10 List Of Best WUE Schools And Their Tuition Cost

Are you looking to study in a college outside of your state at a reduced fee? Then you should start looking into universities and colleges in the WUE program. Keep reading to learn more.

Higher education in the United States is rated top in the world but it comes at a very high cost, literally. Colleges and universities in the US are very expensive and most students graduate with huge student debt that they keep paying off, sometimes for the rest of their lives. Although some scholarships and grants help college students cut down the heavy tuition cost they are highly competitive.

There are also other alternatives you can take to reduce this high cost like attending an NAIA college in the US and getting your education funded but this is majorly for student-athletes and if you aren’t one, you won’t get the sponsorship. So, where does that leave you?

Sourcing through the internet looking for how I can help students achieve their academic life goals, I came across the WUE program. I must say that this could be your savior/ticket to getting the quality education that you need without paying so much.

If you can’t get scholarships because they are too competitive nor could you get a scholarship from NAIA colleges because you aren’t a student-athlete, then the WUE program is just what you need.

In this blog post, I have exhaustively explained, in simple terms, and with guidelines all you need to know about the list of WUE schools and how you can get into them to enjoy the quality and affordable education.

But before we get into that, you ought to know that there are a handful of free universities in the US that you may want to look into. There are also some free online universities for students in any part of the world, which is also an alternative that you may want to look into.

Now, to the main event, take a sit, grab a can of soda, and enjoy!

What Is WUE?

I probably mentioned WUE up to five times earlier without letting you know what it means, well, we uncover its mystery here.

WUE stands for Western Undergraduate Exchange and it is the largest regional interstate tuition savings program in the entire US established by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE).

WUE is a tuition-reduction program set to reduce the tuition fee of students who have left their states to study in another state in the US.

Typically, tuition fee varies by factors such as degree program and students’ residency status and not just in the US alone but all over the world. The tuition for an in-state student is much lower compared to an out-of-state student, which is also lower when compared to an international student, the highest of them all.

Now, when you leave your state to enroll in a college in another state that makes you an out-of-state or nonresident student and your tuition automatically becomes different from resident students, you will pay higher.

This has crushed the dream of many who want to study at colleges outside of their state while some had no choice but to go with what they can afford, that is being a resident student which must have limited their potential in one way or the other.

Now, with the WUE program, you do have a choice, and an affordable one at that. Through the WUE, you can pursue an undergraduate degree of your choice at an out-of-state college, that is a college outside of your home state, and pay no more than 150% of that college’s resident tuition rate.

Typically, the full out-of-state or non-resident college tuition rates can go as high as 300% of the in-state or resident rates, WUE increases affordable higher education choices for students, and minimizes the adverse impacts of student loan debt.

What else is there to know about WUE?

The Western Undergraduate Exchange was set up by an agreement among WICHE’s 16 members, through which over 160 participating public colleges and universities provide steep nonresident tuition savings for Western students. See a full list of all the WUE schools here.

List of States in the WUE Program

The following is the list of states in the US that are participating in the WUE program:

  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Montana
  • Nevada
  • New Mexico
  • North Dakota
  • Oregon
  • South Dakota
  • Utah
  • Washington
  • Wyoming

The WUE admission discount is administered by each WUE participating institution according to its own rules.

Eligibility Requirements for WUE

Here is a guide on how to partake in the WUE program;

  • Check Your Eligibility

Interested applicants must be a resident of one of the WICHE-region states or territories and apply to one of the participating public schools in another Western state.

  • Check Schools And Degrees

On the WUE website, you can search the WUE Savings Finder to see which majors are eligible for the WUE rate by school.

  • Meet Your School’s WUE Requirements

Aside from regular entry requirements, institutions also have their WUE requirements. They may require a minimum GPA, exclude selected majors, have early application deadlines, and/or limit the number of students awarded the WUE rate.

To get accurate information, it’s best to make use of the WUE Savings Finder to contact your preferred college/university directly about their WUE requirements.

