WSU's program has produced more than 800 graduates. Distance students are held to the same standards as those in Pullman and get the same reward. There's no difference in the transcript or the diploma. This spring, a new public institution called Western Governors University, a joint project of 17 Western states, will begin offering classes. WGU's academic offices are in Denver, its administration is in Salt Lake City, and its students and professors will come from any of the Western states.
Students just beginning college today have online options, though.
Every community college in the state offers at least a few Internet classes. Everett Community College has two and is adding more. Edmonds Community College has one of the state's largest Internet programs, with more than 35 online classes. EdCC has more than 400 students taking online classes and the school's fire command classes are taken by firefighters from Washington, Alaska, Montana and Oregon. Internet courses offer different challenges and benefits from brick and mortar classrooms.