Golden Gate University

GGU is online and offers approximately 60 programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels and 25 of these are offered virtually — either 100% online or through a hybrid format. Undergraduates can choose from online bachelor’s degrees in psychology, data analytics, and law. Online master’s degrees include advanced financial planning, human resources management, and technology management.

GGU is widely considered a good school. It has been educating adults for over a century to help them reach their professional goals and represents over 68,000 alumni. Due to its location near the Silicon Valley, students can rely on the expertise of GGU practitioner educators for relevant instruction using current technologies applicable to the real world. 

Additionally, GGU has made several of our rankings lists, including an impressive  #1 for Best Online Business Management Degrees and #4 for Best Master’s in Organizational Leadership Online Programs based on Salary Score. 

Employers respect GGU’s online degrees because an accredited school confers them. GGU is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). This accreditation status means that GGU can prove its financial practices are sound and its academic programs offer rigor and high quality. It also means that students can transfer credits from one accredited institution to another. 

OnlineU only includes accredited online institutions on its site.

GGU is known for its rich history. During the California gold rush of the 1850s, it started an evening lecture series for adults, began the first night school in San Francisco in 1860, opened San Francisco’s first free public library in 1881, and started offering degree programs in 1901. GGU continued to grow throughout the 20th century and started one of the nation’s first web-based learning programs in 1996. Currently, classes are small, with a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and GGU has a 47% graduation rate based on College Scorecard data. 

GGU is also known for its commitment to creating greater access to higher education. In 2022, it began offering full-tuition scholarships to all in-person students in its JD and undergraduate and graduate law programs. GGU’s goal is to change the face of legal education and create more opportunities for diverse students.

According to College Scorecard, GGU’s online bachelor's degree in management provides the highest earnings. Graduates earn a median annual salary of approximately $72,000. 

OnlineU’s proprietary Salary Score ranks colleges by how much their alumni earn compared to graduates with the same degree nationwide. GGU has a perfect Salary Score of 100 for its bachelor’s degrees, 93 for its master’s degrees, and 26 for its doctoral degrees.

It’s unclear how difficult it is to get into GGU. However, it does not require entrance exams. GGU does prefer that applicants have a minimum of 12 semester credits to enroll. Students with at least 24 credits must have a minimum 2.0 GPA. Students with fewer than 12 credits are still considered but must have a minimum 3.0 GPA. 

GGU’s admission requirements are similar to most other colleges and universities. However, they vary slightly depending on whether applicants want to transfer credits. In general, undergraduate admissions for students meeting the minimum transfer requirements include the following:

• A completed application 
• A $55 application fee
• Official college and/or military transcripts, if applicable

Students who do not meet the minimum transfer requirements need to submit the following:

• High school transcripts or their equivalent
• A resume/CV
• An essay or personal statement

If you’re still exploring your options, we’ve identified the most popular online colleges to help you with your search.