UNM Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship
Offered by The University of New Mexico
About this scholarship
The University of New Mexico Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship reduces nonresident tuition for eligible first-time freshmen from participating Western states and Pacific jurisdictions. Standard WUE recipients pay 150% of the New Mexico resident tuition rate rather than UNM’s full out-of-state rate. The central 2027–28 scholarship table estimates the annual benefit at $18,854, renewable for four years; the value may change with tuition. This is a tuition waiver, not cash, and does not by itself pay all housing, food, books, travel, or other attendance expenses. It is also a separate tier from WUE Plus, which has a higher academic threshold and reduces tuition to the resident rate. Eligible candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and legal residents of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Nevada, South Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau. Academic consideration requires either a 2.8 cumulative high school GPA or an 18 ACT / 960 SAT score. No separate WUE form is required: students submit the direct UNM undergraduate admission application and are considered through admission. UNM asks applicants to apply and be admitted by February 1. Renewal requires completing 15 new credits with at least a 2.5 GPA in each fall and spring semester.
Eligibility
- Apply for first-time freshman admission to The University of New Mexico
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Be a legal resident of an eligible WUE state or Pacific jurisdiction
- Have at least a 2.8 cumulative high school GPA or an 18 ACT / 960 SAT score
- Apply and be admitted by February 1 for best scholarship consideration
- Complete 15 new credit hours in each fall and spring semester for renewal
- Maintain at least a 2.5 GPA in each fall and spring semester for renewal