Paying for Western Carolina University

	In-State	Out-of-State
2024 Undergraduate Tuition & Fee	$4,532 1.77%	$8,532 0.93%
2024 Graduate Tuition & Fee	$7,778 2.80%	$18,497 2.92%

The 2024 tuition & fees of Western Carolina University (Western Carolina) are $4,532 for North Carolina residents and $8,532 for out-of-state students. Its tuition & fees is much lower than the average amount for similar schools' tuition of $19,547 based on out-of-state tuition rate. Its tuition & fees has not risen since 2020 at Western Carolina.

96% of enrolled undergraduate students have received grants or scholarships and the average aid amount is $4,444. It could cover 52.09% of full tuition amount. After receiving the financial aid, the net price is $15,875 for North Carolina residents and $19,875 for out-of-state students including tuition, fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs.

Western Carolina's 4-year tuition is $18,754 for North Carolina residents and $34,750 for out-of-state students, based on current tuition and change rate. The estimated 4-year COA including living costs and personal expenses is $84,955 for North Carolina residents and $100,951 for out-of-state students.

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Tuition, Fees, Living Costs, and Cost of Attendance (COA)

Undergraduate Program Tuition & Fees

For the academic year 2023-2024, the undergraduate tuition & fees at Western Carolina University is $4,532 for North Carolina residents and $8,532 for out-of-state students. It has been risen by 1.77% for North Carolina residents and increased by 0.93% for out-of-state rates compared to the previous year. Its in-state undergraduate tuition & fees is much lower than the average amount ($10,123) and its out-of-state undergraduate tuition & fees is much lower than the average amount for similar schools' tuition of $19,547.

The 2025 estimated undergraduate tuition & fees of Western Carolina is $4,612 for North Carolina residents and $8,612 for out-of-state students, a 0.9% increase compared to 2024's rate.

Western Carolina Undergraduate Tuition & Fees
Year	In-State	Out-of-State	On Campus Room & Board, Other Expenses
2022-2023	$4,453	$8,453	$14,224
2023-2024	$4,532	$8,532	$15,094
Change % 2023-2024	1.77%	0.93%	6.12%
2024-2025	$4,612	$8,612	$16,017

Graduate Program Tuition & Fees

For graduate programs, the in-state graduate tuition & fees is $7,778 and out-of-state tuition & fees is $18,497. Its in-state graduate tuition & fees is lower than the average amount ($10,588) and its out-of-state graduate tuition & fees is around the average amount for similar schools' tuition of $18,149.

The 2025 estimated tuition & fees at Western Carolina is $7,996 for North Carolina residents and $19,036 for out-of-state students , a 2.9% increase compared to 2024's rate.

Western Carolina Graduate Tuition & Fees
Year	In-State	Out-of-State	On Campus Room & Board, Other Expenses
2022-2023	$7,566	$17,973	$14,224
2023-2024	$7,778	$18,497	$15,094
Change % 2023-2024	2.80%	2.92%	6.12%
2024-2025	$7,996	$19,036	$16,017

Cost Per Credit Hour

The below table describes the cost per credit hour for part-time students and/or full-time students who take additional courses more than regular credit hours at Western Carolina. The undergraduate cost per credit hour is $184 for North Carolina residents and $340 for out-of-state students. The graduate tuition per credit hour is $442 for North Carolina residents and $1,260 for out-of-state students.

Per Credit Hour Charge (2023-2024)
	Year	In-State	Out-of-State
Undergraduate	2022-2023	$181	$341
	2023-2024	$184	$340
	2024-2025	$187	$339
Graduate	2022-2023	$429	$1,240
	2023-2024	$442	$1,260
	2024-2025	$455	$1,280

Cost of Attendance with Living Costs and Books & Supplies

The living costs including for room, board, transpiration, and other personal expenses is $15,094 for year 2024. The on-campus living costs increased by 6.12% compared to the previous year. The off-campus living costs increased by 3.55% compared to the previous year.

The Western Carolina's 2024 on-campus COA is $20,319 for state residents and $24,319 for out-of-state students. The off-campus COA is $20,877 for state residents and $24,877 for out-of-state students.

2024 Cost of Attendance (COA) At Western Carolina
	On-Campus	Off Campus
Tuition & Fees (In-State)	$4,532
Tuition & Fees (Out-of-State)	$8,532
Room & Board	$11,764	$12,322
Personal Expenses	$3,330	$3,330
Books & Supplies	$693
COA (In-State)	$20,319	$20,877
COA (Out-of-State)	$24,319	$24,877

Data source: IPEDS (integrated Postsecondary Education Dta System)

Updated with 2023-2024 tuition (Last update: 03/01/2024)

Cost estimates for 2024-2025 are based on last year's rate of change.

