Regional tuition exchange programs let you attend a public college in another state for less than the full out-of-state rate -- sometimes for in-state tuition. Four programs cover most of the country: the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP), the South's Academic Common Market (ACM) and New England's Tuition Break. Each works differently, each has its own member states, and none is automatic: you have to qualify, and usually apply.
Everything below comes from each program's own website and official participant list, checked in October 2026.
The four tuition exchange programs at a glance
| Program | Run by | Who can use it | What you pay | Four-year schools* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) | WICHE | Residents of 15 Western states plus Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands | No more than 150% of in-state tuition | 96 |
| Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP) | MHEC | Residents of Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin | No more than 150% of in-state tuition at public schools; 10% off at private ones -- selected programs only | 30 |
| Academic Common Market (ACM) | SREB | Residents of 15 Southern states | In-state tuition, but only for a major no public college in your state offers | 140 |
| New England Tuition Break | NEBHE | Residents of the six New England states | A reduced out-of-state rate in approved majors | 32 |
*Bachelor's-granting schools on each program's current list; WUE and Tuition Break also include community colleges.
Not sure which applies to you? See which tuition exchange you can use, by home state.
How each tuition exchange program works
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
WUE is the biggest and simplest. Participating public colleges in the West agree to charge eligible out-of-state students no more than 150% of the school's in-state tuition. Each school decides who qualifies -- often a GPA minimum -- and can leave some majors out, and WICHE itself doesn't take applications. Big savings are common: the University of Idaho's published 2026-27 WUE rate is $13,538 a year in tuition and fees, less than half its regular out-of-state $29,300. Several large Western universities don't participate at all, including UC Berkeley, UCLA, the University of Washington, CU Boulder and the University of Oregon. Full WUE schools list.
Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP)
MSEP works like WUE but is smaller and more limited: public schools charge no more than 150% of in-state tuition and private schools take 10% off, but only in selected programs, and the school decides who gets the discount. The program says its average student saves about $7,000 a year. It's down to eight member states, and its current list shows 36 participating schools, 30 of them offering bachelor's degrees -- mostly regional publics such as Ball State and Truman State, not flagships. Full MSEP schools list.
Academic Common Market (ACM)
The ACM is different: it's not a general discount, it's a way to get in-state tuition for a specific major that no public college in your home state offers. You must be admitted to that exact program, then be certified by your home state's ACM coordinator. SREB lists more than 2,200 eligible programs across 15 states, but not every program is open to residents of every state. Some big schools limit it: Georgia Tech and West Virginia University participate at the graduate level only, Clemson stopped offering it to new undergraduates in fall 2024, and the University of Georgia and Auburn start at the junior level. How the ACM works and who participates.
New England Tuition Break
NEBHE's Tuition Break (formally the Regional Student Program) gives New England residents a reduced out-of-state rate at public colleges in the other five New England states, in approved majors. Which majors qualify depends on your home state, except at "fully flexible" programs open to all New England residents. NEBHE reports average savings of $8,500 for 2024-25. UConn's published 2026-27 Tuition Break rate is $30,592 in tuition and fees, vs. $44,242 for regular out-of-state students. Schools and published rates.
Tips for using a tuition exchange
- Apply early. WUE is often awarded through admission. The University of Montana automatically considers applicants for WUE only if they apply by December 1, 2026, then awards it on a space-available basis. The University of Utah's most recent criteria required a completed application by December 1 and a 3.30 unweighted GPA.
- Check the major first. MSEP, the ACM and Tuition Break all depend on your program. MSEP warns that changing majors can affect your discount.
- Know what keeps the rate. Montana requires WUE students to take 15 credits a semester to keep the award, and MSEP says you may need to re-enroll in the discount each year.
- Compare against the school's own scholarships. At Montana, a student awarded WUE can't also receive its other non-resident entering-student scholarships -- so the exchange isn't automatically the better deal.
Exchanges are one of several ways to pay less than full out-of-state tuition -- see public universities that charge out-of-state students in-state tuition for reciprocity deals and scholarship waivers, and out-of-state tuition at every flagship for the full prices exchanges are measured against.