WKU's tuition & fees has increased from $23,352 (2014) to $27,000 (2024), and the rate of tuition increase is 15.62% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $13,820 (year 2014) to $18,340 (year 2024).
The 2024 tuition & fees are lower than last year (2023) at Western Kentucky University.
WKU's tuition increase rate is higher than the Kentucky's average increase rate of 9.16%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is lower than the average increase rate of 28.12%.
Cost of Attendance (COA) Trends
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 27.27% from 2014 ($33,356).
For the current academic year 2023-2024, WKU's COA is $42,452, which is increased by 2.52% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to WKU's COA over the past 10 years.
Tuition & Fees Changes
The tuition & fees have increased 15.62% for the last 10 years , and the 2024 tuition & fees are $27,000. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Western Kentucky University over last the 10 years.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,000, and it has not changed since 2014.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2014-15 | $1,000 | - |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $1,000 | |
|---|
Living Costs Changes
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 50.87% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 36.83% when living-off campus from the year 2014 to 2024. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Western Kentucky University.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2014-15 | $9,004 | $10,407 | - |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $9,239 | $10,749 | 2.61% |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $9,610 | $11,020 | 4.02% |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $10,294 | $11,813 | 7.12% |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $10,328 | $11,983 | 0.33% |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $10,467 | $12,512 | 1.35% |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $12,130 | $14,282 | 15.89% |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $12,823 | $15,903 | 5.71% |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $13,336 | $16,602 | 4.00% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $14,452 | $18,105 | 8.37% |
|---|
Compare Tuition Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares 2024 tuition and increase rate from last year between Western Kentucky University and similar schools.
| 2024 | 2023 | Increase Rate |
|---|
| Western Kentucky University | $27,000
($11,436) | $27,072
($11,112) | -0.27% |
|---|
|
| Rice University | $58,128
($45,608) | $54,960
($45,608) | 5.76% |
|---|
|
| Florida Atlantic University | $17,324
($4,879) | $17,324
($4,879) | - |
|---|
|
| The University of Texas at San Antonio | $22,217
($9,279) | $21,481
($9,227) | 3.43% |
|---|
|
| University of Southern Mississippi | $11,618
($9,618) | $11,450
($9,450) | 1.47% |
|---|
|
| Florida International University | $18,964
($6,565) | $18,963
($6,565) | 0.01% |
|---|
|