Arvest employees get new education perk

Western Governors University Missouri for the second time in recent weeks signed a partnership with a local employer for continuing education.

The latest deal is with Lowell, Arkansas-based Arvest Bank, where employees across its system can finish or advance their college studies through a 5 percent tuition discount or scholarships up to $2,000 at WGU Missouri, according to a news release. The nonprofit, online university also recently signed on Jack Henry & Associates Inc. (Nasdaq: JKHY) for similarly structured employee perks toward bachelor’s and master’s degrees the next two years.

At both companies, the partnership discount applies to WGU Missouri degree programs in business, information technology, education and health care.

“The WGU Missouri education model empowers working adults to fit higher education into their busy lives through flexible, personalized learning that is surprisingly affordable,” school Chancellor Angie Besendorfer said in a news release.

WGU Missouri’s tuition without discounts runs around $6,000 annually for most programs, according to school officials. 

An affiliate of Salt Lake City, Utah-based Western Governors University, the state-established school is designed on a competency-based model that encourages learning at students’ own pace. School officials say bachelor’s degrees are issued in less than three years on average.