Affton Resident Receives Master’s Degree from WGU Missouri

Jessica Oppenheim, who resides in Affton, has graduated from WGU Missouri with a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management. Oppenheim participated in the nonprofit, fully online university’s commencement ceremony in late October in downtown St. Louis, where she and hundreds of other graduates were recognized and celebrated for their achievements.

This was the second master’s degree Oppenheim completed at WGU Missouri. She previously earned a Master of Science in Leadership and Management through the online, nonprofit university. She found WGU’s flexible format and competency-based approach – which allows students to use their prior knowledge and experience to accelerate through their courses by studying, completing coursework and taking tests on their own time – to be a perfect fit for her.

“Both degrees were my first attempts at earning a master’s degree, and with WGU’s flexibility, I was able to get each done in less than a year,” Oppenheim said while reflecting on her academic journey.

There were 301 undergraduate and 356 graduate degree recipients from 40 U.S. states who participated in the commencement ceremony, which was held at the Dome at America’s Center in downtown St. Louis. Approximately 73% of the graduates come from at least one of the following historically underserved populations: first-generation college students, students of color, rural residents and/or low-income earners. Graduates earned degrees in business, K–12 education, information technology and health professions, including nursing.

About WGU Missouri

WGU Missouri is a competency-based, online university created to expand access to higher education for Missouri residents. The university offers more than 80 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 $7,600 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). Nursing College programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE*), and the Health Informatics program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). 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).