Western Undergraduate Exchange

WUE.....WOOOO EEEEEEE! WUE is the Western Undergraduate Exchange, and it is coordinated by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Learning (WICHE). WUE is a regional tuition-reciprocity agreement. If you live in one of the states listed, you will automatically receive consideration for a reduced tuition rate of 150% of resident tuition at participating two- and four-year college programs outside of your home state. In other words, if you receive the WUE, then you will be paying 1.5x more than a resident, but still less than if you paid out of state tuition!


Hurry! Limited Awards

Many institutions limit the number of new WUE awards each academic year. That’s why it’s important to apply for the WUE discount EARLY—as soon as you apply for admission. The earlier the better! Many enrolling institutions DO NOT REQUIRE that applicants show financial need to receive the WUE rate!


Eligibility

The WUE reduced tuition rate is NOT AUTOMATICALLY awarded to all eligible candidates. In fact, most institutions are becoming more and more selective. Even if you meet the institution’s WUE admissions criteria (which can be more rigorous than its regular admissions criteria), there are no guarantees. Many institutions require evidence of academic performance, such as ACT/SAT test scores or high school GPA, or place other conditions on WUE enrollment. Consult your college or WUE websites for details.


How To Apply

Apply directly to the institution(s) of your choice for admission. Mark prominently on the institution’s application form that you seek admission as a WUE student. Better yet, call and ask your target schools how they like best for the WUE applications to be handled.


States Involved

Some 145 state-funded community colleges and universities located in the WICHE region participate in WUE. If you are trying to establish residency, you WILL NOT QUALIFY for the WUE! To find out whether or not an institution that you’re interested in participates in the WUE, check www.wiche.edu/wue/students.