Four regional programs let students attend a public college in another state without paying full out-of-state tuition: the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), the Academic Common Market in the South, the Midwest Student Exchange Program, and New England's Tuition Break. Each covers different states and has its own rules, so check the details before you count on one.
The four programs at a glance
| Program | Run by | Who can use it | What you pay | Main limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) | WICHE | Residents of 15 western states and 3 U.S. Pacific territories | No more than 150% of the college's in-state tuition | Each college sets its own GPA minimums, eligible majors, deadlines and number of awards |
| Academic Common Market | SREB | Residents of 15 southern states (Florida and Texas: graduate programs only) | In-state tuition | Only for degree programs not offered at a public college in your home state; you must be certified by your state's coordinator |
| Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP) | MHEC | Residents of 8 midwestern states | No more than 150% of in-state tuition at public colleges; 10% off at participating private colleges | Each campus decides which programs and how many students |
| Tuition Break (formerly the Regional Student Program) | NEBHE | Residents of the 6 New England states | Up to 175% of in-state tuition at public colleges | Approved programs only, often ones your home state's public colleges don't offer |
Sources: each program's official website, as of October 2026. Rules change; confirm with the program and the college.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
WUE is run by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Residents of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai'i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, plus American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, can pay a reduced rate at participating public colleges in other WICHE states and territories.
- What you pay: no more than 150% of the college's in-state tuition. Some colleges charge less.
- Where: more than 170 public two- and four-year colleges. Private colleges don't take part.
- How to apply: apply to the college itself, not to WICHE. Some colleges consider every eligible applicant automatically; others ask you to request WUE separately.
- Limits: colleges can set minimum GPAs, leave out certain majors, use early deadlines and cap the number of WUE awards each year.
WICHE says WUE saves students an average of $12,517 a year on nonresident tuition. Its WUE Savings Finder shows which colleges and majors take part. WICHE: Western Undergraduate Exchange
Academic Common Market
The Academic Common Market is run by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). It lets residents of participating southern states pay in-state tuition for a degree program that isn't offered by a public college in their home state. SREB lists 13 states that take part fully: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Residents of Florida and Texas can use it for graduate programs only, and North Carolina no longer takes part.
- What you pay: in-state tuition at the out-of-state college.
- Where: more than 100 colleges and universities and more than 2,200 undergraduate and graduate programs, though not every program is open to students from every state.
- How to apply: be admitted to the specific program through the college's regular process, then apply to your home state's Academic Common Market coordinator to be certified as a resident. The steps and deadlines vary by state.
- Limits: programs come and go. SREB noted in February 2024, for example, that Clemson's undergraduate programs are no longer open to new students through the Academic Common Market.
Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP)
MSEP is run by the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC). Residents of Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin can enroll in participating programs in the other member states.
- What you pay: no more than 150% of in-state tuition at public colleges, and a 10% reduction at participating private colleges.
- How to apply: apply to the college. Each campus decides admission and may limit which programs or how many students it accepts through MSEP.
MHEC: Midwest Student Exchange Program
Tuition Break (New England)
Tuition Break, run by the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE), was formerly called the New England Regional Student Program. Residents of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont can get a discount at public colleges in the other five states.
- What you pay: up to 175% of the college's in-state tuition.
- Which programs: colleges approve programs each year. Many are majors your home state's public colleges don't offer; some are open to all New England residents, and some depend on how close you live to the college.
- How to apply: apply to the college and declare the approved program as your major. There is no separate application. If you later switch to a major that isn't approved, you pay the full out-of-state rate from then on.
NEBHE reports average savings of about $8,500 per full-time student for 2024–25. NEBHE: Tuition Break
How to use these programs
- Check whether you live in a participating state.
- Use the program's search tool to see which colleges and majors take part.
- Read each college's own rules: GPA minimums, deadlines and whether you must apply separately.
- Compare the discounted price with what the college would cost after any merit scholarship. Sometimes a scholarship is worth more, and some colleges may not let you combine the two.
- Still complete the FAFSA. These programs are discounts, not financial aid.
What these programs don't do
They don't guarantee admission, and they aren't scholarships or grants. They also don't change which college is right for you. A discount at a place that doesn't fit is no bargain.
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FAQ
What is WUE? The Western Undergraduate Exchange, a WICHE program that lets residents of 15 western states and 3 Pacific territories pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition at more than 170 participating public colleges in the region.
Which states are in the Academic Common Market? SREB lists 13 states that take part fully: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Residents of Florida and Texas can use it for graduate programs only, and North Carolina no longer takes part. Not every program is open to residents of every state.
Is the Academic Common Market only for graduate students? No. It includes undergraduate and graduate programs, as long as the program isn't offered by a public college in your home state.
Do private colleges take part? WUE and Tuition Break are for public colleges only. In the Midwest Student Exchange Program, participating private colleges offer 10% off their tuition. The Academic Common Market's program search lists every participating college.
Can I use WUE for any major? No. Each college decides which majors are eligible, and some offer WUE only to first-year students rather than transfers.