Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

What is WUE?

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Provides Students Greater Access to College with Reduced Tuition Rates at Participating Schools

Going to college out of state may mean paying up to three times more than attending a school or university in your home state/territory*. The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) was established in 1987 to make college more affordable and accessible to students in the Western part of the US.  

Through WUE, students from the WICHE region* can choose from hundreds of undergraduate programs across the West and pay no more than 150% of the institution’s resident tuition rate.

Today, more than 160 public colleges and universities offer reduced tuition rates through WUE to qualifying students. Participating schools offer these discounted rates to help students avoid the full cost of pursuing higher education outside their home state and minimize the impact of student loan debt.

Find your perfect match. Download the list of WUE schools and use the online WUE Tuition Savings Finder to see how much you can save.

*Residents of the following states and territories are eligible to apply for WUE: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, as well as American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.   

How does WUE work?

Participating colleges and universities set their own WUE eligibility criteria and manage their WUE rates independently — each school is different. At some schools, students are automatically considered for the scholarship when they apply for admission at the college, and at others, there is a separate scholarship application. Students should research how the specific colleges on their list manage the WUE scholarship/program. This information can be found on the Financial Aid and Scholarship pages of individual university websites. After doing this research, if you have questions about admission criteria or WUE rates and eligibility, contact the admissions, scholarship, and/or financial aid office at your select school. Contact information for each school is available on the WUE Tuition Savings Finder.

Use this checklist to determine your WUE eligibility and find the resources you need to apply for the WUE rate. Remember: some schools have separate applications for admission and for WUE, so be sure to contact your desired institution to learn more. 


There are three criteria for eligibility: 1) You must be a resident of the WICHE region. 2) Your desired school must also be in the WICHE region and 3) it must also offer the WUE rate. 

Use the WUE Tuition Savings Finder to see which majors are eligible for the WUE rate by school. 

Each school administers WUE differently: Institutions may require a minimum GPA, exclude selected majors, have early application deadlines, and/or limit the number of students awarded the WUE rate. Look at the Financial Aid/Scholarship websites of your select schools to learn more. You can also use the WUE Tuition Savings Finder and contact your school of interest directly about their specific WUE requirements. 

Follow the application steps for your select school and submit the required documents by the application deadline. Contact the school’s admissions, financial aid, or scholarship office to let them know you’re seeking the WUE rate. Contact information for each school is available on the WUE Tuition Savings Finder.