Paying for Western Carolina

$4,532 1.77%

Undergraduate(in-state)

$8,532 0.93%

Undergraduate(out-of-state)

$7,778 2.80%

Graduate(in-state)

$18,497 2.92%

Graduate(out-of-state)

How much does Western Carolina University tuition cost per year?

The 2024 tuition & fees of Western Carolina University is $4,532 for in-state and $8,532 for out-of-state students. Its tuition & fees has not risen since 2020.

Its tuition & fees is much lower than the average tuition for Doctoral / Research University (not R1, R2)' tuition of $31,004 based on out-of-state tuition rate.

Based on the last year increase rate, The 2025 estimated tuition & fees at 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 2024 Tuition & Fees
YearIn-StateOut-of-StateDoctoral / Research University (not R1, R2)' Average
2022-2023$4,453 $8,453$30,145
2023-2024$4,532$8,532$31,004
Change % 2023-20241.77%0.93%2.85%
2024-2025 Estimate$4,612$8,612$31,886

How much do you actually pay at Western Carolina?

The living costs at Western Carolina is $15,094 when living on campus. The on-campus living costs increased by 6.12% compared to the previous year. The off-campus living costs increased by 3.55%.

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

96% of enrolled 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 in-state and $19,875 for out-of-state students..

Western Carolina University 2024 Cost of Attendance (COA)
On-CampusOff-Campus
In-StateOut-StateIn-StateOut-State
Tuition & Fees$4,532$8,532$4,532$8,532
Room & Board$11,764$12,322
Personal Expenses$3,330$3,330
Books & Supplies$693$693
COA$20,319$24,319$20,877$24,877
COA with Financial Aid$15,875$19,875$16,433$20,433

Western Carolina 4-Years Tuition

How Much is Western Carolina tuition for 4 years?

Western Carolina's 4-years tuition is $18,326 for in-state and $34,326 for out-of-state students, based on current tuition and change rate.

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.

Western Carolina 4 Years Tuition & Fees Estimates
ResidencyFreshmenSophomoreJuniorSenior4 Years Total
Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024)In-State$4,552$4,572$4,592$4,612$18,326
Out-of-State$8,552$8,572$8,591$8,611$34,326
Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025)In-State$4,572$4,592$4,612$4,632$18,406
Out-of-State$8,572$8,591$8,611$8,631$34,405
Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026)In-State$4,592$4,612$4,632$4,652$18,486
Out-of-State$8,591$8,611$8,631$8,651$34,485
Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027)In-State$4,612$4,632$4,652$4,672$18,567
Out-of-State$8,611$8,631$8,651$8,671$34,565
Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028)In-State$4,632$4,652$4,672$4,692$18,648
Out-of-State$8,631$8,651$8,671$8,691$34,645

Net Price for 4 Years at Western Carolina

Based on recent tuition increase rate, for the students who were admitted in Fall 2024, the estimated 4-years COA is $83,754 for North Carolina residents and $99,754 for out-of-state students.

Western Carolina 4 Years COA
ResidencyFreshmenSophomoreJuniorSenior4 Years Total
Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024)In-State$20,564$20,811$21,055$21,302$83,754
Out-of-State$24,564$24,811$25,062$25,317$99,754
Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025)In-State$20,811$21,062$21,309$21,560$84,766
Out-of-State$24,811$25,062$25,317$25,575$100,765
Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026)In-State$21,062$21,317$21,567$21,821$85,791
Out-of-State$25,062$25,317$25,575$25,836$101,789
Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027)In-State$21,317$21,575$21,829$22,086$86,830
Out-of-State$25,317$25,575$25,836$26,101$102,828
Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028)In-State$21,575$21,836$22,094$22,354$87,883
Out-of-State$25,575$25,836$26,101$26,369$103,880

Actual COA after Receiving Financial Aid

After receiving the financial aid, the net price for 4 years of attending the school is $65,978 for North Carolina residents and $81,978 for out-of-state students.

Western Carolina 4 Years COA after Receiving Financial Aid
ResidencyFreshmenSophomoreJuniorSenior4 Years Total
Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024)In-State$16,120$16,367$16,611$16,858$65,978
Out-of-State$20,120$20,367$20,618$20,873$81,978
Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025)In-State$16,367$16,618$16,865$17,116$66,990
Out-of-State$20,367$20,618$20,873$21,131$82,989
Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026)In-State$16,618$16,873$17,123$17,377$68,015
Out-of-State$20,618$20,873$21,131$21,392$84,013
Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027)In-State$16,873$17,131$17,385$17,642$69,054
Out-of-State$20,873$21,131$21,392$21,657$85,052
Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028)In-State$17,131$17,392$17,650$17,910$70,107
Out-of-State$21,131$21,392$21,657$21,925$86,104

Western Carolina's Graduate Tuition

The graduate school tuition at Western Carolina University is $7,778 for in-state and $18,497 for out-of-state studetns. Detailed graduate program tuition and majors can be found at Western Carolina gradute program page.

Western Carolina Graduate Tuition & Fees
YearIn-StateOut-of-State
2022-2023$7,566 $17,973
2023-2024$7,778$18,497
Change % 2023-20242.80%2.92%
2024-2025$7,996$19,036

Tuition Per Credit Hour

For part-time and/or full-time students who take additional credits at Western Carolina 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 at Western Carolina
YearIn-StateOut-of-State
Undergraduate2022-2023$181$341
2023-2024$184$340
2024-2025 (Estimate)$187$339
Graduate2022-2023$429$1,240
2023-2024$442$1,260
2024-2025 (Estimate)$455$1,280

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.

Western Carolina University 2024 undergraduate tuition chartWestern Carolina University 2024 graduate tuition chartWestern Carolina University 2024 cost per credit hour chartWestern Carolina University 2024 COA (cost of attendance) chartWestern Carolina University 2024 room & board cost chartWestern Carolina University 2024 books & supplies cost chart

Compare Tuition with Similar Colleges

The following table compares tuition & fees between Western Carolina University and its similar schools.

Tuition Comparison between Western Carolina and Similar Colleges
In-StateOut-of-State
Western Carolina University$4,532$8,532
East Tennessee State University$9,706$13,034
Virginia Military Institute$20,484$51,186
Samford University$38,144
Furman University$58,312
University of North Carolina at Greensboro$7,593$23,339

Ratings & Review

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