Here's what students and graduates are saying about WICHE's student exchange....
Lauren, Washington resident, Class of 2013, California Maritime Academy, Marine Transportation"The California Maritime Academy was the only institution on the West Coast where I could pursue my career dreams. No other college around Seattle offers even a remotely similar program. My family couldn't afford to send me to Cal Maritime without the immense help that we have received from the WUE scholarship. Thanks to WUE, I've been able to focus on my studies and have been very successful at Cal Maritime. Thank you! "
Audrey, Washington resident, Class of 2015, Idaho State University"I'm a student athlete, so at any time you can find me in class, practicing, traveling for competition or studying. This does not allow much time to work. WUE helped me lower the cost of my education at Idaho State University. Because I don't have to work, I can focus all my efforts on my studies. I love all the new opportunities that going to an out-of-state school has offered me. I was recently accepted into ISU's nursing program and will be starting classes this spring. Without WUE, I would have had to work and wouldn't have had as much time to focus on my academics, and may not have been accepted into their nursing program! Thank you WUE, for all you help! "
Amanda, Washington resident, Class of 2016, Northern Arizona University"I knew I didn't want to go to college in my home state because I wanted to get away and experience new things. Thanks to WUE, I was able to go to Northern Arizona where they have an excellent hotel and restaurant management program. Thanks to the WUE discount, I'm able to focus on my studies and enjoy a new home at the same time. School is more affordable because of WUE and I don't have to worry about a huge debt load when I graduate."- Alex, Washington resident, Class of 2009, Northern Arizona University, Environmental Science/Management"WUE made it affordable for my family to help pay for my education. It made attending NAU possible, because I could go out of state at minimal cost. Thank you WUE, I could not have graduated if I weren't for this program!"
Alexa, Washington resident, Class of 2013, Northern Arizona University, Accounting, Investments, and English"When I was looking at universities in high school, many institutions in Washington were facing tuition increases nearing 30% in some cases. In addition to this, I loved to travel. WICHE's Western Undergraduate Exchange program provided the best of both worlds for me: financial stability and a great experience at an out of state university. Instead of putting myself and my family deep in debt, I was able to study in Arizona and pay less than if I stayed in state. I am thankful for this program and tell all prospective students on tours at NAU about the great benefits! Best of all, many of the majors I was interested in were available at the WUE rate, so I could change my major later and still benefit from the program. "
Natalie, Washington resident, Class of 2016, Northern Arizona University, Forestry"WUE has made it possible for me to go to college. Even though I am paying more than I would for an in-state college, I am able to go to the college that I fell in love with. Finances have always been an issue with my family, as I have two older siblings in college as well, and it has taken a major financial toll on my parents. However, the financial stress has been eased by WUE, and I have been able to follow my dreams and explore another part of the world. I am now attending Northern Arizona University and pursuing a forestry degree, something that I have wanted to do for many years. I hope that that WUE will continue for many years, so that others can benefit too."
Valerie, Washington resident, Class of 2016, California State University, Chico, Liberal Studies"WUE changed my life. I got accepted into an accelerated honors program called ITEC at CSU, Chico. It’s for liberal study majors who aspire to be elementary school teachers. Being from Washington, the price of out-of-state tuition would have been too high for my family and me to afford. However thanks to WUE, I am now at Chico State pursuing my dream to change children’s lives. My gratitude is endless, and words cannot express how blessed I am to be a part of the WUE program."- Riley, Washington resident, Class of 2015, California Maritime Academy, Marine Transportation"When I was first looking at different colleges I was only considering schools in my home state. I knew I had a limited budget to work with and private schools were out of my price range. The WUE program allowed me to greatly increase my options. The cost to attend WUE institutions out of state still fell within my budget. Eventually I chose to attend California Maritime Academy; it offers opportunities that no other school on the West Coast has. I am now enrolled in their marine transportation program. Without WUE, I never would have found out about Cal Maritime, and I certainly wouldn't have been able to afford it! I can't stress enough how important this program is to the students who use it. For me personally, a career in the marine transportation industry wouldn't be possible without WUE. "
- Paula, Washington resident, Class of 2014, Oregon Health & Science University, PhD in Nursing"I am completing my doctoral degree in nursing at OHSU and have benefited from WICHE's WRGP discounted tuition since I enrolled. OHSU is one of the top 10 research institutions in the nation, and the finest in my area of expertise. Without WRGP, I could never have considered enrolling at this school. WICHE has enabled me to achieve great success in my field and has set me up to be a leader in nursing research across the nation, not just in my home state. I will be able to change the way we practice healthcare and change the lives of all my patients! It's been an exciting opportunity and I am indebted to the WICHE program for this phenomenal opportunity."
