WMU's tuition & fees has increased from $25,713 (2015) to $19,952 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 22.41% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $27,881 (year 2015) to $29,681 (year 2025).
WMU's tuition increase rate is lower than the Michigan's average increase rate of 21.56%. 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 -5.97% from 2015 ($38,232).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, WMU's COA is $35,951, which is increased by 3.99% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to WMU'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 | $23,548 | $38,232 | $23,454 | $38,138 | - |
| 2016-17 | $24,368 | $39,726 | $24,368 | $39,726 | 3.91% |
| 2017-18 | $25,139 | $27,895 | $25,139 | $27,895 | -29.78% |
| 2018-19 | $26,009 | $28,899 | $26,009 | $28,899 | 3.60% |
| 2019-20 | $27,071 | $30,095 | $27,071 | $30,095 | 4.14% |
| 2020-21 | $27,071 | $30,095 | $27,071 | $30,095 | |
| 2021-22 | $27,947 | $31,281 | $27,947 | $31,281 | 3.94% |
| 2022-23 | $29,426 | $33,057 | $29,426 | $33,057 | 5.68% |
| 2023-24 | $30,770 | $34,570 | $30,770 | $34,570 | 4.58% |
| 2024-25 | $31,986 | $35,951 | $31,986 | $35,951 | 3.99% |
The tuition & fees have decreased 22.41% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $19,826. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Western Michigan University over last the 10 years.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | Change By Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | ||
| 2015-16 | $11,029 | $25,713 | $13,650 | $27,881 | - |
| 2016-17 | $11,493 | $26,851 | $14,235 | $29,118 | 4.43% |
| 2017-18 | $11,943 | $14,699 | $15,233 | $29,823 | -45.26% |
| 2018-19 | $12,483 | $15,373 | $16,561 | $30,492 | 4.59% |
| 2019-20 | $13,017 | $16,041 | $17,283 | $31,355 | 4.35% |
| 2020-21 | $13,017 | $16,041 | $17,283 | $31,355 | |
| 2021-22 | $13,434 | $16,768 | $17,807 | $26,248 | 4.53% |
| 2022-23 | $14,623 | $18,254 | $18,462 | $27,231 | 8.86% |
| 2023-24 | $15,298 | $19,098 | $19,277 | $28,454 | 4.62% |
| 2024-25 | $15,987 | $19,952 | $20,103 | $29,681 | 4.47% |
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,128, and it has increased 20.26% from the year 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $938 | - |
| 2016-17 | $948 | 1.07% |
| 2017-18 | $958 | 1.05% |
| 2018-19 | $968 | 1.04% |
| 2019-20 | $987 | 1.96% |
| 2020-21 | $987 | |
| 2021-22 | $1,106 | 12.06% |
| 2022-23 | $1,128 | 1.99% |
| 2023-24 | $1,128 | |
| 2024-25 | $1,128 |
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 24.60% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 25.59% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Western Michigan University.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $11,581 | $11,487 | - |
| 2016-17 | $11,927 | $11,927 | 2.99% |
| 2017-18 | $12,238 | $12,238 | 2.61% |
| 2018-19 | $12,558 | $12,558 | 2.61% |
| 2019-20 | $13,067 | $13,067 | 4.05% |
| 2020-21 | $13,067 | $13,067 | |
| 2021-22 | $13,407 | $13,407 | 2.60% |
| 2022-23 | $13,675 | $13,675 | 2.00% |
| 2023-24 | $14,344 | $14,344 | 4.89% |
| 2024-25 | $14,871 | $14,871 | 3.67% |
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between Western Michigan University and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Michigan University | $19,952 ($15,987) | $19,098 ($15,298) | 4.47% |
| Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | $21,900 ($13,912) | $21,378 ($13,390) | 2.44% |
| Ball State University | $29,630 ($11,082) | $28,766 ($10,758) | 3.00% |
| Central Michigan University | $15,480 ($15,480) | $14,312 ($14,312) | 8.16% |
| Eastern Michigan University | $16,990 ($16,990) | $16,260 ($16,260) | 4.49% |
| Miami University-Oxford | $38,965 ($17,519) | $38,124 ($17,060) | 2.21% |
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