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 UA 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 - For continuation in the WUE program, you must:  
  • Declare Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences as your primary major if you are enrolled in a double major, a triple major, or a dual degree program.
  • Show progress toward earning the Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences degree by taking major-related courses and math prerequisites necessary for the Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences degree.
  • Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
  • Meet with your Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences Academic Advisor once per regular semester, Fall and Spring.
  • If you are not meeting the eligibility requirements at any time 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.

  • A student who changes their major to Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences or adds it as a second major within approximately the first 9-10 days of the semester can start WUE tuition reduction during that same semester if the eligibility requirements have been confirmed through the application process. The deadline to add the WUE tuition benefit is the same as the "full refund deadline" each semester and can be confirmed on the UA Registrar’s Dates and Deadlines webpage. After this deadline, the student must wait until the following semester to start the WUE tuition reduction program.
  • The HAS advisor will confirm the student's WUE eligibility and progress in the Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences major every semester during the week before the semester starts and the week after the semester ends. Any changes after the regular refund/drop deadline will be reflected in the next regular semester term. Notification will be sent by the advisor and the residency office.

  • 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.

WUE is not part of the guaranteed tuition program; annual increases vary.

  • 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 AZ 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 UA 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

UA Office of Residency Classification

Contact Beth Vlahos at: ecvlahos@arizona.edu

UA Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid

Contact Meghan McKenney at: meghanr@arizona.edu