--- title: "Strayer University vs Western Governors University: Which is more popular?" description: "Is Strayer University or Western Governors University more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the University online degrees set worldwide. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time." canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/strayer-university-vs-western-governors-university" publisher: "Brandwave" --- # Strayer University vs Western Governors University: Which is more popular? Is Strayer University or Western Governors University more popular in search? Compare estimated monthly branded-search demand and Share of Search inside the University online degrees set worldwide. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time. ## Key facts - **Compared**: Strayer University and Western Governors University - **Competitive set**: University online degrees - **Market**: Global - **Month measured**: Oct 2026 - **Strayer University Share of Search**: 3.4% - **Western Governors University Share of Search**: 13.9% ## Is Strayer University or Western Governors University more popular in search? - In October 2026, Western Governors University had more branded searches than Strayer University among university online degrees worldwide. Western Governors University had about 301,000 branded searches, while Strayer University had 74,000. Western Governors University made up 13.9% of all university online degree searches we track, and Strayer University accounted for 3.4%. - Western Governors University was ahead of Strayer University in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026. - Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Strayer University’s share of searches among university online degrees worldwide moved from 3% to 3.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60.5K to 74K. - Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Western Governors University’s share of searches among university online degrees worldwide moved from 14.9% to 13.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 301K. ## 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. Strayer University did not appear in any of the five answers. Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options. | Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Western Governors University | 1st | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 5 | | University of Florida Online | 2nd | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | SNHU | 3rd | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | Arizona State University Online | 3rd | 2 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 | | University of the People | 5th | 0 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 5 | | University of Phoenix | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Open University | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Capella University | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Walden University | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Arden University | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Purdue Global | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Strayer University | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | Coursera | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | | edX | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 | ## Every AI answer about university online degrees - Asked ChatGPT "Which university online degree should I join?": 1. Western Governors University, 2. Arizona State University Online, 3. SNHU - Asked ChatGPT "What are the best university online degrees?": 1. University of Florida Online, 2. Arizona State University Online, 3. Western Governors University - Asked ChatGPT "What's the best university online degree for working adults?": 1. Western Governors University, 2. SNHU, 3. University of Florida Online - Searched Google, AI Overview "accredited online degree": 1. University of Florida Online, 2. SNHU, 3. Western Governors University - Searched Google, AI Overview "online bachelor's degree": 1. University of the People, 2. Western Governors University, 3. Arizona State University Online Not named in any answer: University of Phoenix, Open University, Capella University, Walden University, Arden University, Purdue Global, Strayer University, Coursera and edX. Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in the United States on October 21, 2026. ## How did search popularity change for university online degrees worldwide in October 2026? - 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%. ## How has branded search for Strayer University and Western Governors University changed worldwide over the last 12 months? | Month | Strayer University estimated searches | Strayer University Share of Search | Strayer University rank | Western Governors University estimated searches | Western Governors University Share of Search | Western Governors University rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Nov 2025 | 60.5K | 3% | 10 | 301K | 14.9% | 3 | | Dec 2025 | 60.5K | 3.3% | 10 | 368K | 20.2% | 2 | | Jan 2026 | 74K | 3% | 10 | 450K | 18.3% | 3 | | Feb 2026 | 60.5K | 2.9% | 10 | 368K | 17.9% | 3 | | Mar 2026 | 60.5K | 2.7% | 10 | 368K | 16.4% | 3 | | Apr 2026 | 60.5K | 2.8% | 10 | 368K | 16.9% | 3 | | May 2026 | 60.5K | 2.7% | 10 | 368K | 16.2% | 3 | | Jun 2026 | 60.5K | 2.9% | 10 | 368K | 17.4% | 2 | | Jul 2026 | 74K | 3.3% | 10 | 368K | 16.4% | 3 | | Aug 2026 | 60.5K | 2.7% | 10 | 368K | 16.7% | 3 | | Sep 2026 | 60.5K | 2.7% | 10 | 368K | 16.3% | 3 | | Oct 2026 | 74K | 3.4% | 10 | 301K | 13.9% | 3 | ## How are Strayer University’s and Western Governors University’s branded searches counted? Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Strayer University’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. - **Strayer University**: Measured on the search term “strayer university”. - **Western Governors University**: Measured on the search term “wgu”. - [Strayer University profile](/demand/global-en/brands/strayer-university) - [Western Governors University profile](/demand/global-en/brands/western-governors-university) - [All university online degrees worldwide](/demand/global-en/categories/university-online-degrees): The set both shares are measured inside, 14 brands. ## Methodology - [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Strayer University or Western Governors University more popular in search? In October 2026, Western Governors University had more branded searches than Strayer University among university online degrees worldwide. Western Governors University had about 301,000 branded searches, while Strayer University had 74,000. Western Governors University made up 13.9% of all university online degree searches we track, and Strayer University accounted for 3.4%. ## Cite this page Brandwave. "Strayer University vs Western Governors University: Which is more popular?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/strayer-university-vs-western-governors-university This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/compare/strayer-university-vs-western-governors-university. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.