Brandwave

Purdue Global vs Western Governors University:Which is more popular?

In October 2026, Western Governors University had more branded searches than Purdue Global among university online degrees worldwide. Western Governors University had about 301,000 branded searches, while Purdue Global had 74,000. Western Governors University made up 13.9% of all university online degree searches we track, and Purdue Global accounted for 3.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about university online degrees, Western Governors University appeared in all five answers and Purdue Global in none.

Among university online degrees worldwide in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

Western Governors University, about 4 searches for every 1 for Purdue Global

Western Governors University 301K searchesPurdue Global 74K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Western Governors University, mentioned in every answer we collected

Western Governors University in 5 of 5Purdue Global in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Western Governors University, the only one of the two named

Western Governors University first in 5Purdue Global never named

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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. Purdue Global did not appear in any of the five 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
  • Purdue Global0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+4 more

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.

Is Purdue Global or Western Governors University more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Purdue Global and Western Governors University by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 14 university online degree brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Purdue Global and Western Governors University among university online degrees worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Western Governors University, Purdue Global. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthUniversity of PhoenixOpen UniversityWestern Governors UniversitySNHUCapella UniversityUniversity of the PeopleWalden UniversityArden UniversityPurdue GlobalStrayer UniversityArizona State University OnlineUniversity of Florida OnlineCourseraedX
Nov 202522.3%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 202520.2%16.5%20.2%9.1%6%6%7.4%5%4.1%3.3%1.5%0.44%0.21%0.03%
Jan 202622.4%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 202621.9%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 202624.5%16.4%16.4%9%6%4.9%7.4%6%4%2.7%1.5%0.99%0.12%0.02%
Apr 202625.3%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 202624.2%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 202626%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 202624.5%20%16.4%8.9%4.9%6%6%4.9%3.3%3.3%1.5%0.29%0.07%0.02%
Aug 202624.9%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 202624.4%20%16.3%8.9%4.9%6%6%6%3.3%2.7%1.2%0.29%0.08%0.02%
Oct 202625.4%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%

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

3 findings

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

2 changes

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

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Purdue Global worldwide rose 22.3% over 12 measured months, from 60.5K to 74K in October 2026.

How are Purdue Global’s and Western Governors University’s branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Purdue Global’s and Western Governors University’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Purdue Global

1 branded search term

  • purdue global

Western Governors University

1 branded search term

  • wgu

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among university online degrees

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