- Thor, Washington resident, Class of 2016, California Maritime Academy, Marine Transportation"The WUE scholarship is one of the most important programs I have ever been apart of. The nonresident tuition for California Maritime Academy is drastically higher than the in-state rate. Thanks to the reduced WUE tuition, I can feasibly pursue my passion without amassing astronomical student loan debt. The maritime industry transcends state lines and I am happy that WUE provides a means for students in the West to pursue studies in this area."
Emily, Washington resident, Class of 2015, California Maritime Academy, Global Studies & Maritime Affairs"The California Maritime Academy is one of seven maritime academies and the only one on the West Coast. Cal Maritime offers very distinct and focused disciplines of study. I was interested in political science, international relations, and ocean security when I was looking at colleges as a senior in high school. Cal Maritime had a program that met ALL my interests and all rolled into one four-year program -- something my home state universities didn't have. I thought I couldn't afford to attend because of the high out-of-state tuition costs. Luckily, I was awarded WICHE's WUE discount and that made it feasible. I encourage our Western legislators to continue supporting WICHE student exchange programs to help students who can't get their major in their home state. Without WICHE I would not be a cadet at Cal Maritime, receiving a degree in global studies and maritime affairs. "
Tiara, Washington resident, Class of 2013, Oregon Tech, Respiratory Care"I’m a junior in the respiratory care program at Oregon Tech from Puyallup, WA. WUE made it possible for me to finance my education and pursue the career that I’ve always wanted. My class sizes are small, my professors know me by name, and I won’t graduate with a lot of debt. Attending college out of state has been a great experience, and the WUE program made it affordable for me."
Demitrius, Washington resident, Class of 2015, Lewis-Clark State College, Hospitality Management"I will be the first person in my family to graduate from college, and the Western Undergraduate Exchange has helped me tremendously! WUE helped so much with my tuition cost; if I'd had to pay the entire out-of-state fee, it would've almost doubled my cost, and my parents don't make enough to cover the extra fees. Now I can finally go to school without taking out any loans, so I won't be in debt when I get out. I am so thankful for WICHE’s Western Undergraduate Exchange!"- Christine, Washington resident, Class of 2014, University of Northern Colorado, Special Education/Visual Impairment"Earning a doctorate, becoming a university professor, and assisting others to become excellent teachers, these have been lifelong dreams – for many years just pipe dreams, due to the cost of higher education. Unfortunately, Washington State does not offer a Ph.D. program in special education of low-incidence populations, so I had started looking at out-of-state programs, which were prohibitively expensive. I am now attending a university in Colorado and receiving a top-rate education in my field that I would otherwise never have been able to afford. WRGP has made this possible, and I am deeply grateful for this opportunity that I have been given. Thank you so much."
- Kathryn, Washington resident, Class of 2014, University of Northern Colorado, Special Education - Low Prevalence Disabilities"Washington State doesn't not have a professional program for teachers of children with visual impairments. Because this is a unique educational niche, there are only a handful of programs in the entire nation. Not every university or every state can afford to support teacher preparation programs in sensory disabilities because the programs are typically small and don’t always draw enough students to be broadly cost effective. Most students who embark on their master’s or doctoral studies in the field of visual impairments and blindness are actually doing so as a second career. As a full-time teacher with a family and a mortgage, I would not have been able to return to school to pursue either my master's or my doctoral studies without WRGP's support. WRGP is a critical and cost-effective way of sharing resources and ensuring potential teachers have access to high-quality training and education. That, in turn, ensures that schools, parents, and students in the West have access to teachers of children with visual impairments."
- Colby, Washington resident, Class of 2014, Lewis Clark State College, Business Communications"Without the WUE waiver, I would not be able to go to school here. The atmosphere at this school is the best. I wouldn't want to go anywhere else, and this waiver made it all possible. I'm so thankful that I received it, and I will do everything I can to keep up my hard work. Keeping this waiver is the most important thing to me!"
- Cali, Washington resident, Class of 2015, Lewis-Clark State College, Nursing"WUE has helped me to be able to go to an out-of-state school. Given how expensive it is to go to college out of state, I wouldn't have been able to go to otherwise."
- Patrick, Washington resident, Class of 2015, Lewis-Clark State College, Civil Engineering"I'm from Washington. I lived in a small farming community that is seven miles from the Idaho border. I am currently enrolled at Lewis-Clark State College with plans on transfering to the University of Idaho because I can finish out my degree there. WUE has made it possible for me to attend college. It will also follow me to the U of I and allow me to receive close to in-state tuition there. I have to pay for tuition out of my pocket. Without WUE I don't believe that affording college would be possible for me."
- Kendra, Washington resident, Class of 2015, Lewis-Clark State College, Nursing"This exchange has allowed me to go to an out-of-state college without having to pay out-of-state tuition. It helps both my parents and me to be able to afford to send me to college and will help me to be able to graduate with a degree that will help support me."
