Student Finance

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Policy

Portland State University participates in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Program which reduces the cost of tuition for qualified incoming first-year and transfer students. Applicants who qualify for Western Undergraduate Exchange pay a reduced tuition rate equal to 150% of resident tuition. All applicants are automatically considered for WUE upon admission at the undergraduate level.

The Western Undergraduate Exchange tuition rate is applied during all academic terms (fall, winter, spring, summer) for up to 225 total attempted credit hours, or the completion of graduation requirements. There is no limit to the number of credit hours that may be discounted by WUE each term.

The Western Undergraduate Exchange Program does not cover costs associated with any of the following: 

  • Books and Supplies
  • Food and Housing
  • Personal Expenses
  • Transportation
  • Tuition, fees, or services associated with study abroad 

WUE cannot be combined with the Out-of-State Opportunity Scholarship or talent scholarships, and it may not be used concurrently, or in alternating fashion, with the Washington Border Discount. Postbaccalaureate, graduate, and re-enrolling students are not eligible for WUE.

Deadlines

For fall term, all applicants (including transfers) must apply and submit documentation by the first year application deadline to qualify for WUE. For all other terms, students must apply and submit all required documentation by the application and document deadlines for that term.

To qualify for WUE, students must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Current legal resident of one of the following states or territories: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), or the Republic of Palau.
    1. Applicants who are claimed as dependents for tax purposes and who are legal residents of a WUE state or territory will be considered for WUE if they move to Oregon without their legal guardian and do not establish Oregon residency. Time spent using WUE cannot count toward establishing Oregon residency. Refer to Portland State’s Residency Standards for more information.
    2. Applicants who are claimed as dependents for tax purposes and who are legal residents of a WUE state or territory will be considered for WUE if they move to Oregon with their legal guardian(s) and their legal guardian(s) have not yet established Oregon residency. Once their legal guardian(s) establish(es) Oregon residency, it is the responsibility of the student to work with the PSU Residency Officer to apply for residency for tuition purposes. 
    3. Applicants who are independent for tax purposes and who are legal residents of a WUE state or territory will be considered for WUE if they have not yet established Oregon residency. 
    4. Applicants who temporarily reside outside of a WUE state or territory of which they are a legal resident may still be considered for WUE. It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide the Office of Undergraduate Admissions with documentation reaffirming their residence in a WUE state or territory by the admission documents deadline for their intended start term.
  2. Meet PSU's academic requirements for WUE: First-year Academic Requirements: 3.0 cumulative unweighted high school GPA OR 1270 SAT OR 27 ACT composite. Transfer Academic Requirements: 3.0 cumulative transferable college GPA.
    1. An applicant’s student type (i.e. first-year or transfer) is determined at the point of admission and will inform which academic requirements must be satisfied for WUE eligibility. 
    2. It is the applicant’s responsibility to demonstrate that they meet the academic criteria by providing their official academic records to the university by the admission documents deadline for their intended start term. 
    3. PSU does not superscore SAT or ACT test scores (a superscore is the sum of an applicant’s highest test results from different test dates). Qualifying test scores must be from the same test date.
    4. Portland State’s course repeat policy takes into account coursework from other accredited colleges and universities and is applied when calculating an applicant’s GPA for the purpose of admission. 
    5. Applicants who are homeschooled, or who have earned a GED, may qualify by meeting the aforementioned SAT or ACT score minimums. Applicants who attended an accredited school that does not confer traditional grades must request communication be sent directly from their institution's Registrar to <admissions@pdx.edu> stating an official cumulative GPA. Transcripts containing "keys" to calculate an official GPA are insufficient; the conferring institution must communicate a student's official GPA directly to PSU. It is the applicant's responsibility to request this communication. 
    6. Applicants who take an approved gap year prior to enrolling at Portland State may receive the WUE tuition rate upon enrollment so long as they continue to meet all WUE eligibility criteria.
  3. Be admitted to and enroll at PSU as a first-time student.
    1. If an applicant qualifies for WUE but does not enroll in coursework during their intended start term, their eligibility for the WUE tuition rate will be rescinded. The applicant may be considered for WUE in future terms if they change their start term, qualify for a gap year deferral, or re-apply at a later date.
      1. Co-admitted students who qualify for WUE, but who do not matriculate at Portland State during their intended start term will retain WUE eligibility.
    2. Student-athletes who are required to report to campus prior to their intended start term per NCAA regulations may still qualify for WUE.
  4. Applicants with college level coursework must have less than 225 total attempted credits.
  5. Co-enrolled students are only considered for WUE if PSU is their “Home” institution for Financial Aid purposes.
  6. There are no academic major restrictions on Western Undergraduate Exchange at Portland State.
  7. WUE cannot be reinstated once it is lost.

Awarding Process

Applicants are automatically considered for WUE upon admission to the university. Initial notification of eligibility will be sent to the email address provided on one’s application for admission. The WUE tuition rate is also visible on an eligible student’s financial aid offer letter in the Financial Aid Dashboard. Initial award amounts are calculated at 16 credit hours per term and are finalized at the end of the second week of the term when course registration closes.

Accepting and Receiving WUE

WUE eligibility is finalized based on documentation submitted to the Undergraduate Office of Admissions prior to enrollment at PSU. In order to receive the WUE tuition rate students must do the following:

  • Maintain eligibility between initial awarding and submission of any final admissions and financial aid documents.
  • Submit any outstanding academic records by the WUE documents deadline associated with one’s intended start term.
  • Submit enrollment deposit and/or enrollment confirmation form to PSU by the enrollment confirmation deadline for one’s intended start term.

Maintaining WUE

The WUE tuition rate is automatically applied to student accounts before the beginning of each term provided recipients meet the criteria listed below. Failure to meet any of these requirements may result in the forfeiture of WUE:

  • Maintain status as a nonresident undergraduate student.
  • Remain below 225 total attempted credits across all institutions attended.
  • If circumstances require an enrolled student to be away from PSU for a term or more, and they have previously maintained PSU’s Satisfactory Academic Progress, they will retain their eligibility to receive the WUE tuition rate upon re-enrollment.
  • Keep address current and updated in their student account.

Effective fall term 2023. View prior WUE policy.