Non-resident Transfer Student Scholarships
Transfer students are students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree and have 14 or more semester credits (21 quarter credits) completed after high school.
Learn About WUE for Incoming Freshmen
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is a tuition waiver for qualified new, first-time freshmen and transfer students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree in Fall 2025 or Spring 2026 who meet the specific criteria listed below. Instead of paying full out-of-state tuition, WUE students pay in-state tuition plus 50%, resulting in a savings of approximately $16,000 for the 2025-26 academic year. That’s nearly $64,000 in value over the course of four years!
This waiver is renewable for up to four years for first-year recipients with a minimum University of Idaho GPA of 2.5. For transfer students, the award is renewable up to three additional years, depending on the number of transfer credits, with a minimum University of Idaho GPA of 2.5.
WUE states include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Palau, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).
If you are:
- A new, first-time freshman/transfer admitted to University of Idaho
- Pursuing your first bachelor's degree
- A resident of a WUE participating state
- Enrolled full-time (minimum of 12 credits)
Then, you are automatically eligible to receive the WUE waiver when filling out an application for admission. There is no separate application for the WUE waiver, and there is no deadline for completing the admission application. You receive automatic consideration upon applying.
This waiver will be available up to a total of four years by maintaining continuous, full-time enrollment and a 2.5 cumulative U of I GPA.
The Invitation to Idaho is a tuition waiver for qualified new, first-time freshmen and transfer students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree in Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 who meet the specific criteria listed below. The waiver results in savings of nearly $16,000 for the 25-26 academic year.
Non-resident students will notice a full in-state and non-resident charge for applicable tuition and fees each semester. Once a student is enrolled full-time, they will see their waiver applied towards their billing statement each semester. Fall term bills will be sent via email in late July, annually; spring term bills will be sent via email on or around January 2, annually.
To be eligible you must:
- Be a resident of a non-WUE state or an international student
- Be a new, first-time freshman admitted to University of Idaho
- Be pursuing your first bachelor's degree
- Have an incoming GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Be enrolled full-time (minimum of 12 credits)
There is no separate application for the Invitation to Idaho waiver. If you meet the requirements, you are automatically eligible to receive the waiver when you apply for admission to the university. Also, there is no deadline for completing the admission application.
- The waiver is renewable for up to four years of undergraduate enrollment for first-year recipients with a 2.5 minimum University of Idaho cumulative GPA.
- For transfer students, the award is renewable for up to three additional years, depending on the number of transfer credits, with a minimum University of Idaho GPA of 2.5.
Take advantage of external resources such as non-University of Idaho specific scholarships. It pays to search and apply. Any extra resource you bring in can help pay for the great education offered at the U of I.
Although you are automatically considered for any university-based scholarships for which you are eligible, we highly recommend that you consider additional sources of funding. Speak with your guidance counselor and check with family employers, credit unions, churches and other community organizations to see if they offer scholarships. Financial aid has a resource center located inside the financial aid office in The Pitman Center. You will find documents relating to other aid options, including a large list of outside scholarships. You may also find some of the following links helpful.
Military Sources
The United States Air Force, Army, and Navy offer a suite of government scholarships to students who participate in their ROTC programs. For more information and details, contact U of I’s Military and Veteran Services Office.
Search Engines
- Fast Web - Free online scholarship search
- College Board Scholarship Search - Free version of the FUND FINDER scholarship database
- SuperCollege - Free database of scholarships and grants
- GoCollege - Guide to free money
- Student Scholarships - Scholarship database
- College Scholarships - Free scholarship search
- Peterson's - Find the right scholarship, grant, or award for you
ScholarshipUniverse
ScholarshipUniverse - ScholarshipUniverse makes it easier to find scholarships. By answering a few questions, they are able to locate awards that match up with you. The ScholarshipUniverse dashboard also provides a quick and convenient way to keep up with upcoming application deadlines.
Scholarship Scam Alert
Scholarship Scam Alert - Not everyone is trying to help. Beware of requests for payment when requesting information about receiving money for education.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.