Western Undergraduate Exchange

 

WUE (pronounced “woo-wee”) is the Western Undergraduate Exchange, a program of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Through WUE, students in western states may enroll in 150 two-year and four-year college institutions at a reduced tuition level: 150 percent of the institution's regular resident tuition. The program began in 1987 and all WICHE states have now signed the agreement. A copy of your state’s signed WUE agreement is available for your review. Students from all WICHE member states are eligible to request the WUE tuition discount.

 

WICHE member states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming. Search the WUE Online Database to see which institutions participate and which programs are available at the discounted WUE rate.

 

When states and their institutions participate in WUE, everyone wins.

 

Advantages for participating institutions. While the WUE tuition reciprocity arrangement does not provide financial reimbursement to institutions for WUE students, there are many advantages to the participating institution. WUE can help institutions to build an enrollment base to strengthen programs, improve efficiency by filing excess capacity, and provide student diversity. Some institutions that border other states value the program as it enables them to serve the citizens of the nearby communities. WICHE’s new online searchable WUE database will prove a valuable tool to promote your institution and its programs of study.

 

Advantages for the sending and receiving states. States benefit from WUE in several ways. Sending states’ residents are able to attend affordable institutions in other Western states at no expense to the state. Receiving states also benefit if a student decides to remain there following graduation, helping the state to build an educated workforce.

 

Advantages to participating students. WUE gives students from WICHE states affordable access to programs that may not be available in their home state or that do not have sufficient capacity. WUE also provides students with a more diverse array of institutions in which to enroll.

How do I apply to get the reduced tuition rate?

Apply for admission directly to the WUE institution(s) of your choice. There is no general WUE application. If the institution that you are applying to uses a hard copy application, mark prominently on the form that you seek admission at the WUE rate. For online applications, check the WUE box and if there is not one provided, contact the school admissions office on how to apply for the WUE discounted rate.

Although some institutions automatically consider applicants from a WICHE state for the WUE rate, most require that you request the special WUE rate at the time of application for admission, or that you apply for the WUE rate through their scholarship or financial aid office.

The WUE reduced tuition rate is not automatically awarded to all eligible candidates. Many institutions limit the number of new WUE awards each academic year, so apply early!

If you are admitted to a WUE institution at the reduced rate, keep all copies of correspondence confirming your WUE award.

