Information on the West's progress in improving access to, success in, and financing of higher education.

1. WICHE Region 2017
Benchmarks: WICHE Region 2017 presents information on the West’s progress in
improving access to, success in, and financing of higher education. The information
is updated annually with the most recent data available, to monitor change over
time and encourage its use as a tool for informed discussion in policy and education
communities. Data included in these charts is for the WICHE region, unless otherwise
stated. Visit wiche.edu/benchmarks to access these charts’ data for all WICHE members.
Please use the following citation if you are reproducing these charts: Western Interstate
Commission for Higher Education, Benchmarks: WICHE Region 2017.
Western Interstate Commission
for Higher Education

2. Undergraduate Enrollment by Sector
Between Fall 2005 and Fall 2015, undergraduate enrollment at public and private, nonprofit institutions in the West increased
13 percent. Enrollment in the region has been relatively flat since the strong increases during the Great Recession, with public
research and private, nonprofit enrollment increases offsetting strong declines at public two-years.
0
500,000
000,000
500,000
000,000
500,000
000,000
500,000
000,000
500,000
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Public Two-Year Baccalaureate/Master's Research/Doctoral Independent
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0
UndergraduateEnrollment(Millions)
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Note: Data are for two- and four-year degree-granting, Title IV-eligible, nonprofit institutions, excluding service academies. Sectors are classified according to the 2005, 2010, and
2015 Carnegie Classification of Higher Education Institutions. Private nonprofit includes two- and four-year institutions.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Fall Enrollment Survey, 2005-2015.
4,204,4174,210,498
3,718,483
Public, Two-Year
Public, Baccalaureate/Master’s
Public, Research
Private, Nonprofit

3. Diversification of High School Graduates and College
The increase in student diversity among high school graduating classes in the West in the last decade (from 45
percent non-white in 2004-05 to 55 percent in 2014-15) is reflected to an extent in full-time undergraduate
enrollments—although Hispanics remain the most under-represented among all full-time undergraduates.
Note: 2014-15 high school graduates are projected. Undergraduate enrollment is any full-time undergraduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Fall Enrollment Survey, 2005 and 2015, and WICHE,
Knocking at the College Door: Projections of High School Graduates, 2016.
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
High School Graduates Undergraduate Enrollment
1%
4%
6%
8%
12%
26%
43%
2%
5%
3%
8%
13%
16%
54%
American Indian/Alaska Native
Black
Non-Resident Alien
Two or More Races/Unknown Race
Asian/Pacific Islander
Hispanic
White
2%
5%
11%
37%
45%
2%
6%
11%
26%
55%
2004-05 2014-15 2005-06 2015-16

4. 25- to 64-Year-Olds with an Associate’s Degree or Above
Over the past decade, the percentage of adults in the WICHE region with an associate’s degree or above increased from 38 to
42 percent, matching the national percentage, which increased from 37 to 42 percent over the last decade.
43%
42%
41%
40%
39%
38%
37%
36%
35%
34%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Note: Number of adults ages 25-64 who have obtained an associate’s degree or higher credential, as a percentage of total adults ages 25-64. Data not available for
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam, so they are not included in these WICHE region measures.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American FactFinder Table B15001, 2005-2016.
WICHE
17.2 M,
42%
70.5 M,
42%
U.S.
14.3 M,
38%
59.1 M,
37%

5. Educational Attainment Levels of 25- to 64-Year-Olds
While 40 percent of 25- to 64-year-olds in the WICHE region had an associate’s degree or above in 2015, there was disparity
across populations. White adults are slightly above 50 percent of the adult population in the region and 48 percent have
an associate’s or above, compared to the second-largest population, Hispanic adults, only 18 percent of whom have an
associate’s degree or above.
Note: Number of adults ages 25-64 with each level of education, as a percentage of total adults ages 25-64, by population. Data not available for Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands and Guam, so they are not included in these WICHE region measures.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey (ACS) Public Use Microdata (PUMS) Files.
Graduate/
ProfessionalBachelor’sAssociate’sSome College
High School
Diploma
Less than
High School
9% 20% 11%14% 22% 24%TOTAL (40.1M)
White (21.8M)
Hispanic (10.6M)
Asian/Pacific
Islander (4.4M)
Black (1.8M)
American Indian/
Alaska Native (551K)
40%
48%
18%
58%
33%
21%
Associate’s
& Above

