National Student Exchange: A Comprehensive Overview

The National Student Exchange (NSE) offers undergraduate students a unique opportunity to broaden their academic and personal horizons by studying at a different university within the United States, Canada, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Functioning as a domestic alternative to traditional study abroad programs, NSE allows students to experience new academic, geographic, cultural, social, and political settings while making progress toward their degree.

A Brief History

Since 1968, the National Student Exchange (NSE) has provided students with a domestic alternative to study abroad. What began with three campuses exchanging seven students has grown to include over 170 universities, placing 3000 students annually. Since its founding, more than 90,000 students have participated in NSE.

Program Overview

The National Student Exchange (NSE) is an undergraduate study away program much like study abroad. Rather than crossing oceans, NSE students cross state, regional, provincial, and cultural borders. Through this program students take a semester or academic year to attend another fully accredited participating institution while making progress toward their University degree.

Benefits of Participating in NSE

Participating in the National Student Exchange offers a multitude of benefits for students seeking personal and academic enrichment.

Exposure to New Environments: NSE allows students to experience different academic, geographic, cultural, social, and political settings without leaving the United States, Canada, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Academic Opportunities: Students can explore new courses, discover exciting places, and meet new friends while enrolling in academic programs that might not be available at their home campus. Students can learn from new professors and gain access to resources and perspectives not found at their home institution.
Personal Growth: Many students describe the NSE experience as transformative, fostering self-growth and independence. As one student noted, "It's not all about the classes and the credits, it’s about taking advantage of every moment and embracing all of the new experiences that are thrown your way."
Networking: NSE provides opportunities to make new friends and build a network of contacts across different institutions and regions.
Experiential Learning: Some NSE campuses offer unique opportunities beyond traditional classroom learning, including internships, research, field study, and other experiential learning opportunities. For instance, students can participate in research internship programs or study at unique locations.
Access to Special Programs: NSE offers several special programs, including opportunities to study at Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the National Student Exchange program, students generally need to meet the following criteria:

Full-time Enrollment: Applicants must be full-time, undergraduate students at their home university at the time of application and during the term prior to exchange. They are also expected to remain full-time students while on exchange.
GPA Requirement: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) is typically required.
Good Academic Standing: Students must be in good academic standing at their home institution.
Institutional Guidelines: Guidelines for student eligibility are individual to each NSE member institution.

Application Process

The application process for the NSE program involves several steps:

Consultation with Home Campus: Students should consult with their home campus NSE coordinator to understand academic requirements, financial aid implications, and the application process.
Information Session: Attending an information session is often recommended to learn more about the program and have any questions answered.
Campus Selection: Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the campus brochure for their selected school options to get a better understanding of course, cost, and housing options. Students may select up to five colleges to put on their application form. Location, Program of Study, Institution Type, etc.) and narrow down your list of schools based on your interests.
Application Submission: Complete the application process for admissions. When you log in select “Undergraduate Admissions”. After you have been admitted you will be assigned a Campus Wide Identification Number (CWID).
Application Fee: There is typically a nonrefundable application fee. For example, one university charges a $250 application fee.
Placement Acceptance: Once a student is accepted by a host institution, they must sign a placement acceptance form to confirm their participation.
Host Campus Application: Complete the host campus application for admission (if required) and on-campus housing.
Advising Agreement: Complete an Advising Agreement governing courses to be completed at the host campus, discuss the courses with your adviser. Both you and your adviser must sign the Advising Agreement before your exchange begins.

Specific Application Steps at The University of Alabama

If you are a current student at The University of Alabama and are interested in applying to the National Student Exchange program, please take the following steps:

Complete the FERPA Release form on myBama.
Schedule an appointment with Dr.
After meeting with Dr. Jones, please submit your non-refundable $250 application fee.
If you are requesting financial aid and you are on Plan A, make sure that you have completed the current year’s FASFA form listing The University of Alabama. The FAFSA code number for The University of Alabama is 001051. It is very important that you also list your home school on the FAFSA.

For Students Considering Attending The University of Alabama as Part of NSE

If you are considering attending The University of Alabama as part of the National Student Exchange, we want to be the first to welcome you! There are so many exciting opportunities and programs at the Capstone.

Complete the application process for admissions. When you log in select “Undergraduate Admissions”.
After you have been admitted you will be assigned a Campus Wide Identification Number (CWID).
There is a $50 National Student Exchange activity fee per semester. After you have applied and been accepted you will receive a notice from the University that you have been accepted. An HRC staff member will contact you with additional instructions on how to apply. If you have additional questions or issues, please contact our office.

