A world of students in the mountains of New Mexico
UWC-USA is a two-year boarding school for the IB Diploma, part of the global UWC movement. Students come from more than 90 countries, and about 85% receive financial aid.
Cultures converge. Comfort zones dissolve.
When young people learn to look at the world differently, differences are not obstacles, but catalysts for empathy, resilience, and innovative problem solving.
- 1982
- Founded as the fifth school of the UWC movement
- 90+
- Countries our students come from
- 85%
- Of students receive financial assistance
- 4,000+
- UWC-USA alumni around the world
Meet yourself through the world
Every student takes the full International Baccalaureate Diploma over two years. And learning keeps going outside: into the wilderness, the region and the community.
The IB Diploma
One of the most recognised high school diplomas in the world. All UWC-USA students are Diploma candidates, and the IB Diploma is their high school diploma. Every subject except languages is taught in English.
Beyond the classroom
- Wilderness ProgramBackpacking, climbing and biking in the Southwest.
- Learning ExpeditionsTrips across the region to see theory in practice.
- Community EngagementService in local schools and NGOs in northern New Mexico.
- Arts and cultureCultural showcases, theatre and dance.
Help when you need it: peer tutors, an evening math center, and a faculty advisor for every group of 7–8 students.
Everyone goes into the wilderness
It doesn’t matter if you speak the same language or practice the same religion when you’re setting up a tent together as a thunderstorm comes barreling down the mountain.
- Week 1A three-day backpacking trip a few days after you arrive, led by second-year students and trained adults.
- OctoberSouthwest Studies week: six to eight expeditions, one of them five days in the Grand Canyon.
- Year 1Two more trips of your choice: rock climbing, mountain biking or snow camping.
- Year 2About 30–40% of students train to lead trips themselves.
No experience needed. The school provides equipment for anyone who doesn’t have their own.
Living at UWC-USA: crew, not passengers
Students from more than 90 countries share meals, dorms and late-night conversations in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The castle, restored in 2001, holds the dining hall, the student center and classrooms.
Weekly campus service
Everyone does a share: repairing the school’s bikes, giving admissions tours, running lights and sound for shows, or sitting on the student council.
Meals at round tables
The dining hall in the castle serves international dishes, with vegetarian and vegan options at every meal and produce from the school’s own farm.
Care around the clock
Trained residential coordinators live in every residence hall, on call 24 hours a day, alongside peer residential advisors.
The Farm
Around 8,000 lbs of produce a year, about 30% of what the dining hall serves.
In a student’s words
“UWC-USA’s emphasis on experiential learning through wilderness, community service, and cultural exchange is unexpected in traditional academic environments. It’s about creating real-world impact and fostering empathy.”
How to apply
UWC schools select students through volunteer national committees. Your route to UWC-USA depends on your citizenship.
US citizens & residents
Apply through the U.S. National Committee, which selects American students for all 18 UWC schools.
- You are automatically considered for the merit-based Davis Scholarship: $25,000 a year, at any UWC.
- Twenty-five Davis places are reserved for UWC-USA.
- The committee interviews about 150 semi-finalists, and finalists spend a weekend on campus in February.
All other countries
Apply through the UWC national committee in your country, or through UWC’s Global Selection Programme or International Application Pathway. National committees work in more than 150 countries.
Not sure which route is right for you? The admissions team offers a consultation.
$59,800Tuition for the 2027–2028 academic year
Every family should pay what they can, but no family should pay what they cannot.
UWC-USA works with families to give as much need-based aid as possible; about 85% of students receive financial assistance. Davis Scholars’ costs drop by $25,000 a year, and they can apply for need-based aid on top. Students who qualify for significant aid may also receive travel reimbursement and spending money.
Questions families ask
Anything else? Call the school on (505) 454-4200 or email admission@uwc-usa.org.
I’m not very outdoorsy. Is that a problem?
No. Every student takes part in the Wilderness Program, including those with little outdoor experience. Students get extensive training in the basics of campcraft, and the school provides equipment for anyone who doesn’t have it.
Is the IB Diploma my high school diploma?
Yes. All UWC-USA students are Diploma candidates, and the IB Diploma serves as the high school diploma.
Do I have to take English?
The IB requires a Language A and a Language B course, and English doesn’t have to be one of them. It is strongly recommended, though: every subject except languages is taught in English.
What does it cost, and is there aid?
Tuition for 2027–2028 is $59,800. Aid is need-based and calculated through School and Student Services; about 85% of students receive financial assistance. US citizens are also considered for the $25,000-a-year Davis Scholarship.
Can we visit the campus?
Yes. Admissions runs regular tours for prospective students and families. Otherwise the campus is closed to the public, except the Dwan Light Sanctuary, open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Who chooses the US students?
The U.S. National Committee, a group of volunteers. They read nearly a thousand documents, recommendations and applications each year, interview about 150 semi-finalists and meet the finalists on campus in February.
Visit Montezuma
The campus sits in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, a few miles outside Las Vegas, New Mexico. Join an admissions tour and see it for yourself.
P.O. Box 248
Montezuma, NM 87731