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

Oregon students saved $32.8M through WICHE’s Student Access Programs (Academic Year 2021-22)
- $30M saved through WUE
- $2.8M saved through WRGP

The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) saves Oregon undergraduate students on out-of-state tuition. They pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition at partner institutions across the West.
- 2,941 Oregon students chose WUE schools in the West (Academic Year 2021-22)
- 3,374 out-of-state students chose WUE schools in Oregon (Academic Year 2021-22)
- Top 3 out-of-state WUE schools for Oregon undergrads:
- Washington State University (255)
- Boise State University (204)
- University of Idaho (190)
- Top 3 Oregon schools for out-of-state undergrads:
- Portland State University (1,113)
- Southern Oregon University (819)
- Western Oregon University (553)

The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) saves Oregon 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.
- 177 Oregon students chose WRGP schools in the West (Academic Year 2021-22)
- 184 out-of-state students chose WRGP schools in STATE (Academic Year 2021-22)
- Top 3 out-of-state WRGP schools for Oregon students:
- University of Idaho (18)
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (17)
- University of Hawai’i at Mānoa (13)
- Top 3 Oregon WRGP schools for out-of-state students:
- Portland State University (100)
- Oregon Health & Science University (33)
- Oregon State University (20)

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.
- Oregon doesn’t use PSEP for its residents because it operates public programs in most PSEP fields, with the exception of occupational therapy, optometry, osteopathic medicine, and podiatry.
- However, Oregon institutions and their local economies still benefit from PSEP. This year, 96 PSEP students enrolled in pubic and private programs located in Oregon. Institutions received $2.1 million in support fees to reduce students’ tuition costs.
WICHE Commissioners
*indicates Executive Committee member
Ben Cannon
Executive Director, Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission
Ben Cannon
Executive Director, Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission
Executive Director of the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission since 2013. In this position, Cannon oversees state funding allocations, policy-setting, and coordination for Oregon’s higher education system, including community colleges and public universities. Cannon is a former teacher, state representative and education policy advisor to the Governor. Elected three times to the Oregon House of Representatives (2006-2011), he chaired House committees with jurisdiction over environment, energy, and water policy. From 2003 to 2011, he taught humanities at a middle school near Portland. He earned his BA from Washington University, St. Louis, and attended Oxford University, England, on a Rhodes Scholarship, earning graduate degrees in comparative and international education and philosophy, politics, and economics.

* Camille Preus
Interim President, Klamath Community College
Camille Preus *
Interim President, Klamath Community College
Camille (Cam) Preus served as the executive director of the Oregon Community College Association, a role she began in Fall 2018. Previously she had been president of Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC) serving Morrow, Umatilla and Baker counties in Oregon. Preus serves on boards that champion and advocate for increasing opportunity for postsecondary education, a few of note include: Eastern Oregon Women’s Coalition, Oregon Humanities Board, the Quality Education Commission and the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE). Prior to her appointment as president in 2013, Preus held leadership roles in Oregon in community colleges & workforce development at both state and local levels. She also has private sector experience as a chemist and quality control manager with United States Steel. Preus graduated from Cumberland College (TN), Middle Tennessee State University, earned an MSBA from Indiana University and received her doctorate in Community College Leadership from Oregon State University.

Hilda Rosselli
Educational Policy Consultant
Hilda Rosselli
Educational Policy Consultant
Hilda Rosselli has an extensive background in higher education with experience as a faculty member and dean in both Florida and Oregon, and policy development for the state of Oregon. She helped create a Chief Education Office where she facilitated development of the state’s definition of College and Career readiness and championed legislation to improve early access to high quality college level courses for high school students. She regularly engaged community leaders, educators and researchers across the state to identify and promote short and long term goals and plans for increasing college access and completion for historically-underserved students working closely with lead staff from the Oregon Youth Development Council, the Oregon Department of Education and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. She assisted in the creation and launch of the Oregon Equity Lens, established the Educator Advancement Council to prioritize local educator voice informing biennial legislative investments, created a new state-funded scholarship to diversify Oregon’s educator workforce, and developed strong partnerships between higher education and employers. She now consults and writes grants with a focus on equity, access, and excellence.

Legislative Advisory Committee
Michael Dembrow
Senator, Oregon State Legislature
Michael Dembrow
Senator, Oregon State Legislature

Rob Wagner
Senator, Oregon State Legislature
Rob Wagner
Senator, Oregon State Legislature