Tuition and Fees

NSE is a tuition-reciprocal exchange program which utilizes two different plans for payment:

Plan A (Host Payment): Students pay tuition and fees directly to the host institution.
Plan B (Home Payment): Students continue to pay normal tuition and fees to their home institution. However, if a student chooses to live on campus at the host university - and it is strongly encouraged that students do so - they will pay the costs for room and meals directly to the host campus, not the home university.

Cost estimates for all participating institutions can be found through the National Student Exchange.

Read also: Eligibility for National Awards

Financial Aid

Financial aid eligibility varies depending on the payment plan:

Plan A (Host Payment): Students may receive financial aid from their host school.
Plan B (Home Payment): Students continue to receive financial aid from their home school.

If you are requesting financial aid and you are on Plan A, make sure that you have completed the current year’s FASFA form listing The University of Alabama. The FAFSA code number for The University of Alabama is 001051. It is very important that you also list your home school on the FAFSA.

Special Programs and Opportunities

NSE offers a variety of special programs and opportunities to enhance the exchange experience:

Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs): Students can choose to study at HSIs, which enroll a significant percentage of Latino undergraduates in the United States.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): NSE participants can study at HBCUs.
International Study Away/Study Abroad Programs: Some NSE colleges and universities offer international study away or study abroad programs that can be accessed through the National Student Exchange. Some campuses allow NSE students to apply for their international programs from their home campus. Other host campuses require physical attendance as an NSE student for one term. While on the host campus, as part of the NSE program, you can then apply for participation in the institution's international program(s). In addition to tuition (Away Tuition: paid to the host, Home Tuition: paid at home, or some other tuition arrangement with the host campus), students participating in international programs will incur expenses for program fees, transportation, room, meals, and incidentals.

Experiences and Testimonials

Many students who have participated in NSE describe it as a life-changing experience:

"NSE has been the best experience I’ve had in my life so far. I am currently on exchange, and I’m already sad about the thought of coming home. I wish I could do it another year!"
"It’s an incredible opportunity to make friends, learn new things, and get new experiences. It’s one hundred percent worth it, and I would go on exchange again and again if I could."
"These opportunities don't come around often after college. You get a lot with the NSE experience, good education, new friends, self-growth, and other great benefits!"

NSE at Specific Institutions

Chico State

Every year Chico State students join others who exchange within the United States, and some Canadian provinces, at approximately 200 member institutions of the National Student Exchange. During this exchange participants retain their full student status at CSU, Chico. To ensure continuity, all required courses for general education, majors or minors must be approved by the respective office and grades will then transfer back to your Chico academic record. Because Chico State is a member of NSE, Chico State participants may pay either CSU, Chico resident fees or pay the host institution resident fees/tuition. This decision, however, is made by the host institution.

UCLA Extension

UCLA Extension is a host institution for National Student Exchange.

Eligibility requirements

Full-time, undergraduate student at your home university
Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale)

You will need to ensure UCLA Extension courses are available to fulfill your major, minor, or general education/core requirements.

Enrollment process

Consult with your home campus to understand academic requirements and financial aid.
Decide whether you will enroll for one quarter (3 months) or more. You may also choose to pursue an in-person certificate program. Many can be completed in 6, 9, or 12 months. Our Academic Calendar lists quarter start dates.

Selecting courses

You are required to take 16 units per quarter (each course is typically 4 units). NSE students are intended to select in-person courses. Before enrolling in an online course, obtain approval from your NSE home campus coordinator. You should select courses that are offered in person and have an “XL” indicator in the course number.

Paying tuition

You will pay tuition directly to UCLA Extension. Your home campus financial aid advisor should work with you to understand how your financial aid applies to your study at UCLA Extension. All financial aid questions should be directed to your home campus.

Earn a UCLA Extension Certificate

Consider if you would like to attend to earn a full certificate during your exchange. We offer many in-person certificate programs that can be completed in 6, 9, or 12 months.

University of Maryland, Duluth (UMD)

After Placement

Cheryl Skafte, NSE Coordinator, will notify you which school has accepted you for placement.
Sign placement acceptance to confirm to UMD and host coordinators that you accept placement. This must be accomplished before the established deadline. Failure to accept placement by the deadline date cancels your exchange to the host campus.
Complete the host campus application for admission (if required) and on-campus housing.
Obtain the following records to be forwarded to the host campus coordinator:
- Official Transcript (if required)
- Health Record (if required)
Complete an Advising Agreement governing courses to be completed at the host campus, discuss the courses with your adviser and return it to Cheryl Skafte, NSE Coordinator. Both you and your adviser must sign the Advising Agreement before your exchange begins.

tags: #national #student #exchange #program #overview