Mehlville Resident Receives Bachelor’s Degree from WGU Missouri

Dawn Rose, a resident of Mehlville in South St. Louis County, has graduated from WGU Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Business - IT Management. Rose participated in the nonprofit, fully online university’s commencement ceremony on Oct. 22 in St. Louis, where she and hundreds of other graduates were recognized and celebrated for their achievements.

At the age of 62, Rose has the distinction of being the oldest graduate at the recent commencement ceremony, but her educational journey first began back in 1980 when she enrolled at a community college. She started taking classes but decided to leave school and put her education on hold after she got married and had her first child. Even though she hadn’t completed her degree, Rose was able to excel at a career in logistics while raising four children. It wasn't until a company reorganization in 2013 put her back on the job market that she decided to further her education.

“Things had changed since I last job searched 15 years prior, and without a bachelor’s degree, many doors were closing,” she said. “I worked contract jobs and was eventually hired by my current employer. But I still didn’t have the credential that would open the door to projects that peaked my interest.”

After watching a commercial about WGU Missouri, she decided to look into the university. She was intrigued by WGU’s fully online, competency-based format, which allows students to use their prior knowledge and experience to move through courses at their own pace and graduate quickly. After consulting with her fiancée, she decided to enroll and officially completed her degree during the pandemic.

“At 60 years old I graduated from WGU Missouri, and it has brought me to a place in my career that I had always dreamed of,” said Rose. “I cannot say enough about how supportive my WGU mentors and the staff have been. The cost was very reasonable, and I will continue to shout praises of WGU to everyone I know looking for a higher ed experience. I have never been prouder of anything as I am of this accomplishment. I always say that WGU really stands for ‘Won’t Give Up,’ and I am proof that it’s never too late.”

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).