What does it cost to attend Western Kentucky University?
The 2025 tuition & fees of Western Kentucky University is $11,652 for in-state and $27,000 for out-of-state students. WKU's tuition & fees remain the same as last year.
Its tuition & fees is a little bit lower than the average tuition for Doctoral / Research University (not R1, R2)' tuition of $30,771 based on out-of-state tuition rate.
Based on the last year increase rate, The 2026 estimated tuition & fees at WKU is $11,872 for Kentucky residents and $27,000 for out-of-state students, the same as current year.
WKU 2025 Tuition & Fees
| Year | In-State | Out-of-State | Doctoral / Research University (not R1, R2)' Average |
|---|
| 2023-2024 | $11,436 |
$27,000 | $30,055 |
| 2024-2025 | $11,652 | $27,000 | $30,771 |
| Change % 2024-2025 | 1.89% | 0.00% | 2.38% |
| 2025-2026 Estimate | $11,872 | $27,000 | $31,504 |
How much do you actually pay at WKU?
The living costs at WKU is $15,066 when living on campus. The on-campus living costs increased by 4.25% compared to the previous year. The off-campus living costs increased by 3.67%.
The WKU's 2025 COA is $27,718 for in-state and $43,066 for out-of-state students for living on campus. The off-campus COA is $31,422 for in-state and $46,770 for out-of-state students.
87% of enrolled students have received grants or scholarships, and the average aid amount is $9,681. It could cover 35.86% of the full tuition amount.
After receiving the financial aid, the net price is $18,037 for in-state and $33,385 for out-of-state students..
Western Kentucky University 2025 Cost of Attendance (COA) | On-Campus | Off-Campus |
|---|
| In-State | Out-State | In-State | Out-State |
|---|
| Tuition & Fees | $11,652 | $27,000 | $11,652 | $27,000 |
|---|
| Room & Board | $12,582 | $12,582 |
|---|
| Personal Expenses | $2,484 | $6,188 |
|---|
| Books & Supplies | $1,000 | $1,000 |
|---|
| COA | $27,718 | $43,066 | $31,422 | $46,770 |
|---|
| COA with Financial Aid | $18,037 | $33,385 | $21,741 | $37,089 |
|---|
WKU 4-Years Tuition
How Much is WKU tuition for 4 years?
WKU's 4-years tuition is $47,151 for in-state and $108,000 for out-of-state students, based on current tuition and change rate.
Since the tuition & fees at Western Kentucky University have not been increased over the last 4 years, the estimated tuition & fees are the same as the current cost. The actual cost may differ from the estimation based on the school or university system's tuition policy.
WKU 4 Years Tuition & Fees Estimates
| Residency | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 4 Years Total |
|---|
| Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025) | In-State | $11,706 | $11,760 | $11,815 | $11,870 | $47,151 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $27,000 | $27,000 | $27,000 | $27,000 | $108,000 |
| Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026) | In-State | $11,760 | $11,815 | $11,870 | $11,925 | $47,369 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $27,000 | $27,000 | $27,000 | $27,000 | $108,000 |
| Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027) | In-State | $11,815 | $11,870 | $11,925 | $11,980 | $47,589 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $27,000 | $27,000 | $27,000 | $27,000 | $108,000 |
| Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028) | In-State | $11,870 | $11,925 | $11,980 | $12,035 | $47,809 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $27,000 | $27,000 | $27,000 | $27,000 | $108,000 |
| Class of 2033 (Entering Fall 2029) | In-State | $11,925 | $11,980 | $12,035 | $12,091 | $48,031 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $27,000 | $27,000 | $27,000 | $27,000 | $108,000 |
Net Price for 4 Years at WKU
Based on recent tuition increase rate, for the students who were admitted in Fall 2025, the estimated 4-years COA is $112,965 for Kentucky residents and $173,815 for out-of-state students.
WKU 4 Years COA
| Residency | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 4 Years Total |
|---|
| Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025) | In-State | $27,926 | $28,135 | $28,346 | $28,559 | $112,965 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $43,220 | $43,375 | $43,531 | $43,689 | $173,815 |
| Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026) | In-State | $28,135 | $28,346 | $28,559 | $28,774 | $113,814 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $43,375 | $43,531 | $43,689 | $43,849 | $174,445 |
| Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027) | In-State | $28,346 | $28,559 | $28,774 | $28,991 | $114,669 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $43,531 | $43,689 | $43,849 | $44,011 | $175,081 |
| Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028) | In-State | $28,559 | $28,774 | $28,991 | $29,209 | $115,533 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $43,689 | $43,849 | $44,011 | $44,174 | $175,723 |
| Class of 2033 (Entering Fall 2029) | In-State | $28,774 | $28,991 | $29,209 | $29,430 | $116,403 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $43,849 | $44,011 | $44,174 | $44,339 | $176,373 |
Actual COA after Receiving Financial Aid
After receiving the financial aid, the net price for 4 years of attending the school is $74,241 for Kentucky residents and $135,091 for out-of-state students.
