Getting into any of these best WUE Schools in 2023 is the heart desire of many students, parents and guardians. Discover the best WUE schools from the best students destinations in the world; their possible tuition and the degree to which they accept students who are eligible.
WUE (pronounced “woo-wee”) is the Western Undergraduate Exchange, and it is coordinated by the Western Undergraduate Exchange System with the core aim of providing financial support to outside the state students.
This body has established WUE Schools in some countries, and the WUE is a regional tuition-reciprocity agreement that enables students from eligible states to enrol in some 145 participating two- and four-year public institutions at 150 per cent of the enrolling institution’s resident tuition.
WUE is the largest program of its kind in the nation and has been in operation since 1987. For clarity purposes as well, the WUE is not a short-term exchange—it is meant to be used for a full degree.
What You Need to Know About the WICHE Program
Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education is a regional interstate agency and 501 nonprofit organization based in Boulder, Colo., serving 16 member states and territories.
As an interstate compact, WICHE partners with states, territories, and postsecondary institutions to share knowledge, create resources, and develop innovative solutions that address some of our society’s most pressing needs.
The states that are part of this program, in the United States:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Hawaiʻi
- Idaho
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- U.S. Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States
Interested candidates could also ascertain their eligibility based on their region by visiting the official website of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.
Related Post: Top Schools in Canada Without Application Fees for International Students.
Best WUE Schools in 2023
Here is a list of the best WUE schools, their tuition and acceptance rates:
1. Black Hills State University
Black Hills State University is a public university in Spearfish, South Dakota. The school is ranked #128-#165 in Regional Universities Midwest. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.
Note: when applying to This WUE School, it’s important to note the application deadline is rolling. The application fee at Black Hills State University is $20. Scores for either the ACT or SAT are due July 15.
WUE School Tuition: $14,807
Acceptance rate: 80%
Graduation rate: 33%
Visit Official website
2. University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico is home to more than 300 student organizations, from cultural and religious to academic, political, and service-oriented groups.
UNM is the only Hispanic-Serving Institution in the U.S. that is also classified as a Carnegie Research University with Very High Activity. University of New Mexico’s ranking in the 2019 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities and its setting is urban, and the campus size is 769 acres.
This school is among the list of WUE schools and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar.
WUE SYchool Tuition: $7,929
Acceptance rate: 58%
Graduation rate: 48%
Official school website: https://www.unm.edu/
3. Minot State University
Minot State is an above-average public university located in Minot, North Dakota. It is a small institution with an enrollment of 1,952 undergraduate students.
The school is dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and vibrant campus life.
Business, Nursing, and Elementary Education are the school’s Popular majors.
WUE School Tuition: $7,064
Acceptance rate: 60%
Graduation rate: 40%
Official school website: https://www.minotstateu.edu/
4. Colorado State University, Pueblo
Colorado State University-Pueblo (CSU–Pueblo) is a regional comprehensive public university located in Pueblo, Colorado, United States.
This school is a fully accredited, regional comprehensive state university that provides social, educational, and cultural opportunities to its constituents.
More so, courses are offered in pursuit of the following degrees-Sociology/Criminology emphasis, Social Work, Business Administration, and Management – as well as a variety of lower-division general education courses.
The WUE schools in Colorado provide relevant professional coursework, hands-on research experiences, and superior instruction with a small faculty-to-student ratio.
WUE School Tuition: $28,787
Acceptance rate: 96%
Graduation rate: 32%
Official school website: https://www.csupueblo.edu/
5. Mayville State University
Mayville State University is a public institution that was founded in 1889. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,097, its setting is rural, and the campus size is 55 acres.
It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Mayville State University is dedicated to excellence in teaching, service, and scholarship in dynamic, inclusive, and supportive learning environments that are individually focused.
WUE School Tuition $19,700.00
Acceptance rate: 55%
Graduation rate: 42%
Official school website: https://mayvillestate.edu/
6. Lewis-Clark State College
Lewis-Clark State College is an undergraduate institution based in the town of Lewiston, northern Idaho. Chartered in 1893, in 1955 the university was named for the famous explorers who would have passed through what is modern-day Idaho on their travels.
However, it is a public four-year state college offering instruction in liberal arts and sciences, professional-technical programs that support the state and local economy, professional areas, and other educational programs designed to meet the needs of Idahoans.
Many LCSC alumni have gone on to compete in Major League Baseball, including Cincinnati Reds pitcher Carlos Fisher and San Francisco Giants outfielder Marvin Bernard.
WUE School Tuition: $19,236
Acceptance rate: 97%
Graduation rate: 30%
Official school website: http://www.lcsc.edu/
7. Dickinson State University
Dickinson State University is a regional four-year institution within the North Dakota University System, whose primary role is to contribute to intellectual, social, economic, and cultural development, especially in Southwestern North Dakota.
The University’s mission is to: Provide high-quality, accessible programs to promote excellence in teaching and learning support scholarly.
Creative activities that provide services relevant to the economy, health, and quality of life for the citizens of the State of North Dakota.
WUE School Tuition: $9,544
Acceptance rate: 99%
Graduation rate: 37%
Official school website: https://www.boisestate.edu/
8. Boise State University
Boise State is an above-average public university located in Boise, Idaho. It is a large institution with an enrollment of 12,477 undergraduate students.
The WUE Idaho school majors include Business, Nursing, and Communications. Boise State University is located in the capital of Idaho, in the western part of the state.
