How popular isWalden University?
In October 2026, people searched for Walden University by name about 135,000 times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 6.2% of all global university online degree searches, placing Walden University seventh out of 14 brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about university online degrees, Walden University did not appear in any of the answers.
Walden University is the seventh most searched of 14 competitors and not named in the AI answers we collected.
University of PhoenixShare of searches 25.4%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
Open UniversityShare of searches 20.8%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
Western Governors UniversityShare of searches 13.9%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
SNHUShare of searches 7.6%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
Walden UniversityShare of searches 6.2%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
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Top university online degrees in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Walden University did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Western Governors University5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
SNHU3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Arizona State University Online3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
University of Florida Online3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
University of the People1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
University of Phoenix0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Open University0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Capella University0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Walden University0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Arden University0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about university online degrees
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which university online degree should I join?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best university online degrees?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best university online degree for working adults?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“accredited online degree”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“online bachelor's degree”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
How often do people search for Walden University compared with other university online degrees worldwide?
Share of searches by month for University of Phoenix, Open University, Western Governors University, SNHU, Capella University, University of the People, Walden University, Arden University, Purdue Global, Strayer University. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | University of Phoenix | Open University | Western Governors University | SNHU | Capella University | University of the People | Walden University | Arden University | Purdue Global | Strayer University | Arizona State University Online | University of Florida Online | Coursera | edX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 22.3% | 22.3% | 14.9% | 8.2% | 5.5% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 5.5% | 3% | 3% | 1.3% | 0.4% | 0.22% | 0.03% |
| Dec 2025 | 20.2% | 16.5% | 20.2% | 9.1% | 6% | 6% | 7.4% | 5% | 4.1% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 0.44% | 0.21% | 0.03% |
| Jan 2026 | 22.4% | 18.3% | 18.3% | 10% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 6.7% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 3% | 1.3% | 0.49% | 0.12% | 0.02% |
| Feb 2026 | 21.9% | 17.9% | 17.9% | 9.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% | 6.6% | 5.4% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 1.3% | 0.59% | 0.13% | 0.03% |
| Mar 2026 | 24.5% | 16.4% | 16.4% | 9% | 6% | 4.9% | 7.4% | 6% | 4% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 0.99% | 0.12% | 0.02% |
| Apr 2026 | 25.3% | 16.9% | 16.9% | 9.2% | 5.1% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 4.2% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 0.56% | 0.1% | 0.02% |
| May 2026 | 24.2% | 16.2% | 16.2% | 8.8% | 5.9% | 7.3% | 7.3% | 4.8% | 4% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 0.65% | 0.11% | 0.02% |
| Jun 2026 | 26% | 14.2% | 17.4% | 9.5% | 5.2% | 7.8% | 6.4% | 5.2% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 1.6% | 0.38% | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| Jul 2026 | 24.5% | 20% | 16.4% | 8.9% | 4.9% | 6% | 6% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 0.29% | 0.07% | 0.02% |
| Aug 2026 | 24.9% | 16.7% | 16.7% | 9.1% | 6.1% | 6.1% | 7.5% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 0.37% | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| Sep 2026 | 24.4% | 20% | 16.3% | 8.9% | 4.9% | 6% | 6% | 6% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 0.29% | 0.08% | 0.02% |
| Oct 2026 | 25.4% | 20.8% | 13.9% | 7.6% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 1.3% | 0.25% | 0.12% | 0.01% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 25.4% | 550K | 0% | +1 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 20.8% | 450K | 0% | +0.8 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 13.9% | 301K | -18.2% | -2.4 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 7.6% | 165K | -17.9% | -1.3 points | |
| 5, moved from 8th to 5th | 6.2% | 135K | +22.7% | +1.4 pointsmoved from 8th to 5th | |
| 6, held 6th | 6.2% | 135K | 0% | +0.2 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 6.2% | 135K | 0% | +0.2 points | |
| 8, moved from 5th to 8th | 5.1% | 110K | -18.5% | -0.9 pointsmoved from 5th to 8th | |
| 9, held 9th | 3.4% | 74K | 0% | +0.1 points | |
| 10, held 10th | 3.4% | 74K | +22.3% | +0.7 points | |
| 11, held 11th | 1.3% | 27.1K | 0% | +0.1 points | |
| 12, held 12th | 0.25% | 5.4K | -18.2% | 0 points | |
| 13, held 13th | 0.12% | 2.6K | +39.7% | 0 points | |
| 14, held 14th | 0.01% | 320 | -20% | 0 points |
25.4%
Held 1st. 550K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1 points.
20.8%
Held 2nd. 450K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.
3.
Western Governors University13.9%
Held 3rd. 301K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -2.4 points.
4.
SNHU7.6%
Held 4th. 165K estimated branded searches, -17.9% vs prior month. Share -1.3 points.
6.2%
Moved from 8th to 5th. 135K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share +1.4 points.
6.2%
Held 6th. 135K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
6.2%
Held 7th. 135K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
5.1%
Moved from 5th to 8th. 110K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -0.9 points.
3.4%
Held 9th. 74K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
3.4%
Held 10th. 74K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.
Held 11th. 27.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
12.
University of Florida Online0.25%
Held 12th. 5.4K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
13.
Coursera0.12%
Held 13th. 2.6K estimated branded searches, +39.7% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
14.
edX0.01%
Held 14th. 320 estimated branded searches, -20% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Coursera and edX sell other things too, so only their searches that name this product count here, like “coursera degrees”.
Compare popularity between Walden University and its closest rivals

Walden University vs SNHU: compare popularity
Walden University vs Capella University: compare popularity
Walden University vs University of the People: compare popularity
Walden University vs Arden University: compare popularity
Walden University vs Purdue Global: compare popularity- Compare Walden University with any brand
Every comparison with Walden University
13 comparisons
- Capella University vs Walden University
- Open University vs Walden University
- SNHU vs Walden University
- University of Phoenix vs Walden University
- University of the People vs Walden University
- Walden University vs Western Governors University
- Arden University vs Walden University
- Purdue Global vs Walden University
- Strayer University vs Walden University
- Arizona State University Online vs Walden University
- University of Florida Online vs Walden University
- Coursera vs Walden University
- edX vs Walden University
How has branded search demand for Walden University changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Walden University worldwide held steady at 135K.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Walden University’s share of searches among university online degrees worldwide peaked at 7.5% in August 2026 and was lowest at 6% in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Walden University fell from 6th to 7th among university online degrees worldwide.
How did search popularity change for university online degrees worldwide in October 2026?
6 changes

In October 2026, Capella University overtook Arden University and 2 others to rank 5th among university online degrees worldwide, with 6.2% of the searches.

In October 2026, University of Phoenix gained share of searches among university online degrees worldwide, from 24.4% to 25.4%.

In October 2026, Open University gained share of searches among university online degrees worldwide, from 20% to 20.8%.

In October 2026, Strayer University gained share of searches among university online degrees worldwide, from 2.7% to 3.4%.

In October 2026, Western Governors University lost share of searches among university online degrees worldwide, from 16.3% to 13.9%.

In October 2026, SNHU lost share of searches among university online degrees worldwide, from 8.9% to 7.6%.
How are Walden University’s branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Walden University’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
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