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 ($10,086) and its out-of-state undergraduate tuition & fees is much lower than the average amount for similar schools' tuition of $19,667.
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.
| 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 ($10,520) 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.
| 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 $344 for out-of-state students. The graduate tuition per credit hour is $441 for North Carolina residents and $1,276 for out-of-state students.
| Year | In-State | Out-of-State | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 2022-2023 | $181 | $341 |
| 2023-2024 | $184 | $344 | |
| 2024-2025 | $187 | $347 | |
| Graduate | 2022-2023 | $429 | $1,240 |
| 2023-2024 | $441 | $1,276 | |
| 2024-2025 | $453 | $1,313 |
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.
| 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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Out-of-State | $21,744 | $22,138 | $22,538 | $22,945 | $89,364 |
Compare Tuition with Similar Colleges
The following table compares tuition & fees between Western Carolina University and its similar schools. The similar schools are based on academic factors such as school type, level, and rivalry schools.
| In-State | Out-of-State | |
|---|---|---|
| Western Carolina University | $4,532 | $8,532 |
| Wofford College | $54,100 | |
| Furman University | $58,312 | |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | $7,593 | $23,339 |
| Samford University | $38,144 | |
| Mercer University | $40,890 | |
College Cost Explorer
The following tool gives a comprehensice way to explore tuition and other college expenses year by year. It provides the past 5 years' colleges costs so that you can check increase rate and estimate future year cost. In addition, financial aid data including grant, scholarship, and federal student loans is also available for the past five years. Use the left menu to explore the tuition and college cost at Western Carolina University.
Western Carolina University 2024 Costs of Attendance
| In-State | Out-of-State | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| tuition & fees | Book & Supplies | Living Costs | Tuition & Fees | Book & Supplies | Living Costs | |
| Undergraduate | $4,532 | $693 | $15,094 | $8,532 | $693 | $15,094 |
| Graduate | $7,778 | $693 | $15,094 | $18,497 | $693 | $15,094 |