However, Boise State students can choose from about 170 academic programs, including several master’s degrees in fields such as business, education, and art.
WUE School Tuition: $13,363
Acceptance rate: 82%
Graduation rate: 37%
Official school website: https://www.boisestate.edu/
9. University of Colorado Denver
University of Colorado—Denver is a public institution that was founded in 1912. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 15,586, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 126 acres.
It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Popular majors include Business, Nursing, and Biology.
WUE School Tuition: $32,005
Acceptance rate: 61%
Graduation rate: 41%
Official website: http://www.ucdenver.edu/pages/ucdwelcomepage.aspx
10. University of Hawaii Maui College
The University of Hawaii Maui College is a public institution located on the Hawaiian island of Maui in the city of Kahului. It is a land-, sea-, and space-grant research institution and part of the University of Hawaii system.
Culinary arts and food service, nursing, mechanics, and repair are among the most popular majors.
Dickinson State University University has an open admissions policy. This school is on the list of WUE schools.
WUE School Tuition: $1,178
Acceptance rate: 100%
Graduation rate: 87%
Official school website: https://maui.hawaii.edu/
11. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology is a public institution that was founded in 1889. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,471, its setting is rural, and the campus size is 320 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar.
New Mexico Tech offers over 30 Bachelor of Science degrees in technology, the sciences, engineering, management, and technical communication, as well as graduate degrees at the master’s and doctoral levels.
Most importantly, it is one of the best schools for WUE mechanical engineering
WUE School Tuition: $35,153.00
Acceptance rate: 22%
Graduation rate: 45%
Official school website: https://www.nmt.edu/
The school’s Notable alumni:
- Conrad Hilton (born 1887), American hotelier and the founder of the Hilton Hotels chain
- Lukas Lundin (born 1958), a Swedish-Canadian billionaire businessman
- Axel Scherer, Professor, California Institute of Technology, inventor of the Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL)
Terry Wallace (born 1954), Director, Los Alamos National Laboratory
12. University of Nevada, Las Vegas
UNLV is an above-average public university located in Paradise, Nevada in the Las Vegas Area. It is a large institution with an enrollment of 18,958 undergraduate students.
The school majors include Hospitality and Tourism Management, Psychology, and Criminal Justice and Safety Studies.
WUE Schools Nevada has a wide variety of graduate schools, including the William S. Boyd School of Law, which is particularly well regarded for its legal writing program; the College of Education; and the College of Business.
However, the University of Nevada requires students to earn at least a 3.25 GPA in core classes and 26 ACT or 1240 SAT to receive the WUE.
WUE School Tuition: $11,582
Acceptance rate: 83%
Graduation rate: 39%
Official school website: https://www.unlv.edu/
13. Oregon Institute of Technology
Oregon Tech is an above-average public college located in Klamath Falls, Oregon. It is a small institution with an enrollment of 2,284 undergraduate students.
Popular majors include Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician, Dental Hygiene, and Medical Technician.
As the school with America’s first undergraduate program in renewable energy engineering, OIT emphasizes sustainability in both academic and campus life.
WUE School Tuition:
Acceptance rate: 61%
Graduation rate: 41%
Official school website: https://www.oit.edu/
14. The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Colorado WUE schools is a public institution that was founded in 1965. This is one of the best Colorado WUE schools that enrols over 12,000 students in a variety of unique and challenging academic programs at an affordable cost.
Furthermore, the school offers a high-quality University of Colorado education, with small class sizes and opportunities to interact with professors.
WUE schools Colorado faculty have developed new academic programs in Digital Filmmaking, Inclusive Elementary Education, Inclusive Childhood Education, Data Analytics & Systems Engineering, Engineering Education, Exercise Science, Music, Museum Studies & Gallery Practice, and Athletic Training.
WUE School Tuition: $20,051
Acceptance rate: 93%
Graduation rate: 47%
Visit the Official school website
15. University of Alaska Anchorage
The University is a public research university located in Anchorage, Alaska, United States. UAA also administers four community campuses spread across South-central Alaska.
However, It is comprised of the Anchorage Campus located in the heart of Alaska’s largest city, as well as Kenai Peninsula College, Matanuska Susitna College, Kodiak College, and Prince William Sound College, all located in some of the most beautiful places in Alaska.
This school majors in Liberal Arts and Humanities, Nursing, and accounting. And also, it is one of the nursing schools in WUE.
WUE School Tuition: $12,543
Acceptance rate: 83%
Graduation rate: 31%
Visit here official school website
Frequently Asked Questions
As a tuition reduction and institution-powered program managed by the Inter-American Commission for Western Higher Education (WICHE), the WUE schools are highly sought after in regions where they are tenable.
For this reason, a lot of students, parents and guardians from all over the world do ask questions. As part of our mandate here at Jobreaders.org to provide global citizens with the best guide on any career topic, we have gathered top answers to help you get what you are looking for.
What are the best WUE Schools in the world?
Here are the top WUE schools with descent tuition and good acceptance rate in 2023:
- Minot State University.
- Colorado State University, Pueblo.
- Black Hills State University.
- The University of New Mexico.
- Dickinson State University.
- Boise State University.
- The University of Hawaii.
- University of Colorado, Denver.
What is the purpose of the WUE program?
Standing for the Western Undergraduate Exchange, WUE is an arrangement that covers all the 16 member states of WICHE as this post clearly explains.
With this program, over one hundred and sixty (160) public colleges and universities noble participants to our participants with a single goal of providing steep nonresident tuition savings for Western students.