NSE Handbook

Mission Statement

National Student Exchange inspires academic enrichment, personal exploration, and student development by facilitating affordable and accessible collegiate study away among member colleges and universities throughout the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Vision Statement

National Student Exchange strives to be the leading resource and premier provider for intercollegiate study away exchanges in the United States and Canada.

Values Statement

We value diversity, open-mindedness, and cross-cultural engagement that fosters learning, understanding, respect, and a sense of community among all people. We believe that a collegiate study away experience enhances education and enriches student growth.

2.1 For the Institution

National Student Exchange provides options to diversify institutional programming at minimal cost to the member college and university. Membership benefits include enrichment, supplemental academic programs, joint programs, multicultural experiences, and enhancement of recruitment and retention. Additionally, special session, expanded study abroad, field experience, internships, honors access, and alternatives to international programs are available.

2.1.1 Enrichment, Supplement, and Complement of Academic Courses and Programs

Through NSE membership, a college or university can expand the scope and variety of educational offerings available to its students at minimal additional cost to both the institution and the student. Campuses can also help students take advantage of courses, concentrations, programs, fields of study, or other academic options not offered by their home institution.

2.1.2 Joint Academic Programming

National Student Exchange offers the potential for developing joint programs between two institutions. Campuses can combine departmental strengths to develop a program which allows students to expand the depth and breadth of their education. NSE facilitates and encourages this activity as it is not always practical to add courses or programs to current institutional offerings.

2.1.3 Multicultural Experiences

National Student Exchange membership includes diverse colleges and universities that offer distinct cultural experiences. By exchanging to institutions different than their own, students have an opportunity to gain insight into the historical and cultural makeup of different regions of the country and improve interaction skills with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Collegiate study away offers an opportunity for students to make the most of their education and prepare themselves to live and work in a culturally diverse society.

2.1.4 Enhancement of Recruitment and Retention Efforts

National Student Exchange provides member institutions a competitive edge in recruitment and retention efforts. Students find accessible, affordable opportunities attending a college outside of their home state with educational costs similar to staying at home. Often, students who might be contemplating transfer or stopping out of college will participate in the National Student Exchange to satisfy their interest in going elsewhere. Exchange students usually return to the home campus inspired and ready to fulfill their graduation requirements.

2.1.5 Special Exchange Options

Summer exchange, inter-term exchange, and research opportunities are available at a variety of NSE member institutions.

2.1.5.1 Study Abroad Programs

The NSE network provides access to international and study abroad programs administered by member campuses. Institutions may expand international options for their students at a lower cost than required to develop and maintain their own study abroad programs.

2.1.5.2 Field Experience and Internships

NSE member campuses may offer their field experience, off­campus study, and internship options to incoming exchange students.

2.1.5.3 Honors Access

Many NSE member colleges and universities encourage and facilitate exchange of honors students. This allows offering more courses, options, and challenges to high achieving students.

2.1.5.4 Alternative to International Programs

Many students find limitations for study in international settings due to language proficiency, financial resources, or the availability of comparable academic programs. National Student Exchange offers diverse study away experiences at a cost comparable to attending the home campus. Regional accreditation assist with course transferability.

2.2 For Students

Students participate in the exchange program for academic diversification, cultural awareness, personal growth and development, exploration of graduate school, career opportunities, and affordable travel.

2.2.1 Academic Diversification

NSE is an opportunity for students to take advantage of educational opportunities not available at the home campus. New faculty, specialized courses, and subfields within a chosen major can reinforce commitment to student goals and objectives.

2.2.2 Cultural Awareness

Students on exchange experience a new region, population, and customs while continuing to work toward their degree. Exposure to diverse ethnic and cultural communities of a new campus or city offer learning experiences which help widen personal and academic horizons.

2.2.3 Personal Growth and Development

Participation in National Student Exchange fosters student growth and development. Students benefit from increased independence and responsibility and frequently return from exchange with improved self-confidence and decision-making skills.

2.2.4 Travel and Exploration

Students use their exchange experience to travel and explore a new location. Additionally, the opportunity to investigate career opportunities, graduate, and professional schools helps students focus on practical application of the degree program.

3.1 Tuition Payment Plans

3.1.1 Host Payment

Students pay resident tuition and fees directly to the host campus under Host Payment.

3.1.2 Home Payment

Students pay tuition/fees directly to their home campus under Home Payment.

3.2 Utilizing Tuition Payment Plans

Each campus determines the tuition payment plan (Home or Host) under which it will send and receive students within NSE guidelines. The selection of an appropriate plan is determined by one or more of the following: campus governing board policy, state legislative policy, campus precedents for tuition reciprocity in other exchange or study away programs.

Campuses are classified by their inbound student payment plan options; Home Payment only, Host Payment only, or Open (accepting both payment plans). Campuses are encouraged to accept balanced numbers of Home and Host Payment students. Campuses are encouraged to accept balanced numbers of students within enrollment parameters. Campuses are encouraged to support tuition reciprocity, parity, and fee equity among campuses and to increase opportunities for students. Campuses are restricted from sending outbound students on Home Payment only while accepting inbound exchange students on Host Payment only.

