After graduating from the arts academy, Wu enrolled in the Department of Theater Arts at Chinese Culture University. He was among the lucky first to enter university on the strength of previous training in traditional performing arts, rather than struggling for admission on the basis of academic test scores. He eventually impressed the dancer Lin Hwai-min, who recruited him into Cloud Gate Dance Theatre.
劇校畢業後，吳興國保送進入文化大學戲劇系，成為憑藉傳統劇藝進入學術殿堂的第一屆幸運兒；接著他又被舞蹈家林懷民相中，進入雲門舞集，隨團出訪各國，大大開了眼界。