Western Undergraduate Exchange Program

California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) is a participating member of the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), a program of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE).

Through WUE, students in the western states and two U.S. insular areas have the opportunity to further the education, with reduced tuition fees equivalent to no more than 150% of the institution regular resident rate.

Eligible States

To receive the WUE tuition rate at CSUB, an admitted student must be a resident of one of the following states or U.S. insular areas: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and Guam. Only undergraduate students can receive WUE fees.

WUE Admissions Requirements

WUE applicants must meet all CSU admissions requirements for out-of-state residents and be admissible as a full-time student at CSUB.

First-Time Freshman Admissions Requirements

  • Have or will have graduated from high school within a WUE state
  • Meet the minimum GPA requirement for non-California residents of a 3.00 GPA or higher in 10th – 12th grade A-G courses
  • Have or will have completed the 15-unit comprehensive "A-G pattern with a grade of C or better by high school graduation

Upper Division Transfer Admissions Requirements

  • Have completed 60 or more transferable semester units (90 quarter units)
  • Have a 2.4 or better transferable GPA
  • In good standing at the last institution attended
  • Have completed or plan to complete prior to transfer at least 30 semester units (45 quarter units) of courses equivalent to general education requirements with a grade of C- or better, including courses in written communication, oral communication, critical thinking, (CSU GE Category A) and mathematics/quantitative reasoning (CSU GE Category B4)

Undergraduate Majors Eligible

WUE participants may select any undergraduate major offered by CSUB with the exception of Pre-Health or Nursing and receive the WUE tuition rate. Students wishing to major in Nursing are not eligible for WUE. Explore CSUB majors and options.

Conditions for Enrollment

WUE students are not eligible for California resident tuition. Students cannot apply time accrued while participating in the WUE program to establish California residency. Students may receive the WUE tuition rate for 6 years or until the completion of the bachelor's degree, whichever comes first.

Maintain WUE Status

You must maintain full-time status of 12 units or more while enrolled each term at CSUB (except Summer). You must remain in good academic standing, achieving at least a 2.0 GPA each term while in the WUE program. If you wish to change your residency, you will have to stop participating in the WUE program for a minimum of one year and meet the requirements for reclassification as a CA resident.

How to Apply

Take these steps to apply to participate in the WUE program:

  1. Apply for admission to CSUB via the Cal State Apply online application.
  2. Follow the instructions on the WUE Contract Form and submit the form to residency@csub.edu.
Western Undergraduate Exchange Contract

Directions for Submitting Documentation

Please email the WUE Contract and all supporting documents to residency@csub.edu or documents may be mailed or delivered in person to:

CSU Bakersfield
Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 47SA
9001 Stockdale Highway
Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact us via email at residency@csub.edu or by phone at (661) 654-3007.

What Happens Next?

  1. After the WUE contract form is received, a reply will be sent to you from our WUE Admissions Specialist informing you of the status of your application within 10 business days.
  2. After you are provisionally admitted to CSUB, we will apply the WUE savings rate to your CSUB student financial account.
  3. Maintain your WUE status by enrolling full time (at least 12 units in each fall and spring semester) and remaining in good academic standing during your CSUB studies.

WUE Q&A

You will be notified by email after the Office of Undergraduate Admissions reviews your final transcripts and determines that you meet the WUE eligibility requirements.
No, the WUE tuition is good for six years or until you graduate, whichever comes first. You do not need to reapply for the WUE program for each of those six years you attend CSUB. However, if you leave the University for more than one year, you would need to reapply to the program when you reapply to the University.
Pre-Health and Nursing majors are NOT covered under the WUE agreement.
WUE recipients must notify the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in writing with intent to withdraw from the program. Once you are granted a withdrawal from the program, you will then be able to start accruing time towards establishing California residency. Students cannot apply time accrued while participating in the WUE program to establish California residency.