Melissa, Washington resident, Class of 2014, University of Utah, Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner"I am passionate about nursing. For years I have considered returning to school in order to advance my scope of practice, provide competent holistic care, and promote wellness and disease prevention in underserved communities. WRGP has supported my dreams and goals, making an excellent education affordable. Without WICHE support my loans and interests would have been over double what they are now. There are huge health disparities throughout the U.S. in rural and underserved communities. I am excited to use my degree after graduation to improve health and health outcomes in these populations."- Michael, Washington resident, Class of 2012, California Maritime Academy, Mechanical Engineering"I wanted to attend a maritime academy to become a licensed ship officer, but my home state of Washington doesn’t offer such a program. WUE allowed me to attend California Maritime Academy and pay reduced tuition, taking a lot of financial stress off my parents. I’m now also a mechanical engineering major; this will be a great skill set to have and should make me very competitive in the workforce. I could not have considered investing the extra time required for this if I hadn’t received the WUE discount."
- Tina, Washington resident, Class of 2012, Mental Health Counseling, Southern Oregon University"WRGP helped immensely to make it possible for me to go to school. I had been looking for a graduate program to fit my needs, and Southern Oregon University provided it. Without WRGP I would not have been able to afford to go to an out-of-state school and would not have had the wonderful experiences I have had since moving down here. With WRGP I am so much closer to reaching my goals."
Amy, Washington resident, Class of 2013, Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine"PSEP has helped me gain peace of mind as to how I’ll pay for medical school. With tuition rising over $42K per year, coupled with the high cost of living in Southern California, PSEP has significantly decreased my need for additional loans. Without it, I’d be nearly $275K in debt by the time I graduate! The Washington PSEP conditional loan is “win-win” for all involved. It makes medical education affordable, and graduates will later repay the favor to our fellow Washington residents of medically underserved areas who are appreciative of their knowledge and skills."- Brendan, Washington resident, Class of 2014, Colorado State University, Civil Engineering"Finding better ways to provide the best possible education for budding professionals is absolutely crucial in securing the economic future of this country. Programs like WUE have provided me and many of my friends with the opportunity to pursue our career interests in the schools with the best facilities for our fields of study and in locations with the strongest demand for jobs within our majors. Were it not for WUE, I certainly could not have afforded the out-of-state tuition in Colorado, and the outstanding civil and environmental engineering programs here would have been out of reach. "
Christina, Washington resident, Class of 2012, Colorado State University, Biomedical Science"I was born and raised in Seattle and wanted to be immersed in a completely new environment where I would also receive a world-class education. WUE made my dream come true. I am currently an undergrad at CSU in the Biomedical Science program. I’ve had access to incredible resources and amazing faculty every semester; CSU was the perfect fit for me! Without WUE, it would not have been possible. Thank you WICHE!"- Carrie, Washington resident, Class of 2012, Portland State University, Education of the Visually Impaired"Portland State University has the only program to educate teachers of the visually impaired in the Pacific Northwest. Thanks to WICHE's WRGP, I’m able to attend PSU and pay Oregon resident tuition even though I live in Washington. I plan to teach in a field that is experiencing a serious shortage of qualified educators."
- Kathleen, Washington resident, Class of 2009, Portland State University, Education of the Visually Impaired"I returned to the United States after having spent 26 years abroad, hoping to create a new career and new life for my family. Portland State is the only university in the Pacific Northwest that offers a program for teachers of the visually-impaired. If I had not received reduced tuition through WICHE’s WRGP, I would not only have had to stay in Italy with a job that was going nowhere, but the students with visual impairments in the school district where I now teach would be without a teacher. I would like to thank WICHE for helping me change my life and the lives of the students I serve."
Theodore, Washington resident, Class of 2012, Colorado State University, Public Communication & Technology"After a decade working as a writer and editor, I decided to return to school to study communication research and fulfill my dream of earning a graduate degree. WICHE’s WRGP allowed me to cast my net wider and search for affordable journalism graduate programs outside of my home state of Washington. Now, I am happily working on a master's degree in Public Communication & Technology at Colorado State University, enrolled through WRGP. Thank you!"
Sean, Washington resident, Class of 2011, California Maritime Academy, Global Studies and Maritime Affairs"Serving as a Cadet at California Maritime Academy has been life-changing. My peers drive me to always 'do better' and I’ve gained hands-on experience, cruising through the Pacific Ocean on the school’s 500-foot training ship, The Golden Bear. Now in my senior year, I’m in charge of the Housing and Resident Life Program, serve as a leader in the Corps of Cadets, participate in the Gold Medal Leadership Program, and am president of the Student Body Association. I am grateful to WICHE; WUE has helped me reach my full potential and become more than prepared for life beyond college."- Jeffrey, Washington resident, Class of 2013, California Maritime Academy, Global Studies and International Affairs"WUE is awesome. Without it, I would not be able to afford college. WUE has helped me achieve my dreams and further my education so that can pursue my international career goals."
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