What is WUE?
WUE is the Western Undergraduate Exchange program with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Through WUE, students in Western states can enroll in participating two-year and four-year college institutions at a reduced tuition level: 150 percent of UC Merced's regular resident tuition.
Students from all WICHE member states are eligible to request the WUE tuition discount. WICHE member states are Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, as well as American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.
WUE Savings
WUE students pay substantially less than traditional nonresident students and can save over $30,000 per year.
Please refer to the UC Merced Campus Catalog for the most recent estimated cost of attendance. WUE participants will avoid the additional Nonresident Supplemental Tuition and instead pay 150% of tuition.**
** The tuition and fees posted here are estimates based on currently approved amounts. These figures may not be final. Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California and could be affected by increases or reductions in State funding, or other developments. Accordingly, final approved levels (and thus a student's final balance due) may differ from the amounts shown.
Applying for WUE at UC Merced
It takes four steps to apply for the WUE program at UC Merced:
- Check to see if you qualify for the WUE program.
- Submit a University of California application
- Check your portal. You will be notified in your UC Merced Connect portal if you are selected for WUE. Admissions decisions are usually posted in early March for fall or September for Spring.
- Submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR). By submitting your SIR, you have agreed that you are eligible to participate and will meet the conditions of the WUE program listed on your student portal.
2027 WUE Scholarship
For admitted non-resident students who are part of the WUE consortium, we will provide a scholarship of $4,000/year for as long as they remain a non-resident student (up to a maximum of 4 years). Students must add UC Merced to their FAFSA to be considered for this program. Requirements to maintain the scholarship include a minimum cumulative 3.00 GPA, full-time enrollment, and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions About WUE
On this page:
- Do I qualify to participate in the WUE program?
- What are the academic requirements for my major?
- Are out-of-state student held to a higher academic standard than California residents?
- Do I need to reapply to participate in the WUE program each year?
- If I change my major, will I still be eligible to participate in the WUE program?
- Are transfer students eligible to apply for the WUE program?
- What if it takes me longer than four years to graduate from college?
- What if I want to study abroad?
- Can a WUE student attend summer session prior to admission?
- Does attending prior to their fall admission cut into a WUE student's “four years of eligibility” to receive the discounted rate?
- Can I apply for or begin in the spring term under WUE?
- Will I be able to pay instate tuition after my first year?
- How will I be notified if I was awarded the WUE?
1. You must meet the following criteria to be considered for the WUE tuition savings program:
- Be a new incoming first year or transfer student enrolling in the university.
- Be a legal resident of one of the following WICHE states: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, as well as American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.
- Be admitted to UC Merced.
- Submit your Statement of Intent to Register by your posted deadline.
- Maintain full-time enrollment (at least 12 units) each semester and remain in good academic standing at UC Merced.
- Meet the academic eligibility requirements for your intended major.
- Maintain your legal domicile in your home WICHE state.
Please note:
- Students cannot apply time accrued while participating in the WUE program to establish California residency.
- Students pursuing a second bachelor's degree or graduate degree are not eligible to participate in the WUE program.
- The WUE tuition discount is good for four consecutive years for incoming first year students and two consecutive years for incoming transfers, or until you graduate, whichever comes first.
- Students entering UC Merced in the spring term who receive the WUE tuition discount are eligible for the discount for the spring semester in which they enroll plus the following consecutive academic year for transfer students, or the following three consecutive academic years for first-year students.
2. What are the academic requirements for my major?
You are required to be in good academic standing at your current institution, and meet the WUE GPA required for your major when you submit your UC application, and if admitted, meet your UC Merced conditions of admission.
If you qualify for WUE, you'll be notified in your UC Merced Connect platform upon admission.
UC Merced WUE Academic Criteria:
- Beginning with the Spring 2027 and Fall 2027 admission terms, all admitted students who are residents of a participating WICHE state or territory will be eligible to receive the WUE tuition discount.
3. Are out-of-state student held to a higher academic standard than California residents?
Yes, the minimum GPA to the considered for first year admissions for a California resident is 3.0, and the minimum non-resident GPA is 3.4. Similarly, the minimum GPA to be considered for transfer admission for a California resident is a 2.4, and the minimum non-resident GPA is a 2.8.
4. Do I need to reapply to participate in the WUE program each year?
No, the WUE tuition discount is good for four consecutive years for incoming freshmen and two consecutive years for incoming transfers, or until you graduate, whichever comes first. You must maintain full-time enrollment (at least 12 units) each semester and remain in good standing with the institution.
5. If I change my major, will I still be eligible to participate in the WUE program?
Students must maintain enrollment in a UC Merced declared WUE-eligible major/program. Students who change majors to a non-WUE major/program will be charged out-of-state tuition. Currently, all majors are WUE eligible but, that could change in future terms.
6. Are transfer students eligible to apply for the WUE program?
Yes, transfer students are eligible to apply for WUE. Please note, the WUE tuition discount is only available for two consecutive years for entering transfer students. After the two-year eligibility period ends, students will be assessed all applicable nonresident tuition and fees. Please note: Students entering UC Merced in the spring term who receive the WUE tuition discount are eligible for the discount for the spring semester in which they enroll plus the following consecutive academic year for transfer students, or the following three consecutive academic years for first-year students.
7. What if it takes me longer than four years to graduate from college?
Incoming first year students (freshmen) are only able to participate in the WUE tuition discount program for four consecutive years, and incoming transfer students for two consecutive years. After the two-year eligibility period ends, students will be assessed all applicable nonresident tuition and fees.
8. What if I want to study abroad?
We encourage you to speak with our EAP coordinator to find out how studying abroad might affect your participation in WUE.
9. Can a WUE student attend summer session prior to admission?
Yes. Summer fees are the same for all students; pricing is the same regardless of residency. Therefore, WUE students do not receive the WUE tuition discount for summer session.
10. Does attending prior to their fall admission cut into a WUE student's “four years of eligibility” to receive the discounted rate?
No, the four years apply to the time of the tuition discount, and since there is no tuition discount in the summer, no time would elapse from a student's four years of WUE eligibility.
11. Can I apply for or begin in the spring term under WUE?
Yes, starting with the Spring 2027 term, spring applicants will be considered for WUE. Students entering UC Merced in the spring term who receive the WUE tuition discount are eligible for the discount for the spring semester in which they enroll plus the following consecutive academic year for transfer students, or the following three consecutive academic years for first-year students.
12. Will I be able to pay instate tuition rates after my first year?
The WUE program applies for up to four consecutive years for first-year students or two consecutive years for transfer students, as students in California for the main purpose of attending university typically do not gain residency for tuition purposes. Students entering UC Merced in the spring term who receive the WUE tuition discount are eligible for the discount for the spring semester in which they enroll plus the following consecutive academic year for transfer students, or the following three consecutive academic years for first-year students.
13. How will I be notified if I was awarded the WUE?
You will receive an email from admissions@ucmerced.edu, and you can see if you were awarded WUE at MyAdmissions. In MyAdmissions, students awarded the WUE will see "Offered", in the WUE Program section of the application summary.
