Program Overview

Introduction to the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Program

The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program is designed for students from participating western states who wish to pursue their undergraduate studies at the University of Montana. The program offers a discounted tuition rate to eligible students.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the WUE program, students must meet specific GPA requirements. For incoming freshmen, the minimum GPA to qualify is 3.0 or higher, based on either weighted or unweighted cumulative GPA, whichever is highest. Transfer students must have a cumulative college GPA of 3.5 or higher to qualify.

WUE Eligible States

Applicants must be first-time incoming students to the University of Montana from the following 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

WUE Award Criteria

The minimum GPA to qualify for WUE consideration as an incoming first-year student is 3.0 or higher. Not all qualified first-year applicants will receive the WUE award. The Scholarship Committee will select from among qualified applicants, considering factors such as:

• Course rigor and performance
• Extracurricular activity
• Letters of recommendation or other supplementary material

Transfer Student Eligibility

Transfer applicants with a cumulative college GPA of 3.5 or higher in all eligible transfer coursework will automatically receive the WUE award at the point of admission.

Application and Award Process

To be automatically considered for a WUE award, first-year applicants must apply for admission by December 1, 2025. After this date, WUE awards will be given on a space-available basis. WUE awards are based on the grades available when the student is admitted. If a student later improves their GPA, they must petition for reconsideration using the Scholarship Appeal Form.

Renewability of Awards

If an incoming freshman qualifies for the WUE program, it is renewable for four years. Students are required to sign up for 15 credits each semester or a total of 30 credits in an academic year to receive and maintain the award. For transfer students, the number of years for which the scholarship is renewable is based on the number of transfer credits accepted by the University of Montana:

• 0-29 credits: 4 years
• 30-59 credits: 3 years
• 60+ credits: 2 years

WUE Scholarship Conditions

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. Students who are not continuously enrolled (except summers), transfer to Missoula College, establish Montana residency, or become distance-only students forfeit the scholarship. WUE recipients cannot also receive the LAS scholarship and cease to be eligible for the WUE upon completion of a bachelor's degree. The WUE scholarship can be used during summer terms. Students wishing to establish Montana residency cannot do so while receiving the benefit of the WUE scholarship. Students who do not meet scholarship conditions may appeal for reinstatement using the Continuing Student Scholarship Appeal Form.

Eligibility for Post-Baccalaureate and Graduate Students

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