  • Apply Directly To The School

During your application to your preferred school, contact the admissions, financial aid, or scholarship office to let them know you are seeking WUE.

list of WUE schools

List of Best WUE Schools

As I mentioned earlier, there are more than 160 participating schools in the WUE but which ones are the best? Find out in this section.

  • The University of Nevada
  • The University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
  • Weber State University
  • Boise State University
  • Black Hills State University
  • Eastern Washington University
  • Oregon Institute of Technology
  • Northern Arizona University
  • Maryville State University
  • Lewis-Clark State College

1.     The University of Nevada

The University of Nevada is a public research university in Las Vegas and many students like to enroll in the undergraduate program here to get a thrill of the “Sin City”. There are more than 18,000 undergraduate students pursuing degrees in Criminal Justice, Business, Psychology, and many more.

The acceptance rate at the University of Nevada is 83% while the tuition is $11,582.

2.     The University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

The University of Colorado is one of the best WUE schools where you can pursue an undergraduate degree at affordable rates. The institution has about 12,000 students enrolled in various undergraduate programs ranging from engineering and healthcare to sciences and humanities.

The acceptance rate here is 90% and tuition is around $10,550.

3.     Weber State University

On our third list of best WUE schools in Weber State University where you can pursue degrees in business, nursing, arts, humanities, tech, etc. at affordable charges. The institution is located in Northern Utah and charges a tuition of $14,749 and has an acceptance rate of 89%.

4.     Boise State University

Boise State University is among the 160+ WUE colleges and universities. The institution offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduates degree programs up to 170 in total. The tuition is $13,363 and the acceptance rate is 82%.

5.     Black Hills State University

Black Hills State University is one of the participating WUE schools and should be on your top list. The institution is aimed at offering its students an internationally recognized education and connecting them with some of the leading networks in their specific field after graduation.

The acceptance rate is 80% and the tuition is $14,807.

6.     Eastern Washington University

Eastern Washington University is a state-run university and one of the best WUE schools where you can pursue quality programs in the areas of business, agriculture, humanities, and social sciences. The acceptance rate is a whopping 95% while the tuition is $11,393.

7.     Oregon Institute of Technology

This institution would appeal best to those who want to pursue a tech-focused degree program or want to be in a tech-savvy environment while pursuing their degree. There are 32 undergraduate degree programs in engineering, health tech, management, applied sciences, and others.

Unlike the others on the list so far, the acceptance rate of this institution is much lower at 61%.

8.      Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University is one of the best WUE schools that you may want to put at the top of your list. World-renowned scholars and researchers were products of this school and this makes the environment an academically challenging one as everyone strives to be at the top.

The tuition is $14,619 while the acceptance rate is 82%.

9.     Maryville State University

Before considering applying to Maryville State University, you ought to know that the acceptance rate is only 58% and is the lowest on this list. This means that admission into this university is tough and rigorous, therefore you must demonstrate excellent academic achievement to be accepted.

There is a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs at Maryville such as business, education, engineering, and humanities, among others. The tuition is $19,750.

10.  Lewis-Clark State College

Last but not listed on our list of best WUE schools is Lewis-Clark State College, a prestigious higher institution in Lewiston, Idaho. Over 130 academic programs were offered in varieties of fields ranging from science and liberal arts to engineering and health sciences.

The acceptance rate of Lewis-Clark is 100% and tuition is $19,236.

These are the top 10 lists of best WUE schools along with their cost and other details. From this list, and other detail provided in this article, you can easily find a suitable WUE school.

List of WUE Schools – FAQs

[sc_fs_faq html=”true” headline=”h3″ img=”” question=”What GPA do you need to keep the WUE?” img_alt=”” css_class=””] To renew the WUE tuition discount, you must maintain a minimum of 3.0 CGPA and complete at least 24 credit hours during the two semesters of the academic year.What GPA do you need to keep the WUE? To renew the WUE tuition discount, you must maintain a minimum of 3.0 CGPA and complete at least 24 credit hours during the two semesters of the academic year. [/sc_fs_faq]

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