CWU's tuition & fees has increased from $21,501 (2015) to $27,526 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 28.02% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $21,903 (year 2015) to $28,031 (year 2025).
CWU's tuition increase rate is higher than the Washington's average increase rate of 14.92%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
Cost of Attendance (COA) Trends
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 44.02% from 2015 ($35,295).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, CWU's COA is $50,831, which is increased by 5.86% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to CWU's COA over the past 10 years.
Tuition & Fees Changes
The tuition & fees have increased 28.02% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $25,340. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Central Washington University over last the 10 years.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $900, and it has decreased -10.18% from the year 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,002 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $1,002 | |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $1,002 | |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $1,002 | |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $900 | -10.18% |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $900 | |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $900 | |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $900 | |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $900 | |
|---|
| 2024-25 | $900 | |
|---|
Living Costs Changes
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 42.66% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 42.66% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Central Washington University.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $12,792 | $12,792 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $13,187 | $13,187 | 3.09% |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $13,696 | $13,696 | 3.86% |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $14,127 | $11,847 | 3.15% |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $15,559 | $11,022 | 10.14% |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $16,709 | $12,198 | 7.39% |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $16,860 | $12,663 | 0.90% |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $16,567 | $12,663 | -1.74% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $20,346 | $13,773 | 22.81% |
|---|
| 2024-25 | $22,405 | $22,405 | 10.12% |
|---|
Compare Tuition Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between Central Washington University and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate |
|---|
| Central Washington University | $27,526
($9,417) | $26,771
($9,192) | 2.82% |
|---|
|
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus | $43,209
($12,973) | $41,997
($12,643) | 2.89% |
|---|
|
| Washington State University | $29,950
($13,391) | $29,073
($12,997) | 3.02% |
|---|
|
| Western Washington University | $28,707
($9,582) | $27,853
($9,286) | 3.07% |
|---|
|
| Bellevue College | $10,502
($4,436) | $10,183
($4,305) | 3.13% |
|---|
|
| Eastern Washington University | $26,583
($8,586) | $25,892
($8,353) | 2.67% |
|---|
|