The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE): One of the Best Kept College Secret You’ll Wish You’d have Heard About Sooner

Before you sink into a deep depression while contemplating the current admit rates for undergraduates applying to the UC’s from California, there is another fabulous public college option for California (and other western state) residents in-the-know.

If you’re someone who is looking for a terrific college option at a great price, WUE (the Western Undergraduate Exchange) might be the program for you. WUE, pronounced “woo-ee,” allows residents of the western states to attend many of each other’s public colleges at a serious discount. In terms of ROI, we love WUE schools and the options they offer.

Should I apply to a WUE school?

While the name is pretty much a dead giveaway, people who live in all of the “usual suspect” states in the west can potentially go to a WUE school. This means that there is a much larger pool of affordable colleges than you might have initially considered if you were only looking at colleges within your home state.

Which states participate in WUE?

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, U.S. Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Which schools are WUE schools?

This is where it gets slightly complicated. Not all public colleges participate, and some that do only offer WUE spaces for specific majors. The University of Arizona is a WUE option for undergrads, but only if you’re interested in Mining Engineering (future mining engineers can read more and geek-out).

If you want to do your own search, the WUE/WICHE website is the best place to start. You can sort by major, state, and degree type. Change your search options to see which combinations of schools and majors interest you the most.

How much does a WUE education cost?

Out-of-state students pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition if they are eligible for WUE. That’s a fabulous deal, especially if you’re a California resident. Because most of the participating institutions have tuition (and COA figures) that are below that of a UC, this can be a serious deal.

What WUE schools should I consider?

We like them all, but here are a few examples of cool programs to checkout:

• Want a small and welcoming home base within a larger university? LEAP at The University of Utah is a great way to meet outstanding professors and peers in your first year.
• Interested in seeing the world, having a people-facing job, and learning all about how businesses operate? Check out one of the highest-rated hospitality management programs in the world at UNLV’s Harrah College of Hospitality.
• Does Communication & Society, Journalism & Media Production, or Strategic Communication sound like the major for you? The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University might be the place for you.

Obviously, these examples are only the tip of the iceberg. There are a ton of phenomenal WUE programs that might fit your academic interests.

How do I learn more?

Each school’s website is a great place to start to learn about majors, programs, and campus culture. You’ll also find that many WUE schools send admissions officers to visit high schools and college fairs. As always, you can also do more college research using Pursute’s college pages where you’ll find recent campus updates as well as cool statistical data. Happy college hunting.