Brandwave

University of the People vs Western Governors University:Which is more popular?

In October 2026, Western Governors University had more branded searches than University of the People among university online degrees worldwide. Western Governors University had about 301,000 branded searches, while University of the People had 135,000. Western Governors University made up 13.9% of all university online degree searches we track, and University of the People accounted for 6.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about university online degrees, Western Governors University appeared in all five answers and University of the People in one. Western Governors University was mentioned before University of the People in four out of five answers.

Among university online degrees worldwide in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

Western Governors University, about 2 searches for every 1 for University of the People

Western Governors University 301K searchesUniversity of the People 135K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Western Governors University, mentioned in every answer we collected

Western Governors University in 5 of 5University of the People in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Western Governors University, named ahead of University of the People in 4 of 5 answers

Western Governors University first in 4University of the People first in 1

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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. University of the People was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Western Governors University was listed before University of the People in four out of five answers.

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

+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 University of the People or Western Governors University more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for University of the People 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.

University of the People and Western Governors University among university online degrees worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Western Governors University, University of the People. 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 University of the People 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, Capella University overtook Arden University and 2 others to rank 5th among university online degrees worldwide, with 6.2% of the searches.

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

How are University of the People’s and Western Governors University’s branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using University of the People’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.

University of the People

1 branded search term

  • university of the people

Western Governors University

1 branded search term

  • wgu

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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