Western University Exchange Tuition Reduction Program in Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences

DRAFT DOCUMENT - Undergraduate program not yet active; tentative launch Fall 2026 - Contact B. Ciancarelli for more information

The University of Arizona's Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences undergraduate program (B.S. in Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences), along with two other U of A majors (natural resources, mining), participates in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) tuition reduction program. 

The WUE was established in 1987 to make college more affordable and accessible to students in the West. Students residing in the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) region pay no more than 150% of the WUE institution’s resident tuition rate. Qualifying students must reside in one of the following states or territories: 

 
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, 
Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, 
Washington, Wyoming, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam  
 

Download (PDF) the list of WUE's participating colleges and universities: 

Eligibility

You must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the WUE tuition reduction program.

  • You must be a legal resident of a participating state or territory (see the list above).
  • You must be accepted for admission to the University of Arizona as:
    • A full-time student enrolled at the University of Arizona each semester (minimum 12 units per semester)
    • A declared Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences major
  • You must demonstrate that you are eligible to take at least MATH 120R Pre-Calculus or higher in order to be eligible to receive the WUE tuition discount. You can do that through the following methods:
  • To continue in the WUE program, you must show progress towards the Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences degree and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0

Important Rules for WUE Recipients

Participating in the WUE program supersedes and replaces any previous U of A merit tuition award offer, such as an Arizona Excellence award, a Phi Theta Kappa Tuition award, a National Scholar Award, etc. You forfeit your merit tuition award eligibility if you choose to receive the WUE tuition discount, and that merit tuition award WILL NOT be reinstated under any circumstances, including if you become ineligible to continue with the WUE discount.

You must not try to establish residency within Arizona while on WUE or you will owe the full amount of non-resident tuition.  Please see the FAQs Residency Classification tab below. 

Grounds for ineligibility - You will be ineligible to continue receiving the WUE discount if: 
  • You change your major out of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences or declare another major as your primary major unless that major is also WUE-eligible.
  • You do not take HAS-specific courses aligned with the Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences degree, including mathematics and sciences prerequisites.
  • You do not maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
  • You do not meet with your HAS advisor at least once per regular semester (Fall and Spring) AND enroll in the courses that were agreed upon. 

If you commit any of these violations during your enrollment at the University of Arizona, the WUE discount will be removed and you will be responsible for paying the full non-resident tuition costs. 

How to Apply

APPLY FOR WUE TUITION DISCOUNT

  • Submit your WUE application and declare or confirm Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences (HAS) as your major.
  • If your application is approved, you will be notified of your updated cost of tuition. You must acknowledge this cost for tuition before the HAS department can apply WUE status to your account.
  • You are required to meet with an advisor to review the Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences (HAS) major requirements and discuss the WUE renewal requirements before completing the WUE application process.
  • After the HAS advisor has reviewed the WUE requirements with you and processed your WUE application, you will be able to accept the WUE offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please consult the official WUE FAQ page and the Arizona Board of Regents WUE FAQ page or click on a tab below for more information.

  • You must add the major of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences - or add it as another major or degree with primary status – AND meet with a HAS advisor within approximately the first 9-10 days of the semester to start WUE tuition reduction during that same semester (as long as eligibility requirements have been confirmed through the application process) [link to be added later]. The deadline to add the WUE tuition benefit is the same as the "full refund deadline" each semester and can be confirmed on the U of A Registrar Dates and Deadlines webpage. If you declare the major after this deadline or do not get your WUE eligibility through the application confirmed in time, you must wait until the following semester to start the WUE tuition reduction program.
  • The HAS advisor will confirm your WUE eligibility and progress in the Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences major every semester during the week before the semester starts and every week up until the semester’s refund deadline. Any changes to WUE eligibility within that time will be reflected in your tuition immediately. Notification will be sent to you via official U of A email by the advisor and the residency office.
  • You are required to meet with your HAS advisor each semester during priority registration.  We will review academic progress in the major and release a registration hold to allow you to enroll in the courses discussed within this meeting. The advisor will evaluate your continuing WUE status based on the requirements.  If you become ineligible, the changes will be reflected in your tuition for that upcoming semester.
  • You must meet the 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA requirement to continue with the WUE discount. If you fall below that cumulative GPA requirement, you will have one semester to improve your cumulative GPA to this requirement.  If that is not achieved, then you will become ineligible for WUE and the discount will be revoked permanently.
  • You must make progress in the major, which entails enrolling in a minimum of 12 units per semester.  At least 50% of the courses must fulfill HAS major requirements (excluding General Education courses).  

  • Students in this program are required to meet with the HAS advisor each semester during the month before priority registration begins.
  • Students will have a registration hold on their account every semester. They must meet with the HAS advisor to review academic progress in the major and to remove the class registration hold. The advisor will evaluate a student's continuing WUE status based on the renewal requirements.
  • They must meet the 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA requirement and make progress in the major, which entails enrolling in a minimum of 12 units per semester (at least 50% from major requirements). The 50% rule includes students with double majors/dual degrees.
  • At the mandatory advising meeting, the student will review the recommended courses for the upcoming semester and plan future semester schedules as needed.

  • Estimated tuition rates and savings shown are from the most recent Tuition & Fees website for the upcoming academic year.
  • WUE is not part of the guaranteed tuition program; annual increases vary.
  • Fees are not included and are not discounted through WUE. Verify actual costs with the Bursar’s Office.  

  • Your time enrolled through the WUE program does not count toward building in-state residency.
  • Parent and spouse residency changes MAY allow you to obtain Arizona residency; otherwise, you must be removed from the WUE program for one year in order to apply for Arizona residency on your own.
  • If your parents have permanently moved to Arizona, you may be eligible for residency for the following semester (you or your parents do not need to be physically present in Arizona for 12 months under this exception) under the Dependent Exception Form (DEF form).
    • The student and parent(s) must provide all of the documentation listed on page 1 of the DEF form. Please review the form for details or contact the U of A Residency Classification office for more information.
    • Ownership of property in Arizona does not qualify you for residency for tuition purposes.

Contacts

Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences WUE Advisor

U of A Office of Residency Classification

Contact Beth Vlahos at: ecvlahos@arizona.edu

U of A Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid

Contact Meghan McKenney at: meghanr@arizona.edu