6. $12,000
$10,000
$8,000
$6,000
$4,000
$2,000
$0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Educational Appropriations per FTE Net Tuition per FTE Public FTE Enrollment
FTEEnrollment(Millions)
Postsecondary Educational Revenue and Enrollments
Educational revenue per full-time equivalent (FTE) student increased from $9,778 to $10,345, on average, for public
institutions in the WICHE region during the past decade. However, the percent of total revenue from educational appropriations
declined from 72 percent in FY 2006 to 63 percent in FY 2016.
EducationalRevenue(2016Dollars)
Note: Unweighted average of WICHE states, not including Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam (data not available). Figures are adjusted for inflation using
the Higher Education Cost Adjustment, enrollment mix, and cost-of-living differences among states. Net tuition revenue is the gross amount of tuition and fees, less state and in-
stitutional aid, waivers and discounts, and medical student tuition and fees. Educational appropriations are state and local support available for public higher education operating
expenses. Full-time equivalent enrollment is equal to one student enrolled full time for one academic year, excluding most non-credit/non-degree programs and medical students.
Source: State Higher Education Executive Officers, State Higher Education Finance FY16.
$7,067 $7,140 $7,209
$6,661
$5,963 $5,892
$5,189 $5,455 $5,811 $6,249 $6,543
$2,711 $2,684 $2,364
$2,494
$2,722 $2,796
$3,328
$3,505
$3,669
$3,743
$3,801

7. $14,000
$12,000
$10,000
$8,000
$6,000
$4,000
$2,000
$0
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
FTEEnrollment(Millions)
Postsecondary Educational Revenue and Enrollments in the U.S.
Per-FTE educational revenue was higher in dollar terms across the nation, on average, than in the WICHE region, while they have
followed the same overall trend over the last decade,. A greater portion of per-FTE educational revenue has come from tuition
revenue, on average across the nation, than in the WICHE region (48 percent and 37 percent, respectively, in FY 2016).
EducationalRevenue(2016Dollars)
Note: Unweighted average of all U.S. states (not including Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or Guam). Figures are adjusted for inflation using the Higher Education
Cost Adjustment, enrollment mix, and cost-of-living differences among states. Net tuition revenue is the gross amount of tuition and fees, less state and institutional aid, waivers
and discounts, and medical student tuition and fees. Educational appropriations are state and local support available for public higher education operating expenses. Full-time
equivalent enrollment is equal to one student enrolled full time for one academic year, excluding most non-credit/non-degree programs and medical students.
Source: State Higher Education Executive Officers, State Higher Education Finance FY16.
$8,048 $8,252 $8,380 $7,834
$7,265 $6,925
$6,277 $6,370 $6,731 $7,082 $6,954
$4,639 $4,715 $4,644
$4,737
$4,967 $5,125
$5,543 $5,819
$5,997
$6,176 $6,305
Educational Appropriations per FTE Net Tuition per FTE Public FTE Enrollment

8. Tuition as a Percentage of Educational Revenue
On average, the “student share” of total educational revenue for the Western region increased over the last decade by almost
10 percentage points. The increases slowed in recent years, and in FY 2016 tuition revenue accounted for about 37 percent of
total educational revenue in the WICHE region, and 48 percent on average, nationally.
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Note: Unweighted averages. Net tuition revenue is the gross amount of tuition and fees, less state and institutional aid, waivers and discounts, and medical student tuition
and fees.
Source: State Higher Education Executive Officers, State Higher Education Finance FY16.
WICHE
28%
37%
37%
48%U.S.

9. Tuition and Fees as a Percentage of Family Income
The average tuition and fees for resident undergraduates in the WICHE region was $8,081 at four-year institutions and $2,126
at two-year institutions in 2015-16. Tuition and fees represented very different shares of median family income in 2015, by
race/ethnicity (not factoring in total or net cost of attendance). This has apparent implications for financial need and perceived
“sticker shock” for certain families in particular.
Note: WICHE region median family income, overall and by population, includes all sources of income for households with children aged 0-17. Tuition and fees is an unweighted
average of resident/in-district tuition and fees at two-and four-year institutions in the WICHE region.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011-2015 American Community Survey (ACS) Public Use Microdata (PUMS) and Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, Tuition and
Fees in the West.
$100,000
$90,000
$80,000
$70,000
$60,000
$50,000
$40,000
$30,000
$20,000
$10,000
$0
MedianFamilyIncome,2015
Asian/Pacific
Islander (898 K)
White (5.6 M) Black (432 K) Hispanic (3.1 M) American Indian/
Alaska Native (159 K)
WICHE Median Family Income: $65,623
8%
2%
10%
3%
18%
5%
19%
5%
22%
6%
$96,121
$80,767
$37,355
$43,469$44,422
4-Year Tuition and Fees, 2015-16
2-Year Tuition and Fees, 2015-16

