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 Kentucky University is $11,436 for Kentucky residents and $27,000 for out-of-state students. It has been risen by 2.92% for Kentucky residents and decreased by -0.27% for out-of-state rates compared to the previous year. Its in-state undergraduate tuition & fees is a little bit higher than the average amount ($10,086) and its out-of-state undergraduate tuition & fees is higher than the average amount for similar schools' tuition of $19,667.
The 2025 estimated undergraduate tuition & fees of WKU is $11,769 for Kentucky residents and $26,928 for out-of-state students, a 0.3% decrease compared to 2024's rate.
| Year | In-State | Out-of-State | On Campus Room & Board, Other Expenses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | $11,112 | $27,072 | $13,336 |
| 2023-2024 | $11,436 | $27,000 | $14,452 |
| Change % 2023-2024 | 2.92% | -0.27% | 8.37% |
| 2024-2025 | $11,769 | $26,928 | $15,661 |
Graduate Program Tuition & Fees
For graduate programs, the in-state graduate tuition & fees is $12,140 and out-of-state tuition & fees is $18,340. Its in-state graduate tuition & fees is a little bit higher 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 WKU is $12,140 for Kentucky residents and $18,340 for out-of-state students , the same as current year.
| Year | In-State | Out-of-State | On Campus Room & Board, Other Expenses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 | $12,140 | $18,340 | $13,336 |
| 2023-2024 | $12,140 | $18,340 | $14,452 |
| Change % 2023-2024 | - | - | 8.37% |
| 2024-2025 | $12,140 | $18,340 | $15,661 |
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 WKU. The undergraduate cost per credit hour is $476 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.
| Year | In-State | Out-of-State | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 2022-2023 | $463 | $1,128 |
| 2023-2024 | $476 | $1,125 | |
| 2024-2025 | $489 | $1,122 | |
| Graduate | 2022-2023 | $607 | $917 |
| 2023-2024 | $607 | $917 | |
| 2024-2025 | $607 | $917 |
Cost of Attendance with Living Costs and Books & Supplies
The living costs including for room, board, transpiration, and other personal expenses is $14,452 for year 2024. The on-campus living costs increased by 8.37% compared to the previous year. The off-campus living costs increased by 9.05% compared to the previous year.
The WKU's 2024 on-campus COA is $26,888 for state residents and $42,452 for out-of-state students. The off-campus COA is $30,541 for state residents and $46,105 for out-of-state students.
| On-Campus | Off Campus | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees (In-State) | $11,436 | |
| Tuition & Fees (Out-of-State) | $27,000 | |
| Room & Board | $12,043 | $12,043 |
| Personal Expenses | $2,409 | $6,062 |
| Books & Supplies | $1,000 | |
| COA (In-State) | $26,888 | $30,541 |
| COA (Out-of-State) | $42,452 | $46,105 |
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.
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.
4-Years Costs of Attendance
How Much is the tuition for 4 years at WKU?
For the entering class 2024, the estimated tuition for 4 years at WKU is $47,351 for Kentucky residents and $109,266 for out-of-state students.
Since the tuition & fees at Western Kentucky 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 | $11,595 | $11,755 | $11,918 | $12,083 | $47,351 |
| Out-of-State | $27,126 | $27,253 | $27,380 | $27,508 | $109,266 | |
| Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025) | In-State | $11,755 | $11,918 | $12,083 | $12,251 | $48,007 |
| Out-of-State | $27,253 | $27,380 | $27,508 | $27,636 | $109,776 | |
| Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026) | In-State | $11,918 | $12,083 | $12,251 | $12,421 | $48,673 |
| Out-of-State | $27,380 | $27,508 | $27,636 | $27,765 | $110,288 | |
| Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027) | In-State | $12,083 | $12,251 | $12,421 | $12,593 | $49,347 |
| Out-of-State | $27,508 | $27,636 | $27,765 | $27,894 | $110,803 | |
| Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028) | In-State | $12,251 | $12,421 | $12,593 | $12,767 | $50,031 |
| Out-of-State | $27,636 | $27,765 | $27,894 | $28,025 | $111,320 |
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 $115,202 for Kentucky residents and $177,117 for out-of-state students.
| Residency | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 4 Years Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024) | In-State | $27,627 | $28,392 | $29,183 | $30,001 | $115,202 |
| Out-of-State | $43,159 | $43,889 | $44,644 | $45,425 | $177,117 | |
| Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025) | In-State | $28,392 | $29,183 | $30,001 | $30,848 | $118,423 |
| Out-of-State | $43,889 | $44,644 | $45,425 | $46,233 | $180,191 | |
| Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026) | In-State | $29,183 | $30,001 | $30,848 | $31,725 | $121,756 |
| Out-of-State | $44,644 | $45,425 | $46,233 | $47,069 | $183,371 | |
| Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027) | In-State | $30,001 | $30,848 | $31,725 | $32,632 | $125,206 |
| Out-of-State | $45,425 | $46,233 | $47,069 | $47,934 | $186,661 | |
| Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028) | In-State | $30,848 | $31,725 | $32,632 | $33,571 | $128,776 |
| Out-of-State | $46,233 | $47,069 | $47,934 | $48,829 | $190,064 |
Actual COA after Receiving Financial Aid
Last year, 85% 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 $81,206 for Kentucky residents and $143,121 for out-of-state students.
| Residency | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 4 Years Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2028 (Entering Fall 2024) | In-State | $19,128 | $19,893 | $20,684 | $21,502 | $81,206 |
| Out-of-State | $34,660 | $35,390 | $36,145 | $36,926 | $143,121 | |
| Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025) | In-State | $19,893 | $20,684 | $21,502 | $22,349 | $84,427 |
| Out-of-State | $35,390 | $36,145 | $36,926 | $37,734 | $146,195 | |
| Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026) | In-State | $20,684 | $21,502 | $22,349 | $23,226 | $87,760 |
| Out-of-State | $36,145 | $36,926 | $37,734 | $38,570 | $149,375 | |
| Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027) | In-State | $21,502 | $22,349 | $23,226 | $24,133 | $91,210 |
| Out-of-State | $36,926 | $37,734 | $38,570 | $39,435 | $152,665 | |
| Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028) | In-State | $22,349 | $23,226 | $24,133 | $25,072 | $94,780 |
| Out-of-State | $37,734 | $38,570 | $39,435 | $40,330 | $156,068 |
Compare Tuition with Similar Colleges
The following table compares tuition & fees between Western Kentucky 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 Kentucky University | $11,436 | $27,000 |
| Louisiana Tech University | $10,125 | $16,866 |
| The University of Texas at El Paso | $9,744 | $25,512 |
| Old Dominion University | $12,262 | $32,662 |
| Marshall University | $8,942 | $20,294 |
| University of North Texas | $11,164 | $21,244 |
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 Kentucky University.
Western Kentucky University 2024 Costs of Attendance
| In-State | Out-of-State | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| tuition & fees | Book & Supplies | Living Costs | Tuition & Fees | Book & Supplies | Living Costs | |
| Undergraduate | $11,436 | $1,000 | $14,452 | $27,000 | $1,000 | $14,452 |
| Graduate | $12,140 | $1,000 | $14,452 | $18,340 | $1,000 | $14,452 |