Case Study: Western Governors University achieves stronger student engagement and higher graduation rates with Salesforce for Nonprofits

Western Governors Fosters Student Community to Drive Degree Completion

Western Governors University (WGU) is a fully accredited, nonprofit online university serving over 40,000 students with a competency‑based learning model that replaces traditional classes and lectures. While this innovative approach supports flexible learning, WGU faced the challenge of creating meaningful student-to-student and student-to-mentor connections in a virtual environment and improving graduation rates compared with traditional institutions.

WGU implemented Salesforce Communities, Sales Cloud, Service Cloud and App Cloud—plus a centralized Knowledge Base and predictive analytics—to connect students, mentors and services across enrollment, active study and student support. By tracking every interaction in Salesforce and using engagement data to identify students who need help, WGU has strengthened community ties, curbed course drops and gained a 360° view of student progress; the university currently posts a 40% graduation rate (above many online peers) and is working toward its 50% goal.

Western Governors University

Dave Perry

Salesforce Program Manager