10. Tuition and Fees at Public Two- and Four-Year Institutions
Tuition and fees for resident undergraduates at public two- and four-year institutions increased across all sectors between
2007-08 and 2017-18. The largest increases were at baccalaureate and master’s institutions (48 percent) and research institu-
tions (45 percent). Tuition and fees for resident undergraduates at two-year institutions increased more than 30 percent, both
with and without California, since 2007-08.
Note: Tuition and Fees charges are for resident undergraduates. Sectors are classified according to the 2005, 2010, and 2015 Carnegie Classification of Higher Education
Institutions. Dollars adjusted to 2017 dollars using the Higher Education Cost Adjustment (HECA).
Source: Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.
2007-08 2009-10 2011-12 2013-14 2015-16 2017-18
Associate’s w/ CA $2,790
$10,127
$3,838
$7,484
Baccalaureate/Master’s
$12,000
$10,000
$8,000
$6,000
$4,000
$2,000
$0
UndergraduateTuition&Fees(2017dollars)
Associate’s w/o CA
Research
$2,003
$6,997
$2,948
$5,060

11. 45,000
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
WUE Savings WUE Enrollment
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Enrollment & Savings
Annual enrollment in WICHE’s Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) has increased over 80 percent between 2007-08 and
2017-18. Correspondingly, annual savings to students and/or families more than doubled over the same time period.
WUEEnrollment
Note: Total WUE savings included the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands starting in 2013-14 and included Guam starting in 2016-17. Dollars adjusted to 2017
dollars using the Consumer Price Index.
Source: Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.
$162 M $168 M
$197 M
$237 M $239 M $252 M
$277 M $287 M
$317 M
$347 M
$365 M
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18

12. Institutional Grant Aid Per FTE
Average total grant aid per full-time equivalent student (FTE) at public institutions increased more than 70 percent between
2004-05 and 2010-11 in the WICHE region, but it declined about 10 percent by 2014-15 from the high, reversing the trend so
that the average WICHE grant aid per student went below the national average.
$1,800
$1,500
$1,200
$900
$600
$300
$0
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Note: Data are for grant aid expenditures, not including discounts and allowances, from all sources at public institutions.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System IPEDS, Finance and Enrollment Surveys, 2005-2015.
WICHE
$1,364
$1,409
U.S.
GrantAidPerFTE(CurrentDollars)
$898
$857

13. Students Receiving Federal Grant Aid
The share of full-time, first-time students in the West receiving federal grant aid climbed dramatically during the recession years
and stabilized after 2011-12. The WICHE rate has typically been lower than the national average, but the difference narrowed
in the last five years.
50%
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Note: Data are for public institutions, excluding U.S. service academies. Federal grant aid includes grants awarded principally through the Pell Grant and SEOG programs, but also
includes educational assistance grants awarded through the Veteran’s Administration, Department of Labor, and other federal agencies.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Student Financial Aid Survey, 2005- 2015.
WICHE
44%
47%
U.S.
43%
44%
30%
33%

14. Average Loan Amount of Bachelor’s Degree Recipients
The average loan amount for bachelor recipients from public and private nonprofit institutions with loans in the WICHE region
increased 25 percent between 2009-10 and 2015-16, about the same rate as the nation over these six years.
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16
Note: Simple unweighted average loan amount of those bachelor recipients from WICHE public and private nonprofit institutions who borrowed and graduated with loans
between academic years 2009-10 and 2015-16. These data are not available for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam. Average debt is in current dollars.
Source: The Institute for College Access and Success, The Project on Student Debt.
WICHE
$23,810
$28,446
U.S.
AverageLoansTotal(CurrentDollars)
$19,056
$23,105