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How popular isWestern Governors University?

In September 2026, people searched for Western Governors University by name about 165,000 times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 3.4% of all global university online degree searches, placing Western Governors University fifth out of nine degrees. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about university online degrees, Western Governors University appeared in all answers and was the most recommended of the nine.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Western Governors University is the fifth most searched of 9 competitors and the most recommended in AI answers.

  1. CourseraShare of searches 68.5%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  2. University of PhoenixShare of searches 11.2%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  3. Open UniversityShare of searches 9.2%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  4. edXShare of searches 6.2%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  5. Western Governors UniversityShare of searches 3.4%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st

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Top university online degrees in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Western Governors University appeared in all five answers. Western Governors University is the most recommended of the nine.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Western Governors University1st
  2. University of Florida Online2nd
  3. SNHU3rd
  4. Arizona State University Online4th
  5. Coursera–
  6. University of Phoenix–
  7. Open University–
  8. edX–
  9. Udacity–

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
  • University of Florida Online3 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
  • SNHU3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Coursera0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 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
  • edX0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Udacity0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about university online degrees

5 answers

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.

Which university online degrees compete with Western Governors University?

Western Governors University against university online degrees worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Coursera, University of Phoenix, Open University, edX, Western Governors University. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthCourseraUniversity of PhoenixOpen UniversityedXWestern Governors UniversityUdacityUniversity of Florida OnlineArizona State University OnlineSNHU
Oct 202568.6%9.2%7.5%9.2%2.8%2.3%0.2%0.11%0.05%
Nov 202565.8%8.8%8.8%10.8%3.2%2.2%0.16%0.11%0.05%
Dec 202569.5%7.6%6.2%9.3%4.2%2.8%0.17%0.11%0.06%
Jan 202668%9.1%7.5%9.1%4.1%1.8%0.2%0.11%0.07%
Feb 202667.1%9%7.4%11%3.3%1.8%0.24%0.11%0.06%
Mar 202664.9%10.7%7.1%10.7%3.9%2.1%0.43%0.13%0.06%
Apr 202667.4%11.1%7.4%7.4%4%2.2%0.24%0.13%0.09%
May 202667.6%11.1%7.4%7.4%4.1%1.8%0.3%0.16%0.06%
Jun 202669.4%11.4%6.2%7.6%3.4%1.5%0.17%0.11%0.05%
Jul 202667.6%11.1%9.1%7.4%3.3%1.2%0.13%0.11%0.05%
Aug 202668.2%11.2%7.5%7.5%4.1%1.2%0.16%0.13%0.05%
Sep 202668.5%11.2%9.2%6.2%3.4%1.2%0.13%0.11%0.05%

  1. 1.Coursera

    68.5%

    Held 1st. 3.4M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  2. 2.University of Phoenix

    11.2%

    Held 2nd. 550K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  3. 3.Open University

    9.2%

    Moved from 4th to 3rd. 450K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +1.7 points.

  4. 4.edX

    6.2%

    Moved from 3rd to 4th. 301K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -1.3 points.

  5. 5.Western Governors University

    3.4%

    Held 5th. 165K estimated branded searches, -17.9% vs prior month. Share -0.7 points.

  6. 6.Udacity

    1.2%

    Held 6th. 60.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  7. 7.University of Florida Online

    0.13%

    Held 7th. 6.6K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  8. 8.Arizona State University Online

    0.11%

    Held 8th. 5.4K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  9. 9.SNHU

    0.05%

    Held 9th. 2.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Western Governors University and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Western Governors University

8 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Western Governors University changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Western Governors University worldwide held steady at 165K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Western Governors University’s share of searches among university online degrees worldwide increased from 2.8% to 3.4%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Western Governors University’s share of searches among university online degrees worldwide peaked at 4.2% in December 2025 and was lowest at 2.8% in October 2025.

How did search popularity change for university online degrees worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Open University overtook edX to rank 3rd among university online degrees worldwide, with 9.2% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, edX lost share of searches among university online degrees worldwide, from 7.5% to 6.2%.

  3. In September 2026, Western Governors University lost share of searches among university online degrees worldwide, from 4.1% to 3.4%.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for Udacity worldwide fell 55.2% over 12 measured months, from 135K to 60.5K in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for University of Florida Online worldwide fell 45.5% over 12 measured months, from 12.1K to 6.6K in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Arizona State University Online worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 6.6K to 5.4K in September 2026.

How are Western Governors University’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Western Governors 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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