September 27, 2005
NEWSOut-of-state students get tuition break
Since Mesa Community College decided to participate in the Western Undergraduate Exchange Program in the 2000-01 year, out-of-state students have enjoyed significantly lower tuition rates.
The Western Undergraduate Exchange Program (WUE) is one of three programs sponsored by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE).
Students applying must be from one of the 15 Western states involved in the program. Upon student’s request to obtain WUE status during admission, tuition is significantly dropped for that student.
“The Western Undergraduate Exchange enables participating schools to open their under-enrolled programs to a certain number of students at the reduced rate of 150 percent of instate tuition,” said Louise Lynch, certifying officer on the Arizona Board of Regents in Phoenix.
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The decreased amount for WUE students is $90 per credit hour opposed to $231 for full-time out-of-state students not in the program. Pat Pepin, director of financial aid at MCC says she inquires whether students need to be full-time if they are from another state. Pepin adds some students don’t have the option of enrolling in school part-time because of health insurance or scholarship purposes.
“The program gives a broader selection of schools for students,” said Linda Shaw, the supervisor of admissions and recruitment.
WICHE created the Western Undergraduate Exchange Program to allow students the option of going to another state to earn degrees not offered in their home state.
While other colleges and universities may put limits and guidelines to be a WUE student. MCC has no restrictions.
Shaw said students must be aware WUE is a residency factor. Students under WUE status are considered to be visiting the state and will return their home state after they complete their degree. Students may not discontinue their WUE title once they have registed.
Students planning to transfer to a four-year university may not be able to continue to receive a tuition break.
Students at MCC transfer mostly to Arizona State University. ASU has chosen not to participate in WUE.
“In most cases the student does not understand they have to work with their own state’s program to get financial support to attend an out-of-state school, said Casey Self, the executive director of the center for academic advising.
Shaw explained MCC charges out-of-state students a fee because the state will not cover them.
Shaw said MCC kindly reduces tuition for students because the state where they are coming from does the same for Arizona students and it is benificial to the college.
“Anytime where we can bring in students in terms of diversity is always going to add to the classroom,” Shaw said.