Western Carolina's tuition & fees has increased from $17,016 (2015) to $8,630 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 49.28% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $17,472 (year 2015) to $18,595 (year 2025).
Western Carolina's tuition increase rate is lower than the North Carolina's average increase rate of 4.37%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is lower than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by -17.24% from 2015 ($30,407).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, Western Carolina's COA is $25,165, which is increased by 3.48% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to Western Carolina's COA over the past 10 years.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | ||
| 2015-16 | $20,014 | $30,407 | $20,886 | $31,279 | - |
| 2016-17 | $20,920 | $31,313 | $21,504 | $31,897 | 2.98% |
| 2017-18 | $21,452 | $31,845 | $22,318 | $32,711 | 1.70% |
| 2018-19 | $17,705 | $21,705 | $18,384 | $22,384 | -31.84% |
| 2019-20 | $18,740 | $22,740 | $19,185 | $23,185 | 4.77% |
| 2020-21 | $18,874 | $22,874 | $19,197 | $23,197 | 0.59% |
| 2021-22 | $19,018 | $23,018 | $19,349 | $23,349 | 0.63% |
| 2022-23 | $19,341 | $23,341 | $20,233 | $24,233 | 1.40% |
| 2023-24 | $20,319 | $24,319 | $20,877 | $24,877 | 4.19% |
| 2024-25 | $21,165 | $25,165 | $21,665 | $25,665 | 3.48% |
The tuition & fees have decreased 49.28% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $5,000. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Western Carolina University over last the 10 years.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | Change By Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | ||
| 2015-16 | $6,623 | $17,016 | $7,065 | $17,472 | - |
| 2016-17 | $6,737 | $17,130 | $7,192 | $17,599 | 0.67% |
| 2017-18 | $6,897 | $17,290 | $7,361 | $17,768 | 0.93% |
| 2018-19 | $3,926 | $7,926 | $7,361 | $17,768 | -54.16% |
| 2019-20 | $4,277 | $8,277 | $7,414 | $17,821 | 4.43% |
| 2020-21 | $4,285 | $8,285 | $7,414 | $17,821 | 0.10% |
| 2021-22 | $4,367 | $8,367 | $7,480 | $17,887 | 0.99% |
| 2022-23 | $4,453 | $8,453 | $7,566 | $17,973 | 1.03% |
| 2023-24 | $4,532 | $8,532 | $7,778 | $18,497 | 0.93% |
| 2024-25 | $4,630 | $8,630 | $7,876 | $18,595 | 1.15% |
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $800, and it has decreased -62.84% from the year 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $2,153 | - |
| 2016-17 | $2,151 | -0.09% |
| 2017-18 | $2,332 | 8.41% |
| 2018-19 | $1,055 | -54.76% |
| 2019-20 | $1,059 | 0.38% |
| 2020-21 | $616 | -41.83% |
| 2021-22 | $621 | 0.81% |
| 2022-23 | $664 | 6.92% |
| 2023-24 | $693 | 4.37% |
| 2024-25 | $800 | 15.44% |
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 30.62% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 25.68% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Western Carolina University.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $11,238 | $12,110 | - |
| 2016-17 | $12,032 | $12,616 | 7.07% |
| 2017-18 | $12,223 | $13,089 | 1.59% |
| 2018-19 | $12,724 | $13,403 | 4.10% |
| 2019-20 | $13,404 | $13,849 | 5.34% |
| 2020-21 | $13,973 | $14,296 | 4.25% |
| 2021-22 | $14,030 | $14,361 | 0.41% |
| 2022-23 | $14,224 | $15,116 | 1.38% |
| 2023-24 | $15,094 | $15,652 | 6.12% |
| 2024-25 | $15,735 | $16,235 | 4.25% |
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between Western Carolina University and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Carolina University | $8,630 ($4,630) | $8,532 ($4,532) | 1.15% |
| Furman University | $59,770 ($48,348) | $58,312 ($48,348) | 2.50% |
| Mercer University | $31,565 ($24,480) | $33,380 ($24,480) | -5.44% |
| Wofford College | $56,005 ($41,955) | $54,100 ($41,955) | 3.52% |
| East Tennessee State University | $13,726 ($10,216) | $13,034 ($9,706) | 5.31% |
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina | $38,508 ($12,570) | $37,370 ($12,570) | 3.05% |
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