Central Washington University | Western Undergraduate Exchange Program

Western Undergraduate Exchange Program

The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is awarded to new, first-time freshmen and transfer students pursuing their first bachelor's degree who meet the criteria below. WUE students automatically qualify for reduced out-of-state tuition and pay 150 percent of Washington in-state tuition and fees. WUE value for the 2023-24 academic year is over $14,000. That’s more than $55,000 in value over the course of four years! This award does not cover mandatory fees or tuition overload charges.

WUE states include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho*, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon*, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, American Samoa, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).

*Students entering Fall 2024 who meet all other WUE program requirements and are residents of Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, Latah, or Nez Perce counties in Idaho or Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Morrow, Multnomah, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, or Washington counties in Oregon automatically qualify for an additional WUE Border County waiver to further reduce out-of-state tuition and pay 100 percent of Washington in-state tuition and fees.

First Year & Transfer Students Fall 2024

If you are:

A new, first-time freshman/transfer admitted to Central Washington University
Pursuing your first bachelor's degree
A resident of a WUE participating state
Confirm admission in MyCWU

By filling out an application for admission you are automatically eligible to receive the WUE award. The permanent address provided in your application for admittance determines eligibility. The WUE cannot be combined with other CWU merit tuition waivers.

WUE awards are renewable. Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress for Institutional Aid. WUE is renewable for up to 12 academic quarters or 225 attempted credits, depending upon incoming class standing:

Freshman (0-44.9 credits) 12 quarters (4 years) or a maximum of 225 attempted credits, whichever comes first;
Transfer with sophomore standing (45-89.9 credits) 9 quarters (3 years), or a maximum of 225 attempted credits, whichever comes first;
Transfer with junior standing (90-134.9 credits) 6 quarters (2 years), or a maximum of 225 attempted credits, whichever comes first.
Transfer with senior standing (135+ credits) 3 quarters (1 year) or a maximum of 225 attempted credits, whichever comes first.

WUE Program Requirements

Eligible students must:

Maintain a permanent address in an eligible state
Meet all CWU deadlines for admission, enrollment, and financial aid
Maintain full-time enrollment in at least 12 credits each quarter (Students do not need to maintain continuous enrollment to qualify for WUE renewal)
Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 once they have attempted 90+ credits
Academically suspended students are ineligible for the WUE

The WUE award does not apply to Summer Quarter, Study Abroad programs, Remedial Courses, or Continuing Education tuition charges.

To see CWU’s Estimated Cost of Attendance, please visit our Cost of Attendance webpage.

CWU News

Latest edition of Voyage Magazine available online

April 24, 2024

by University Relations

CWU defensive standout presented with coveted national award