The State of Alaska participates in student exchange and access programs to provide higher education opportunities while improving the variety of courses available to Alaskans. ACPE certifies Alaska students' eligibility for these programs. ACPE offers program-specific loans for some exchange programs.
Alaska is a member of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), a non-profit regional, multi-state organization whose purpose is to leverage regional education resources to the benefit of each member state's residents.
The exchange programs listed here are available through Alaska's WICHE membership. Some Alaska institutions may also offer other exchange programs.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
WUE provides low-cost opportunities for Alaska undergraduate students to study outside Alaska while maintaining all the benefits of Alaska residency. Accepted WUE students pay a reduced tuition rate of 150% of resident tuition at participating two- and four-year college programs outside Alaska. For more information on the Western Undergraduate Exchange program, go to the WICHE website.
Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP)
WRGP provides access to over 220 master's and doctoral programs in all 15 WICHE states. Programs are selected based on quality and limited availability. Students admitted to the program pay resident tuition at WRGP institutions outside Alaska. For more information on the Western Regional Graduate Program, go to the WICHE website.
Professional Student Exchange (PSE) Loan Program
The PSE Loan Program allows Alaska students to participate in the WICHE Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP). Through the PSE Loan Program, Alaska students may enroll in select out-of-state professional programs that are not available in Alaska. These fields of study are:
- Dentistry
- Occupational Therapy
- Optometry
- Physician Assistant
- Podiatry
- Pharmacy
- Physical Therapy
PSE Loan Program students generally pay resident tuition at public institutions, as well as the PSE support fee. The PSE Loan Program provides the support fee as a loan, which the student must repay. In situations where the support fee does not cover the institution's resident/nonresident tuition differential, the student may be required to pay more than resident tuition.
Upon receipt of the institution's acceptance letter, ACPE will send the PSE Loan Program Master Promissory Note for completion.
Find out more on the Professional Student Exchange Loan Program