ScholarPath is committed to accessible, affordable education, and one of the many options we love to share with students is the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE). 

An excellent program for students living in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. 

WUE is a tuition-discount program administered by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE).

It enables eligible students from participating states (and U.S. territories) to attend a public college or university outside their home state, and pay no more than ~150% of that institution’s in-state (resident) tuition. The Western Undergraduate Exchange is a reputable program that was founded in 1987. 

The tuition-savings program offers saving by reducing tuition rates, For example:

If a state’s tuition is $10,000 a year, a WUE-eligible out-of-state student might pay $15,000 a year instead of the full non-resident tuition that could be $25,000+ a year.

There are more than 160 participating schools in the program, and WUE opens doors to new schools, new states, new environments, and potentially majors not available in the student’s state without the full out-of-state price. Once a student is admitted into a WUE program, they need to research any potential restrictions and GPA requirements. As long as a student meets the WUE requirements, they should be able to renew their status in the program for the duration of their Bachelor’s degree. 

Because WUE reduces the cost barrier, students are less constrained by “I have to stay in-state or it’s too expensive.” They can explore institutions in neighboring states (or other western states) that they might have thought were financially out of reach.  These schools might offer better programs for a student’s major or a better fit with campus culture.

Students attending an out-of-state school often benefit from fresh experiences, personal growth, and expanded networking opportunities. 

As students explore WUE options, they should also consider:

• • Eligible majors

• • GPA minimums

• • Admission deadlines

• • Maintaining WUE status

• • Room and board costs

• • Travel costs

We always encourage students to research and verify a school’s rates directly, since fees, majors, and other costs vary. You also want to research the application process at your institution.  Some schools automatically enroll you in the WUE application process, while others make you apply separately. 

The chart below gives students a snapshot of some WUE programs:

 

→ Refer to the school’s website for updated information: WUE SPREADSHEET 

Do you or your student still have questions? Reach out to us; we are here to support you every step of the way.