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Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Reduced Tuition Scholarship

If you're a new freshman or transfer student from the Western U.S., you can save on your out-of-state tuition.

The Â鶹ӳ»­ is a proud participant in WUE, which allows students from participating states and territories to pay only 150% of our standard Â鶹ӳ»­ resident tuition. Participating areas include Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Republic of Palau, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

If you do not qualify for WUE, there's Pack Exchange

Students who do not qualify for WUE, may be eligible for the Pack Exchange Program, a reduced tuition scholarship program available only at the Â鶹ӳ»­.

 

First-year students

April 7, 2025 is the deadline to submit an application for Fall 2025 WUE consideration.

Eligibility

  • You must reside in a participating state or territory
  • You must be seeking your first bachelor’s degree
  • You must begin at the University for the fall immediately following high school graduation
  • Available to all majors
  • No separate application

Academic qualifications

You must meet one of the following qualifications:

  • 3.25 unweighted cumulative grade point average (GPA) or
  • Minimum 24 ACT Composite (Students can request a superscore to be used by emailing WUE@unr.edu) or
  • Minimum 1160 SAT (Students can request a superscore to be used by emailing WUE@unr.edu)

Note: Test scores are not required for admission. Students may qualify for WUE based on just their GPA. 

How to receive WUE consideration

Eligible students will receive automatic consideration with a completed admissions file which includes the following:

  • Admissions application and application fee
  • Official transcript sent directly from school
  • Official test scores sent directly from test agency (test scores are optional for admission purposes)

University school codes:

  • ACT: 2494
  • SAT: 4844

How is WUE funding awarded?

WUE is a non-disbursable scholarship and is awarded in the form of a tuition discount. WUE tuition is calculated at a rate of 150% of the Â鶹ӳ»­ resident fee.

Students awarded WUE are notified via email two-to-three (2-3) business days after being admitted to the University or after a reconsideration request is processed. Copies of email notifications are also available in the student’s account under the “Communication Center.”

How to request for WUE reconsideration

The deadline to submit qualifying documentation and request reconsideration to wue@unr.edu is July 15. However, students are encouraged to submit updated transcripts and/or test scores as soon as they are available.

June 2025 is the last ACT and/or SAT exam administration the University will receive in time to meet the deadline.

Other important information about WUE

  • Students must meet the eligibility requirements prior to attending the University.
  • WUE qualified students are limited to four consecutive years while earning their first bachelor’s degree.
  • Freshman awarded WUE are not eligible for additional University general scholarships.
  • If WUE eligibility occurs after University general scholarship awarding, WUE Scholarship will replace initial scholarship offer.
  • Qualified WUE freshman may be eligible for Presidential or National Merit scholarship level consideration if they apply for admission and submit application documentation and FAFSA (or Institutional Methodology for Non-FAFSA Ineligible Students form) by February 1. 
  • WUE freshman are encouraged to live on-campus during their first year. Housing applications open November 15. For the best chance of being assigned to the residence hall of choice or with a requested roommate, please apply by February 1. A housing waitlist begins when applications exceed available housing spaces. 

Submit your admission application materials

Â鶹ӳ»­
Office of Admissions and Records
Mail Stop 0120
Reno, NV 89557

 

Transfer students

December 15, 2024 is the deadline to submit an application for Spring 2025 consideration. 
July 1, 2025 is the deadline to submit an application for Fall 2025 consideration. 

Want to know if you qualify in advance? Submit your unofficial transcripts and GPA, and you'll receive an instant review of your eligibility for WUE.

Eligibility

  • You must have a minimum of 24 transferable semester credits from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution within a participating state or territory
  • You must be seeking your first bachelor’s degree
  • Available to all majors
  • No separate application
  • Students are not eligible for WUE consideration after they begin taking classes at the Â鶹ӳ»­

Academic qualifications

To be considered, you must meet both of the following requirements:

  • Must have completed 24 transferable semester credits (does not include Advanced Placement or non-graded work) from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution within a participating location
  • A minimum 3.0 cumulative transfer GPA (does not include courses with Pass/Fail or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory designation)

A transfer GPA only takes into account grades from transferable credits. Visit our Transfer Center office for information about the transferability of courses. No test scores are needed.

How to receive WUE consideration

Eligible students will receive automatic consideration with a completed admissions file which includes the following:

How is WUE awarded?

WUE is a non-disbursable scholarship and is awarded in the form of a tuition discount. WUE tuition is calculated at a rate of 150% of the Â鶹ӳ»­ resident fee.

Students awarded WUE are notified via email two-to-three (2-3) business days after being admitted to the University (starting by late October) or after a reconsideration request is processed. Copies of email notifications are also available in the student’s account under the “Communication Center”

How to request for WUE reconsideration

The deadline to submit qualifying documentation and request reconsideration to wue@unr.edu is January 5, 2025 for Spring 2025 and July 1, 2025 for Fall 2025. However, students are encouraged to submit updated transcripts as soon as they are available.

Other important information about WUE

  • Students must meet the eligibility requirements prior to attending the University
  • WUE is limited to four consecutive years while students earn their first bachelor’s degree

Submit your admission application materials

Â鶹ӳ»­
Office of Admissions and Records
Mail Stop 0120
Reno, NV 89557

Important information to consider

  • Review cost estimates and fees. Current WUE and Pack Exchange undergraduate cost estimates are available online.
  • WUE and Pack Exchange are non-disbursable scholarships. While it is listed on the financial aid offer letter, the benefit is granted as non-resident reduced tuition, thereby charging qualified students substantially less. These scholarships will not be disbursed in addition to the discounted tuition.
  • Savings based on credits. Actual WUE or Pack Exchange tuition savings vary based on number of enrolled credits.
  • Fees are required. Mandatory fees are required for all students, regardless of residency status.
  • Cannot reclassify as a Â鶹ӳ»­ resident. Students may not be reclassified as a Â鶹ӳ»­ resident while receiving the benefits of WUE or Pack Exchange. Students may decline awarded program, pay full non-resident tuition for at least 12 months and apply for reclassification to Â鶹ӳ»­ resident status. Learn about becoming a Â鶹ӳ»­ resident and email mynevada@unr.edu for more information.
  • Students cannot be reconsidered for WUE/Pack Exchange once they begin taking classes at the University. Students who do not meet the minimum requirements by the deadline prior to taking classes are not eligible for reconsideration for these programs. Non-resident students paying out-of-state tuition may consider establishing Â鶹ӳ»­ residency as a financially independent student. Learn about becoming a Â鶹ӳ»­ resident and email mynevada@unr.edu for more information.
  • Subject to requirements. Students are subject to the requirements established for the semester in which they apply and attend the Â鶹ӳ»­.
  • Not responsible for 3rd-party information/materials. The Â鶹ӳ»­ is not responsible for information contained on 3rd party websites and/or promotional materials.
 

Frequently asked questions