Western Undergraduate Exchange

Western Undergraduate Exchange Tuition Discount

The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) tuition discount is a merit-based tuition discount, and the 猎奇重口’s highest award for incoming students from WUE-eligible states. For 2026-27 the WUE tuition discount is equal to $21,120 off out-of-state tuition and fees.  

Cost of Attendance (2026-27)

cost of attendance for in-state, WUE and out-of-state students broken down into three categories: tuition and fees; housing and food; total
  In-State WUE Out-of-State
Tuition and Fees $9,694 $13,718 $34,838
Housing and Food $14,566 $14,566 $14,566
Total $24,260 $28,284 $49,404

How to Apply for the WUE

Your application for admission to UM serves as your WUE application. To be automatically considered for a WUE award, you must apply for admission by Jan. 15. and submit a current transcript from your high school.  

If you apply for admission after Jan. 15 and you meet WUE eligibility criteria, you will be considered for the tuition discount on a space-available basis. 

Common Questions About the WUE

  • Eligible WUE applicants must be a resident of one of the following qualifying states:  

    • Alaska 
    • Arizona 
    • California 
    • Colorado 
    • Hawaii 
    • Idaho 
    • Nevada 
    • New Mexico 
    • North Dakota 
    • Oregon 
    • South Dakota 
    • Utah 
    • Washington 
    • Wyoming 
    • The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) 
    • Guam  

  • Eligibility for the WUE is based upon a student’s weighted OR unweighted cumulative GPA (whichever is highest). The minimum GPA to qualify for WUE as an incoming freshman is 3.0 or higher. Transfer students must have a cumulative college GPA of 3.5 or higher to qualify. 

    Not all qualified first-year applicants will receive the WUE award. The Scholarship Committee will select from among qualified applicants. 

    Eligible applicants must be a first-time incoming student (new freshmen or transfer), seeking an undergraduate degree on the Mountain Campus at the 猎奇重口.  

    Missoula College students are not eligible for the WUE. Post-baccalaureate students (i.e. students who have previously earned a bachelor's degree), international students and graduate students are not eligible to receive the WUE. 

  • Students who are not continuously enrolled (except summers), transfer to Missoula College, establish 猎奇重口 residency or become online-only students forfeit the WUE. Recipients cease to be WUE eligible upon completion of a bachelor's degree. 

    The WUE scholarship can be used during summer terms. 

  • If you qualify for the WUE program as an incoming freshman, it is renewable for four years.  

    WUE students are required to sign up for 15 credits each semester or a total of 30 credits in an academic year (fall, spring and summer) to receive and maintain the award. The scholarship will automatically be renewed if, at the end of the spring semester, a student has completed 15 or more credits per semester and has a cumulative GPA of 3.0. 

    A student’s academic major does not affect WUE eligibility. 

    For transfer students, the number of years for which the scholarship is renewable is based on the number of transfer credits accepted by UM. 

    • 0-29 credits: Four years 
    • 30-59 credits: Three years 
    • 60+ credits: Two years 

  • WUE awards are based on the grades available when you are admitted. If you later improve your GPA, you must petition for reconsideration by logging into and complete the form found under "Optional Checklist Items." Appeals are reviewed monthly. 

    Our financial aid appeal process allows admitted students to ask for a re-evaluation of their merit-based financial aid for a variety of reasons: 

    • Improved GPA 
    • Strong extracurricular involvement 
    • Life events that affected academic performance 
    • Competing offers 
    • Special financial circumstances (requires documentation) 

  • WUE does not “stack” with other scholarships. Students selected to receive the WUE are not eligible to receive other non-resident entering student scholarships. WUE recipients cannot also receive the UM Academic Achievement Scholarship (UMAAS), therefore students who receive the WUE discounted tuition rate automatically forfeit their UMAAS offer. Students from WUE states who do not qualify for the WUE will be considered for the UMAAS award.