Brandwave

Walden University vs Western Governors University:Which is more popular?

In October 2026, Western Governors University had more branded searches than Walden University among university online degrees worldwide. Western Governors University had about 301,000 branded searches, while Walden University had 135,000. Western Governors University made up 13.9% of all university online degree searches we track, and Walden University 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 Walden University in none.

Among university online degrees worldwide in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

Western Governors University, about 2 searches for every 1 for Walden University

Western Governors University 301K searchesWalden University 135K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Western Governors University, mentioned in every answer we collected

Western Governors University in 5 of 5Walden University in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Western Governors University, the only one of the two named

Western Governors University first in 5Walden University 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. Walden University 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.

+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 Walden University or Western Governors University more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Walden University 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.

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

Share of searches by month for Western Governors University, Walden University. 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 Walden University 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 Walden University’s and Western Governors University’s branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Walden 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.

Walden University

1 branded search term

  • walden university

Western Governors University

1 branded search term

  • wgu

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

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