Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
What is WUE?
If you are not a resident of Colorado but live in the western United States or in select jurisdictions of the U.S. Pacific islands, you may be eligible for a significant reduction in tuition through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) award. A WUE award is 150% of Colorado resident base tuition.
Simply put: You could save about $11,500* per year (or more, depending on your GPA). That could be about $46,000* in savings over the course of four years.
*Please note that the WUE costs and savings listed here are an estimate based off 2025-2026 academic year’s tuition and fees, for a student living on campus. The actual cost will be updated after Colorado State University sets tuition and fees for the upcoming, 2026-2027 academic year. This typically happens in June, following approval by the Board of Governors of the CSU System.
Awards paired with WUE for incoming freshmen
Rocky Mountain Scholar Award
Incoming freshmen who receive WUE and have a GPA of 3.8 and above are also eligible to receive the Rocky Mountain Scholar Award! It can be renewed as long as the WUE scholarship requirements continue to be met.
- For students with a GPA of 4.0 and higher, the award provides an additional $5,500 per year, divided between the the fall and spring semesters.
- For students with a GPA between 3.8-3.99, the award provides an additional $1,500 per year, divided between the the fall and spring semesters.
Wyoming Scholar Award
The Wyoming Scholar Award allows eligible Wyoming students to attend CSU at CSU’s in-state tuition rate! Incoming freshmen who receive WUE and have a GPA of 3.8 or higher will be offered this award. It can be renewed as long as the WUE scholarship requirements continue to be met.
Eligible locations
U.S. Pacific Islands: American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau
How do you apply?
We only need your application for admission to CSU. No separate application needed.
Cost comparison*
| Colorado residents | Nonresidents | WUE residents | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time tuition and general fees | $13,774 | $36,113 | $24,614 |
| Other estimated costs | $21,945 | $22,986 | $23,106 |
| Total estimated cost of attendance | $35,722 | $59,099 | $47,720 |
Freshmen WUE eligibility
To be considered, you must:
- Be seeking a degree through CSU’s main campus (not CSU Online) AND
- Be a resident of a WUE-eligible state or territory AND
- Demonstrate a GPA of 3.2 or above. Your highest cumulative GPA, whether it is weighted or unweighted, will be considered for scholarship purposes. Please note: If your GPA (whether weighted or unweighted) is reported on a scale other than 4.0, we will convert or recalculate to a 4.0 scale. AND
- Submit an application for admission by:
- January 15 for a fall semester start. Your application must be complete by March, including any new transcripts that could strengthen your scholarship eligibility.
- November 1 for a spring semester start. Your application must be complete by December, including any new transcripts that could strengthen your scholarship eligibility.
Transfer WUE eligibility
To be considered, you must:
- Be seeking a degree through CSU’s main campus (not CSU Online) AND
- Be a resident of a WUE-eligible state or territory AND
- Submit a complete application for admission by June 1 for fall semester or November 1 for spring semester. If a student starts classes in summer, the scholarship can’t be used until fall semester.
- Have a cumulative college GPA of a 3.0 or higher with at least one semester of college completed
- Transfer to CSU with at least 15 college-level credits
Get full details for freshmen
Learn more about the WUE award and other CSU scholarships for freshman students.
Get full details for transfers
Learn more about the WUE award and other CSU scholarships for transfer students.