The UNLV Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) scholarship may be offered to eligible incoming first-year and transfer students who reside in one of the following states or territories: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.

To qualify for the WUE scholarship, students must be admitted to UNLV. No special application is required, but students are strongly encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Alternate Need Form (ANF) to ensure consideration for any additional assistance that may be available.

WUE Value

Nonresident students are charged 150% of the in-state tuition rate. This is a tuition savings of several thousand dollars per year over the regular nonresident rate.

The estimated savings for full-time enrollment is approximately $13,018* per year. This amount varies based on enrollment as a per-credit tuition discount.

*The calculation represents an approximate scholarship amount where tuition and fees are based on 15 credits per semester and are for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Application Procedures

  • There is no application. The Financial Aid & Scholarships Office will review high school transcripts, test scores, transfer credits and transfer GPAs from the Admission's Office for eligibility. Priority consideration is based upon a first come, first considered basis up through July 1 of the upcoming school year.
  • No student should assume he or she will be receiving this scholarship until an official award notice has been received from the UNLV Financial Aid & Scholarships Office. Selected students will be notified of an award within his or her MyUNLV Communication Center.

New First-Year Student Initial Requirements

Students must:

  • Earn a 3.25 unweighted overall high school GPA, OR
  • 24 ACT score, OR
  • 1160 SAT score combined critical reading and math.
  • Enroll in at least 12 credits (full-time enrollment) in the fall and spring semesters (credit requirement does not apply to the summer terms)
  • Live in a UNLV residence hall during their first year.
    • Students must apply for traditional residence hall housing as defined by the Association of College and University Housing Officers for one of the following owned and operated UNLV residence halls:
      • Dayton Complex
      • Tonopah Complex
      • South Complex
      • Upper-Class Complex

New Transfer Student Initial Requirements

Students must:

  • Have fewer than 90 transfer credit hours
  • Have a 3.0 cumulative transfer GPA
  • Enroll in at least 12 credits (full-time enrollment) in the fall and spring semesters (credit requirement does not apply to the summer terms)
  • Be a transfer student starting in the fall semester

Renewability Requirements

Students must:

  • Be enrolled full-time in 12 credits or more with the exception of summer term enrollment
  • Maintain a 2.00 cumulative GPA
  • Complete their programs in a maximum of 135 credit hours, including AP credits/college credits earned while in high school

Additional Information 

  • Students receiving the WUE scholarship must disenroll from the WUE program and pay full nonresident tuition for at least 12 months to be reclassified as Nevada residents. To disenroll from the WUE program, students must submit a request through the Rebel Success Hub.

Residency Application Process Information

  • A student who does not live in the residence hall during their first year may forfeit scholarship eligibility.