If the idea of in-state tuition is the only thing keeping you in Oregon for college, we have three little letters that could change your plans and broaden your horizons: W-U-E (often pronounced "woo-wee")
WUE (Western Undergraduate Exchange) is a regional agreement that provides students from western states with a massive tuition discount. This means that as an Oregonian, attending an out-of-state school doesn't necessarily mean wildly high mark-ups of out-of-state tuition, which can be three to four times more than what in-staters pay for the same education. If you enroll in one of WUE's 160+ participating two- and four-year public institutions you could pay 150% (or less) of the school's resident tuition. Students who take advantage of WUE save an average of $9,000 per year!
So which states are included in this deal? The following are part of WICHE (Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education), which means their students and schools can participate in WUE: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming (plus the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam)
Note that not all schools in these states offer WUE tuition; you can search here for all WUE schools and eligible majors. And keep in mind, too, that just because a school/program participates in WUE doesn't mean you'll automatically receive their tuition discount. Each participating school is entitled to administer the WUE scholarship according to its own rules—we're talking application deadlines, GPA/SAT/ACT minimums, etcetera. So let's look at a few examples of WUE schools and their requirements:
Arizona State University, Downtown Campus
WUE Tuition: $16,065
Resident Tuition: $10,710
Nonresident Tuition: $28,800
Through WUE You'd Save: $12,735
WUE Admissions Info
Minimum High School GPA: 3.0 Minimum SAT: 1180 Minimum ACT: 24
Minimum College GPA (Transfer-only): 2.5* *Transfer students must have less than 120 transferable semester credits. Community college transfer students must have a minimum of an associate degree or 60 transferable semester credits.
WUE Eligible Programs
Applied Science (Emergency Management)
Community Sports Management
NonProfit Leadership and Management
Parks and Recreation Management
Public Service and Public Policy
Recreation Therapy
Social Work
Tourism Development and Management
Urban and Metropolitan Studies
Boise State University
WUE Tuition: $8,298
Resident Tuition: $5,532
Nonresident Tuition: $22,452
Through WUE You'd Save: $14,154
WUE Admissions Info
Minimum High School GPA: 3.2
Minimum SAT: 1060
Minimum ACT: 21
Minimum College GPA (Transfer-only): 3.5
WUE Eligible Programs
All majors except the following are considered for the WUE scholarship:
Nursing
Pre-Nursing
Radiologic Science
Pre-Radiologic Science
Self-supported online programs
Montana State University, Bozeman Campus
WUE Tuition: $8,481
Resident Tuition: $5,654
Nonresident Tuition: $23,890
Through WUE You'd Save: $15,409
WUE Admissions Info
Minimum High School GPA: 3.3
Minimum SAT: 1260
Minimum ACT: 27
WUE Rate for Transfer Students: No
Additional WUE Requirements
During their time at MSU students need to maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA and take 15 credits a semester to keep their scholarship.
Have questions about WUE and finding the right school for you? Contact your College & Career Counselor!
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