Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

Non-Resident Tuition Discount

SJSU offers the WUE program (pronounced "woo-wee") to new students who want to engage in hands-on learning experiences in the heart of innovation.

The WUE program is an option for residents of participating Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) states to pay tuition fees at 150% of the regular California resident tuition rate.

Members of WICHE include:

  • Alaska 
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Montana
  • Nevada
  • New Mexico
  • North Dakota
  • Oregon
  • South Dakota
  • Utah
  • Washington
  • Wyoming

Residents of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) are also eligible to receive the special WUE tuition rate.

Attending SJSU through the WUE programs provides new Spartans with a more affordable path to obtain a degree from a truly transformative university.

Available Majors

List of WUE-eligible SJSU majors

Advertising

African American Studies

Anthropology

Applied Mathematics - Applied and Computational

Art - Digital Media Art

Art - Photography

Art - Pictorial Arts

Art - Spatial Arts

Art - Studio Practice

Art - Studio Practice - Preparing for Teaching

Art History and Visual Culture

Asian American Studies

Behavioral Science

Biological Sciences - Microbiology

Biological Sciences - Molecular Biology

Biological Sciences - Systems Physiology

Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical Engineering (SAGE - Combined BS and MS)

Business Administration - Accounting Info Systems

Business Administration - Corporate Accounting & Finance

Business Administration - General Business∇

Business Administration - Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management

Business Administration - Human Resource Management

Business Administration - International Business

Business Administration - Operations and Supply Chain Management

Chemical Engineering

Chemistry - Biochemistry

Chemistry (BA)

Chemistry (BS)

Chicana and Chicano Studies

Child and Adolescent Development

Child and Adolescent Development (SAGE - Combined BA and Multi-Subject Credential)

Child and Adolescent Development - Preparation for Teaching

Child and Adolescent Development - Preparation for Teaching (SAGE - Combined BA and MA)

Chinese

Civil Engineering

Climate Science

Communicative Disorders and Sciences

Composition

Computer Science and Linguistics

Creative Arts

Dance (BA)

Dance (BFA)

Data Science

Earth System Science 

Ecology and Evolution

Economics (BA)

Economics (BS)

Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering (SAGE - Combined BS and MS)

Engineering Technology - Computer Network System Management

Engineering Technology - Manufacturing Systems

English

English - Creative Writing

English - Preparation for Teaching

English - Professional and Technical Writing

Environmental Studies (BA)

Environmental Studies (BS)

French

Geographic Information Science

Geography

Geology

Global Studies

Graphic Design∇

History

Humanities - American Studies

Humanities - Liberal Arts

Humanities - Religious Studies

Industrial & Systems Engineering

Industrial & Systems Engineering (SAGE - Combined BS and MS)

Industrial Design∇

Information Science & Data Analytics (First-Time First Year Only)

Interdisciplinary Engineering

Interior Design∇

Japanese

Jazz Studies

Journalism

Kinesiology - Preparation for Teaching

Liberal Studies - Integrated Teacher Education Program

Liberal Studies - Integrated Teacher Education Program, Spanish Bilingual 

Liberal Studies - Preparation for Teaching

Liberal Studies - Preparation for Teaching (SAGE - Combined BA and Multi-Subject Credential)

Liberal Studies - Teacher Prep, Spanish Bilingual (SAGE - Combined BA and Multi-Subject Credential)

Linguistics

Marine Biology

Materials Engineering

Mathematics

Mathematics - Integrated Teacher Education Program

Meteorology

Music

Music Education

Nursing

Nutritional Science - Applied Nutrition and Food Sciences

Nutritional Science - Dietetics

Nutritional Science - Food Management

Packaging

Performance

Philosophy

Physics - Preparation for Teaching

Physics (BA)

Physics (BS)

Political Science

Public Health - Community Health Education

Public Health - Population Data Science

Public Relations

Radio-Television-Film

Social Science - Preparation for Teaching

Social Work

Spanish

Statistics

Theatre Arts

Undeclared - Pre-Nursing

Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

∇Majors with this symbol are not available for direct applications through Cal State Apply. Applicants to these majors will not be eligible for WUE until they have met department specific requirements for change of major.

Eligibility Requirements

New undergraduate students enrolling at SJSU for the first time Fall 2025 may apply for WUE if they meet the following requirements:

First Time/First Year (Freshman)

Freshman applicants must meet the non-CA resident CSU and SJSU admission requirements.   

Upper Division Transfer

Upper Division Transfer applicants must meet CSU and SJSU admission requirements.

Additional Requirements

  • The WUE Program is only open to U.S. Citizens and non-citizens legally present in the United States. Students planning to study at SJSU with an F or J visa type will not be eligible for the WUE program.
  • Students pursuing a second bachelor’s degree, credential, master’s, doctoral, or Extended University program are not eligible to participate in WUE.  
  • WUE students are not eligible for California resident tuition. Students cannot apply time accrued while participating in the WUE program to establish California residency.  

Applying for SJSU's WUE Program

  • Submit an application for admission to SJSU at Cal State Apply. You must apply to one of the SJSU Majors accepting WUE students to be considered for the WUE program.
  • After admission to SJSU, we will provide information about the WUE application process directly via MySJSU.

Maintaining WUE Status

  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress
  • Be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student
  • Maintain non-residency status of California for tuition purposes
  • Maintain full-time enrollment (at least 12 units) each fall and spring semester and maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative institutional GPA

Program Duration

  • First-time freshmen can receive the WUE award for 4 years
  • Transfer students can receive the WUE award for 2 years

Cost of Tuition (2025-2026)

Tuition Type Tuition & Fees Total
Resident Tuition $6,838 (tuition) + $2,326 (fees) $9,234
Non-Resident Tuition $9,234 (tuition) + $11,304* $20,538
WUE Tuition** $10,257 (tuition) + $2,326 (fees) $12,653
*Non-resident tuition is an additional $471/unit.
**WUE tuition and fees are 150% of resident tuition.

 

WUE Program FAQs

Who is considered for the WUE Program?

Applicants from the following states and territories participate in the WUE: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

How do I know if I am selected for the WUE Program?

Students will be notified via MySJSU if they have been selected.

What if it takes me more than two years (transfer students)/4 years (first time first year student) to graduate?

The WUE program will be given up to two years for transfer students and up to four years for first time freshmen. If graduation requirements cannot be met in that time frame, the student will have to pay non-resident tuition for any semesters after their allotted two or four years.

What if I want to become a California resident for tuition purposes?

To continue to qualify for the WUE program, students must maintain non-resident status. While participating in WUE, students are not eligible for California resident tuition. Students cannot apply time accrued while participating in the WUE program to establish California residency.

Will I need to reapply for WUE each year?

No, the WUE tuition is good for four years or until you graduate, whichever comes first. You do not need to reapply for the WUE scholarship for each of those four years you attend SJSU. However, if you leave the University and do not complete a planned educational leave form, you would need to reapply to the WUE program when you reapply to the University.

I am a current SJSU student and a resident of one of the participating states for WUE. Am I still eligible to apply?

No. You must apply for the WUE program before the start of your first semester. Current SJSU students are not eligible to apply for WUE.

Are WUE scholarships awarded to an unlimited number of students each year?

No. A limited number of WUE awards will be available each application term. 

If I am accepted to WUE, can I change my major later?

The answer to this question depends on your new major:

If your new major is also an approved WUE major for your admission term, then you will still be eligible for the WUE program.


If your new major is not an approved WUE major for your admission term, then you will no longer be eligible for the WUE program. Note that in this case, your request to change your major will only be approved if you have at least two semesters remaining to graduate.