UW Makes New Financial Aid Commitments to Transfer Students Beginning This Fall

Beginning this fall, the University of Wyoming will make transferring easier and more affordable than ever with the addition of the Wyoming Transfer Commitment and the Pokes Transfer Commitment. The transfer financial pledges are for new first-time transfer students.  

The Wyoming Transfer and Pokes Transfer commitments now serve both Wyoming resident transfer students and out-of-state transfer students with a 3.0 GPA or higher and at least 12 post-high school graduation credits, says Wendi Vanlandingham, UW’s director of transfer relations.

The two new financial commitments are for first-time transfer students seeking their first bachelor’s degree. All 12 transfer credits must be completed post-high school, and a GPA is only calculated by grades earned in credits previously taken at past institutions. A $40 application fee will be administered for the application.

“Students are not required to have already earned their associate degree. In many ways, this serves both the student and our community college partners,” Vanlandingham says. “If a student decides to transfer before completing their associate degree, the student can be considered for a commitment, and the community college may still benefit if the student participates in the reverse-transfer program, which is an opportunity to transfer coursework from UW back to the community college and be awarded an associate degree.”

The two new transfer commitments are designed to recognize those students who intend to transfer to UW and provide them with some scholarship assistance, says Kyle Moore, vice provost for enrollment management.

“Our community college partners do a really great job of preparing students for transfer -- we want those students to choose UW,” he says.

The steps to UW’s transfer application process are: Complete a pre-transfer credit evaluation; fill out an application; and submit an official transcript. The financial aid is awarded upon admission.

“All financial pledge opportunities are based on the students’ achievements at the time of admission,” Vanlandingham says. “To make the transfer process easier, students can connect with an admissions counselor or hear from transfer students just like them.”

The Wyoming Transfer Commitment is for in-state students to help achieve the goal of finalizing their degrees and to help the students know that it is not out of reach, she adds. It is a financial pledge that benefits incoming students who transfer to UW. Requirements include a minimum 3.0 GPA, along with 12 transfer credits.

Wyoming Transfer Commitment award levels range between $1,000 and $3,000 annually. They are generously funded by UW Foundation donors and institutional aid.

For more information about the Wyoming Transfer Commitment, visit the website here.

The Pokes Transfer Commitment is for out-of-state students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher as well as 12 transfer credits. This commitment is a merit-based financial pledge determined by a student’s cumulative transfer GPA.

None of this would be possible without the generosity of UW Foundation donors and institutional aid, Vanlandingham says. Award levels vary between $2,000 and $6,000 annually, depending on a student’s cumulative transfer GPA. The commitment can be renewed for up to six semesters.

For more information about the Pokes Transfer Commitment, visit the website here.

The new commitments were approved by UW’s Board of Trustees as part of the university’s financial aid strategy for 2023-24.

For information not available on the websites, call UW’s Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at (307) 766-2116.