STATE		INSTITUTION		TYPE		OFFERS WUE RATE TO TRANSFERS
Alaska		University of Alaska Anchorage		Four-Year Public		Yes
Alaska		University of Alaska Fairbanks		Four-Year Public		Yes
Alaska		University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau Campus		Four-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		Arizona Western College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		Central Arizona College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		Chandler-Gilbert Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		Cochise College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		Coconino Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		Eastern Arizona College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		Estrella Mountain Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		GateWay Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		Glendale Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		Mesa Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		Mohave Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		Northern Arizona University		Four-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		Northern Arizona University, Yuma Campus		Four-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		Northland Pioneer College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		Paradise Valley Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		Phoenix College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		Pima Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		Rio Salado College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		Scottsdale Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		South Mountain Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		University of Arizona		Four-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		University of Arizona South		Four-Year Public		Yes
Arizona		Yavapai College		Two-Year Public		Yes
California		California State Polytechnic University, Pomona		Four-Year Public		Yes
California		California State University, Bakersfield		Four-Year Public		Yes
California		California State University, Channel Islands		Four-Year Public		Yes
California		California State University, Chico		Four-Year Public		Yes
California		California State University, Dominguez Hills		Four-Year Public		Yes
California		California State University, East Bay		Four-Year Public		Yes
California		California State University, Maritime Academy		Four-Year Public		Yes
California		California State University, Monterey Bay		Four-Year Public		Yes
California		California State University, Northridge		Four-Year Public		Yes
California		California State University, Sacramento		Four-Year Public		Yes
California		California State University, San Bernardino		Four-Year Public		Yes
California		California State University, San Marcos		Four-Year Public		No
California		California State University, Stanislaus		Four-Year Public		Yes
California		Humboldt State University		Four-Year Public		Yes
California		University of California-Merced		Four-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Adams State University		Four-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Aims Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Arapahoe Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Colorado Mesa University		Four-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Colorado Mountain College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Colorado Northwestern Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Colorado State University		Four-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Colorado State University-Pueblo		Four-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Community College of Aurora		Two-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Community College of Denver		Two-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Fort Lewis College		Four-Year Public		No
Colorado		Front Range Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Lamar Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Metropolitan State University of Denver		Four-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Morgan Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Northeastern Junior College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Otero Junior College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Pikes Peak Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Pueblo Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Red Rocks Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Trinidad State Junior College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		University of Colorado at Colorado Springs		Four-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		University of Colorado Denver		Four-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		University of Northern Colorado		Four-Year Public		Yes
Colorado		Western State Colorado University		Four-Year Public		Yes
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands		Northern Marianas College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Hawaii		University of Hawaii at Hilo		Four-Year Public		Yes
Hawaii		University of Hawaii at Manoa		Four-Year Public		Yes
Hawaii		University of Hawaii Maui College		Four-Year Public		Yes
Hawaii		University of Hawaii West Oahu		Four-Year Public		Yes
Idaho		Boise State University		Four-Year Public		Yes
Idaho		College of Southern Idaho		Two-Year Public		Yes
Idaho		Idaho State University		Four-Year Public		Yes
Idaho		Lewis-Clark State College		Four-Year Public		Yes
Idaho		North Idaho College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Idaho		University of Idaho		Four-Year Public		Yes
Montana		Dawson Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Montana		Flathead Valley Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Montana		Great Falls College MSU		Two-Year Public		Yes
Montana		Helena College University of Montana		Two-Year Public		Yes
Montana		Highlands College of Montana Tech		Two-Year Public		Yes
Montana		Miles Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Montana		Montana State University, Billings		Four-Year Public		Yes
Montana		Montana State University, Bozeman		Four-Year Public		No
Montana		Montana State University, Northern		Four-Year Public		Yes
Montana		Montana Tech of the University of Montana		Four-Year Public		Yes
Montana		University of Montana, Missoula		Four-Year Public		Yes
Montana		University of Montana, Western		Four-Year Public		Yes
Nevada		College of Southern Nevada		Two-Year Public		Yes
Nevada		Great Basin College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Nevada		Nevada State College		Four-Year Public		Yes
Nevada		Truckee Meadows Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Nevada		University of Nevada, Las Vegas		Four-Year Public		Yes
Nevada		University of Nevada, Reno		Four-Year Public		Yes
Nevada		Western Nevada College		Two-Year Public		Yes
New Mexico		Eastern New Mexico University - Portales		Four-Year Public		Yes
New Mexico		Eastern New Mexico University - Roswell		Two-Year Public		Yes
New Mexico		New Mexico Highlands University		Four-Year Public		Yes
New Mexico		New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology		Four-Year Public		Yes
New Mexico		New Mexico Junior College		Two-Year Public		Yes
New Mexico		New Mexico Military Institute		Two-Year Public		Yes
New Mexico		New Mexico State University		Four-Year Public		Yes
New Mexico		New Mexico State University–Alamogordo		Two-Year Public		Yes
New Mexico		Northern New Mexico College		Four-Year Public		Yes
New Mexico		Santa Fe Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
New Mexico		University of New Mexico		Four-Year Public		Yes
New Mexico		Western New Mexico University		Four-Year Public		Yes
North Dakota		Bismarck State College		Two-Year Public		Yes
North Dakota		Dakota College at Bottineau		Two-Year Public		Yes
North Dakota		Dickinson State University		Four-Year Public		Yes
North Dakota		Lake Region State College		Two-Year Public		Yes
North Dakota		Mayville State University		Four-Year Public		Yes
North Dakota		Minot State University		Four-Year Public		Yes
North Dakota		North Dakota State College of Science		Two-Year Public		Yes
North Dakota		North Dakota State University		Four-Year Public		Yes
North Dakota		University of North Dakota		Four-Year Public		Yes
North Dakota		Valley City State University		Four-Year Public		Yes
North Dakota		Williston State College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Oregon		Eastern Oregon University		Four-Year Public		Yes
Oregon		Klamath Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Oregon		Oregon Institute of Technology		Four-Year Public		Yes
Oregon		Portland State University		Four-Year Public		Yes
Oregon		Southern Oregon University		Four-Year Public		Yes
Oregon		Western Oregon University		Four-Year Public		Yes
South Dakota		Black Hills State University		Four-Year Public		Yes
South Dakota		Dakota State University		Four-Year Public		Yes
South Dakota		Northern State University		Four-Year Public		Yes
South Dakota		South Dakota School of Mines and Technology		Four-Year Public		Yes
South Dakota		South Dakota State University		Four-Year Public		Yes
South Dakota		University of South Dakota		Four-Year Public		Yes
Utah		Dixie State University		Four-Year Public		Yes
Utah		Salt Lake Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Utah		Snow College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Utah		Southern Utah University		Four-Year Public		Yes
Utah		University of Utah		Four-Year Public		No
Utah		Utah State University		Four-Year Public		Yes
Utah		Utah State University Eastern		Two-Year Public		Yes
Utah		Utah Valley University		Four-Year Public		Yes
Utah		Weber State University		Four-Year Public		Yes
Washington		Central Washington University		Four-Year Public		Yes
Washington		Eastern Washington University		Four-Year Public		Yes
Washington		Spokane Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Washington		Spokane Falls Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Washington		Washington State University		Four-Year Public		No
Washington		Washington State University Tri-Cities		Four-Year Public		Yes
Washington		Western Washington University		Four-Year Public		No
Wyoming		Casper College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Wyoming		Central Wyoming College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Wyoming		Eastern Wyoming College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Wyoming		Gillette College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Wyoming		Laramie County Community College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Wyoming		Northwest College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Wyoming		Sheridan College		Two-Year Public		Yes
Wyoming		University of Wyoming		Four-Year Public		Yes
Wyoming		Western Wyoming Community College