, as with traditional universities. They also graduate as soon as they can master the material due to WGU’s competency-based curriculum, typically in less than three years.
And 48% of WGU undergrads complete their degrees without taking out a student loan, so they can start building their futures immediately upon graduating without any debt impacting them.
Classes at WGU move at the pace of life. Each online degree program is presented in a flexible, 24/7 format that allows students to advance on their own time, whenever it’s convenient. When students need support, they can connect with a designated Program Mentor at any time via a call or email. Students also can schedule exams whenever they feel they’re ready and have mastered the material, even if that’s in less time than a traditional course would take at another institution.
In fact, 82% of WGU graduates were employed full-time while earning their degree.
By Ryann Swift on May 27, 2026
WGU also offers online technology certificates in data analytics, data engineering, front-end web development, Java development, and ServiceNow application development.
Perhaps more importantly, employers value a WGU education. According to a Harris Poll Employer Survey, 81% of employers would hire another WGU grad. And WGU grads see an average salary increase of $22,200 within just two years of graduation.
“I currently work for L3Harris as an information system security manager and as a part-time chief information security officer for Elliott Management, LLC,” says Vinicio. “My degree from WGU helped me get my first cybersecurity management position and gave me a solid understanding of business management as I continued my career growth.”
So, if you want to enter or stay ahead of the exciting field of tech, WGU can put the world at your fingertips from right here in DFW. Request more information or apply today at www.wgu.edu/dfw.
The online solution for tech education and advancement
31
%
lower annual undergraduate tuition
than average
48
%
of WGU undergrads complete their degrees without taking out a student loan
82
%
of WGU graduates were employed full-time while earning their degree
Western Governors University (WGU) is the way of the future — and the present. It’s an online university committed to providing affordable, flexible educational pathways to students in DFW. WGU offers online degree programs in business, healthcare, education, and technology. With the rapid growth of the tech sector in Dallas, its School of Technology provides a strong pathway for students to earn a bachelor’s degree and continue advancing their skills.
More than 12,500 WGU alumni live and work in the DFW area. Employers value the practical skills that WGU’s local team of educators provide their students. And those students appreciate the ability to get their tech degrees, upskill, and obtain certifications at an affordable price and on a flexible schedule.
“I had originally been accepted into a Master’s program at the University of Texas at Austin, but the schedule offered no flexibility,” says Vinicio, who after 15 years in the military and another 15 years working in cybersecurity wanted to get an MBA in IT. “I have a 3-year-old, so I needed a flexible schedule. WGU offered the flexibility to take complete coursework as time allowed, and I could take on more classes if I completed one early. And I was able to spend time with my son.”
WGU offers an affordable, high-quality education on students’ terms because that matches the speed and efficiency the tech sector demands.