Campus Plan options:
Home Payment campus: Accepts inbound exchange students and does not collect tuition on Home Payment. May send outbound students on Host or Home Payment.

Host Payment campus: Accepts inbound exchange students and collects tuition on Host Payment. May only send outbound students on Host Payment. 

Open Payment campus (accepting Home and Host payment plans): Accepts inbound exchange students under Home or Host Payment plan. Sends outbound students on Home and Host Payment.

4.1 Background

National Student Exchange, since inception in 1968 as the Domestic Student Exchange Program (DSEP), has been an institutional membership organization linking four-year regionally accredited colleges and universities for the purpose of exchanging students. NSE offers a wide array of educational options for students based on their desire for academic and personal enrichment. Through exchange within the NSE consortium, colleges and universities expand the scope and variety of their educational offerings at affordable cost to institutions and students.

4.2 Program Development

Institutional cooperation leading to the development of the National Student Exchange began during 1967-­1968 when Illinois State University, the University of Alabama, and the University of Montana entered into an agreement to offer their students the opportunity to incorporate a year of study at other U.S. institutions into their undergraduate programs with the assurance of credit transfer and university support services at costs similar to study at the home campus.

These founding campuses agreed to assess tuition and fees for the exchange year at the in­state (resident) tuition rate of the host institution (Host Payment). As the program expanded, a second tuition payment plan was developed for institutions whose campus or state policies prohibited non­resident tuition waivers. Under this second plan, the exchange student pays normal tuition and fees to the home campus (Home Payment) and is enrolled without additional tuition and fees paid to the host institution.

4.3 Funding History

4.3.1 Background

From 1968-­1969 through 1970­-1971 Illinois State University contributed approximately $5,000 per year in staff time and student fee budget support for initiation and development of the student exchange program. In the fall of 1970, member campus coordinators agreed to share the expense of program administration and expansion with a $200 membership fee. This membership fee was contingent upon the identification of grant support to pay the salary of a part-time national coordinator.

4.3.2 Ford Foundation Grant

In the early seventies, the Ford Foundation awarded the National Student Exchange a three-year grant to provide funds for the expansion and development of the program. The grant provided decreasing funding over a three-year period: $6,400 in 1971-­1972; $4,900 in 1972-1973; and $3,700 in 1973­-1974. The grant stipulated that campus membership fees should increase while the grant funds decreased to ensure a self-supporting exchange program by the beginning of the 1974­-1975 academic year.

4.3.3 Institutional Membership Fees

Membership fees paid by participating colleges and universities increased from $200 to $300 per year between 1971 and 1973 in compliance with Ford Foundation Grant stipulations. During the second year of the grant, the exchange program moved to Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, where the campus contributed budget support for program development and administration like its predecessor, Illinois State University.

At the conclusion of the grant period, NSE membership had grown to 32 colleges and universities, ensuring continuation of the program on a self-supporting basis and allowing for the continuation of part-time administrative services in 1974-­1975. Membership fees for that academic/fiscal year remained at $300. In 1975-­1976, expanded administrative services, increased operational expenses, and a need for clerical assistance, necessitated an increase in annual membership fees to $400. The current annual membership fee is $1,000.

4.3.4 Student Application Fees

Beginning with the 1976­-1977 academic year, NSE members adopted a student application fee as a secondary source for consortium funding. The initial fee was established at $10 per student to be assessed only to those campuses with more than 20 applicants in an academic year. Campus coordinators adopted an across-the-board $10 student application fee in 1984. The fee was increased incrementally over the next decade. In 1993­-1994, the consortium adopted a funding model in which student application fees would eventually constitute two-thirds of the annual operating budget. In working toward that goal, student application fees increased at a $5 per year basis beginning in 1993­-1994. The student application fee has been $150 since 2014.

4.4 Placement History

Prior to 1973-­1974, student exchanges were negotiated primarily by mail and telephone beginning in early March of each year. The first round constituted an attempt to place students at their first-choice college or university. After the initial round of placement letters, subsequent exchanges would continue to occur by mail or telephone until the process was completed.

A more efficient, face to face brokerage placement system was inaugurated at a national conference in Chicago in 1974. With all coordinators working together over an eight hour period, 93% of students seeking exchange were placed at 22 NSE member campuses. The placement process underwent further revision and refinement so that eventually 3000 placements could be made during a six-hour period at the annual March conference. Representation of each campus at the annual conference became key to efficient and successful student exchange decisions and placements. The transition from a paper format to use of an online placement database in 2003 enhanced the coordinator decision making process.

The Covid Pandemic required the consortium to utilize virtual placements with online meeting applications for 2021 Priority Placements. This practice was adopted again in 2023 to meet the changing needs of participating coordinators and campuses.

4.5 Consortium Growth

Over its more than 50 years of history, NSE has grown from an informal group of colleges and universities to a well-structured and highly respected national education consortium. There are 170 campuses in the current NSE membership.