WKU 4 Years COA after Receiving Financial Aid
| Residency | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 4 Years Total |
|---|
| Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025) | In-State | $18,245 | $18,454 | $18,665 | $18,878 | $74,241 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $33,539 | $33,694 | $33,850 | $34,008 | $135,091 |
| Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026) | In-State | $18,454 | $18,665 | $18,878 | $19,093 | $75,090 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $33,694 | $33,850 | $34,008 | $34,168 | $135,721 |
| Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027) | In-State | $18,665 | $18,878 | $19,093 | $19,310 | $75,945 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $33,850 | $34,008 | $34,168 | $34,330 | $136,357 |
| Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028) | In-State | $18,878 | $19,093 | $19,310 | $19,528 | $76,809 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $34,008 | $34,168 | $34,330 | $34,493 | $136,999 |
| Class of 2033 (Entering Fall 2029) | In-State | $19,093 | $19,310 | $19,528 | $19,749 | $77,679 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $34,168 | $34,330 | $34,493 | $34,658 | $137,649 |
WKU's Graduate Tuition
The graduate school tuition at Western Kentucky University is $12,140 for in-state and $18,340 for out-of-state students. Detailed graduate program tuition and majors can be found at WKU graduate program page.
WKU Graduate Tuition & Fees
| Year | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|
| 2023-2024 | $12,140 |
$18,340 |
| 2024-2025 | $12,140 | $18,340 |
| Change % 2024-2025 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
|---|
| 2025-2026 | $12,140 | $18,340 |
Tuition Per Credit Hour
For part-time and/or full-time students who take additional credits at WKU is $486 for Kentucky residents and $1,125 for out-of-state students. The graduate tuition per credit hour is $607 for Kentucky residents and $917 for out-of-state students.
Per Credit Hour Charge at WKU
| Year | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|
| Undergraduate | 2023-2024 | $477 | $1,125 |
|---|
| 2024-2025 | $486 | $1,125 |
|---|
| 2025-2026 (Estimate) | $495 | $1,125 |
|---|
| Graduate | 2023-2024 | $607 | $917 |
|---|
| 2024-2025 | $607 | $917 |
|---|
| 2025-2026 (Estimate) | $607 | $917 |
|---|
WKU Tuition Charts
The following charts visualize tuition, fees, living costs, and other expenses at WKU. You can enlarge the chart to view detailed information.
Compare Tuition with Similar Colleges
The following table compares tuition & fees between Western Kentucky University and its similar schools.
Tuition Comparison between WKU and Similar Colleges
| In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|
| Western Kentucky University | $11,652 | $27,000 |
|---|
| Florida Atlantic University | $4,879 | $17,324 |
|---|
| The University of Texas at El Paso | $9,544 | $25,502 |
|---|
| University of North Texas | $11,309 | $21,149 |
|---|
| University of Southern Mississippi | $9,998 | $11,998 |
|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | $9,098 | $22,562 |
|---|
WKU Tuition Frequently Asked Questions
For the academic year 2024-2025, the undergraduate tuition & fees at WKU are $11,652 for Kentucky residents and $27,000 for out-of-state students.
The total cost of attendance (COA) at WKU for the academic year 2024-2025 includes tuition & fees, books & supplies, and living expenses. For in-state students, the estimated COA is $27,718 and $43,066 for out-of-state students. Actual costs may vary depending on housing choices and personal expenses.
It has been risen by 1.89% for Kentucky residents and decreased by 0.00% for out-of-state rates compared to the previous year. The graduate tuition is same as last year for both in-state and out-of-state rates.
87% of WKU undergraduates receive grants or scholarships, with an average aid amount of $9,681 per student. Additional financial aid options are available through WKU's financial aid office.
In-State (Kentucky Residents): The projected 4-year cost for a degree is approximately $112,965, including tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, and other expenses. The tuition and fees alone are approximately $11,870 per year, which would total around $47,151 over four years. Out-of-State: The projected 4-year cost for a degree is approximately $173,815. The tuition and fees are around $27,000 per year, totaling about $108,000 over four years.
WKU charges $486 per credit hour for in-state undergraduates and $1,125 for out-of-state undergraduates. Graduate students pay $607 (in-state) or $917 (out-of-state) per credit hour.
The in-state undergraduate tuition at WKU is a little bit higher than the average for similar schools ($10,456 - public Doctoral / Research University).The out-of-state undergraduate tuition at WKU is higher than the average for similar schools ($19,644 - public Doctoral / Research University).The in-state graduate tuition at WKU is a little bit higher than the average for similar schools ($10,983 - public Doctoral / Research University).The out-of-state graduate tuition at WKU is about the same as the average for similar schools ($18,377 - public Doctoral / Research University).