Since 1953, Montana has partnered with and benefited from WICHE through regional collaboration, resource-sharing, sound public policy, and innovation.
Tuition Savings

Montana students saved $11.7M through WICHE’s Student Access Programs (Academic Year 2021-22)
- $8.0M saved through WUE
- $1.5M saved through WRGP
- $2.2M saved through PSEP

The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) saves Montana undergraduate students on out-of-state tuition. They pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition at partner institutions across the West.
- 1,205 Montana students chose WUE schools in the West (Academic Year 2021-22)
- 3,724 out-of-state students chose WUE schools in Montana (Academic Year 2021-22)
- Top 3 out-of-state WUE schools for Montana undergrads:
- Sheridan College (98)
- Northwest College (93)
- Williston State College (84)
- Top 3 Montana schools for out-of-state undergrads:
- Montana State University Bozeman (1,780)
- University of Montana (1,015)
- University of Montana Western (254)

The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) saves Montana students on out-of-state graduate certificate, master’s, and doctoral programs. They pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition at partner institutions across the West.
- 99 Montana students chose WRGP schools in the West (Academic Year 2021-22)
- 95 out-of-state students chose WRGP schools in Montana (Academic Year 2021-22)
- Top 3 out-of-state WRGP schools for Montana students:
- University of Utah (15)
- University of Arizona (10)
- North Dakota State University (10)
- Top 3 Montana WRGP schools for out-of-state students:
- University of Montana (42)
- Montana State University Billings (33)
- Montana State University Bozeman (19)

Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP) students pursuing careers in 10 health fields can enroll in programs in the WICHE region and receive substantial tuition support from their home state/territory.
- 80 students paid reduced tuition and saved $2.2M for healthcare studies not offered by public institutions in Montana.
- 55% of Montana’s PSEP graduates returned home to practice (2007-11 for physicians, 2007-16 for all other fields). Montana does not contractually require them to do so.
- 4 out-of-state PSEP students enrolled in public programs located in Montana. Institutions received $56,900 in support fees to reduce the students’ tuition costs.
WICHE Commissioners
Laurie Bishop
Representative, Montana State Legislature
Laurie Bishop
Representative, Montana State Legislature
Laurie Bishop resides in Livingston, MT, where she is representing her community in the Montana State House of Representatives. When not working as a legislator, Laurie is the Director of the Montana Afterschool Alliance. Her previous work has included improving statewide high school graduation rates with the Montana Office of Public Instruction and serving as the executive director of a youth development nonprofit.

* Clayton Christian
Commissioner of Higher Education, Montana University System
Clayton Christian *
Commissioner of Higher Education, Montana University System
For over a decade, Clayton Christian has proudly served the students of Montana. During his tenure on the Board of Regents (5/2006-12/2011) Christian was a champion for common course numbering, tuition freezes, and other system initiatives aimed at increasing student access, success, and affordability. As chair of the Board of Regents, he continued to focus on implementing measures to improve system accountability, transparency, productivity, and increased confidence in higher education. He was and continues to be an advocate for increased opportunities in distance learning, a measure that continues to have a significant impact on a state that encompasses over 147,000 square miles. In 2012, Christian was asked to continue his service to Montana as the Commissioner of Higher Education. Under his leadership and on behalf of the Board of Regents and in partnership with university presidents, he has elevated Montana’s educational system that serves nearly 45,000 students and 9,000 faculty annually at 16 public colleges and universities. As commissioner, Christian has leveraged public and private partnerships to dramatically increase growth in workforce development, implemented innovative state investments which yielded record amounts of university-based research, and implemented performance-based funding with institutional incentives for student retention.

Sheila Stearns
Past President, University of Montana
Sheila Stearns
Past President, University of Montana
Dr. Sheila M. Stearns has served in senior administrative positions in higher education, including president of the University of Montana, vice president of UM, chancellor of UM-Western, president of Wayne State College in Nebraska, and commissioner of higher education in Montana. Early in her career she was a school librarian and taught middle school classes in Department of Defense schools in Wiesbaden, Germany.
Since 2012, Stearns has served as a Senior Fellow for the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities (AGB), consulting for boards across the country, from Guam to Florida.
Stearns holds three UM degrees, in English, history, and educational leadership. She and her husband, Hal, a retired educator and brigadier general (R) in the Montana National Guard, both travel and speak extensively on issues such as western historic trails, rural revitalization, college access, and importance of smooth transfer of credits for all students, including K-12 students in military families. They have two children and six grandchildren. She is retired and lives in Missoula, MT.

Legislative Advisory Committee
David Bedey
Representative, Montana State Legislature
David Bedey
Representative, Montana State Legislature

Laurie Bishop
Representative, Montana State Legislature
Laurie Bishop
Representative, Montana State Legislature
Laurie Bishop resides in Livingston, MT, where she is representing her community in the Montana State House of Representatives. When not working as a legislator, Laurie is the Director of the Montana Afterschool Alliance. Her previous work has included improving statewide high school graduation rates with the Montana Office of Public Instruction and serving as the executive director of a youth development nonprofit.

Daniel Salomon
Senator, Montana State Legislature
Daniel Salomon
Senator, Montana State Legislature

Paul Tuss
Representative, Montana State Legislature
Paul Tuss
Representative, Montana State Legislature