Western Carolina Tuition Charts

The following charts visualize tuition, fees, living costs, and other expenses at Western Carolina. You can enlarge the chart to view detailed information.

4-Years Costs of Attendance

How Much is the tuition for 4 years at Western Carolina?

For the entering class 2024, the estimated tuition for 4 years at Western Carolina is $18,754 for North Carolina residents and $34,750 for out-of-state students.

Since the tuition & fees at Western Carolina University have risen very slightly (very lower than national average) over the last 4 years, the actual costs may differ from the estimation based on the school or University system's new tuition policy.

The estimation excludes the book, supplies, and living costs before receiving any financial aid. See the other tabs for estimating 4-year total costs of attendance and after financial aid. The next table shows the estimated 4-years tuition & fees for the next 5 admission years. The estimation is based on 4-years changes in tuition & fees at the school.

Western Carolina 4 Years Tuition & Fees Estimates
	Residency	Freshmen	Sophomore	Junior	Senior	4 Years Total
Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024)	In-State	$4,594	$4,656	$4,720	$4,784	$18,754
Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024)	Out-of-State	$8,594	$8,656	$8,719	$8,782	$34,750
Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025)	In-State	$4,656	$4,720	$4,784	$4,849	$19,010
Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025)	Out-of-State	$8,656	$8,719	$8,782	$8,845	$35,001
Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026)	In-State	$4,720	$4,784	$4,849	$4,915	$19,269
Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026)	Out-of-State	$8,719	$8,782	$8,845	$8,909	$35,255
Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027)	In-State	$4,784	$4,849	$4,915	$4,982	$19,531
Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027)	Out-of-State	$8,782	$8,845	$8,909	$8,974	$35,510
Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028)	In-State	$4,849	$4,915	$4,982	$5,050	$19,797
Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028)	Out-of-State	$8,845	$8,909	$8,974	$9,039	$35,767

COA including Books, Living Costs and Personal Expenses

The table shows the 4-years estimation of total costs of attendance (COA). It includes the tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, room & board charges, and other living expenses.

For the students who were admitted in Fall 2024, the estimated 4-years COA is $84,955 for North Carolina residents and $100,951 for out-of-state students.

Western Carolina 4 Years COA
	Residency	Freshmen	Sophomore	Junior	Senior	4 Years Total
Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024)	In-State	$20,680	$21,048	$21,402	$21,763	$84,955
Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024)	Out-of-State	$24,680	$25,048	$25,421	$25,802	$100,951
Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025)	In-State	$21,048	$21,423	$21,783	$22,150	$86,467
Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025)	Out-of-State	$25,048	$25,421	$25,802	$26,188	$102,459
Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026)	In-State	$21,423	$21,804	$22,171	$22,544	$88,007
Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026)	Out-of-State	$25,421	$25,802	$26,188	$26,582	$103,993
Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027)	In-State	$21,804	$22,192	$22,566	$22,946	$89,574
Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027)	Out-of-State	$25,802	$26,188	$26,582	$26,982	$105,553
Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028)	In-State	$22,192	$22,588	$22,968	$23,354	$91,171
Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028)	Out-of-State	$26,188	$26,582	$26,982	$27,389	$107,140

Actual COA after Receiving Financial Aid

Last year, 96% of enrolled undergraduate students have received grants or scholarship aid. It includes any financial aid from the federal government, state, local, institute, and other sources known by the institution. It excludes federal/private student loans.

After receiving the financial aid, the net price for 4 years of attending the school is $67,179 for North Carolina residents and $83,175 for out-of-state students.

Western Carolina 4 Years COA after Receiving Financial Aid
	Residency	Freshmen	Sophomore	Junior	Senior	4 Years Total
Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024)	In-State	$16,236	$16,604	$16,958	$17,319	$67,179
Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024)	Out-of-State	$20,236	$20,604	$20,977	$21,358	$83,175
Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025)	In-State	$16,604	$16,979	$17,339	$17,706	$68,691
Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025)	Out-of-State	$20,604	$20,977	$21,358	$21,744	$84,683
Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026)	In-State	$16,979	$17,360	$17,727	$18,100	$70,231
Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026)	Out-of-State	$20,977	$21,358	$21,744	$22,138	$86,217
Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027)	In-State	$17,360	$17,748	$18,122	$18,502	$71,798
Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027)	Out-of-State	$21,358	$21,744	$22,138	$22,538	$87,777
Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028)	In-State	$17,748	$18,144	$18,524	$18,910	$73,395
Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028)	Out-of-State	$21,744	$22,138	$22,538	$22,945	$89,364

	In-State	Out-of-State
Western Carolina University	$4,532	$8,532
Mercer University	$33,380
Virginia Military Institute	$20,484	$51,186
University of North Carolina at Greensboro	$7,593	$23,339
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga	$10,144	$18,208
Citadel Military College of South Carolina	$12,570	$37,370