WKU's tuition & fees has increased from $24,132 (2015) to $27,000 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 11.88% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $15,260 (year 2015) to $18,340 (year 2025).
The 2025 tuition & fees are the same as last year (2024) at Western Kentucky University.
WKU's tuition increase rate is higher than the Kentucky's average increase rate of 7.62%. 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 25.30% from 2015 ($34,371).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, WKU's COA is $43,066, which is increased by 1.45% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to WKU's COA over the past 10 years.
Tuition & Fees Changes
The tuition & fees have increased 11.88% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $27,000. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Western Kentucky University over last the 10 years.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,000, and it has not changed since 2015.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,000 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $1,000 | |
|---|
| 2024-25 | $1,000 | |
|---|
Living Costs Changes
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 52.92% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 38.46% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Western Kentucky University.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $9,239 | $10,749 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $9,610 | $11,020 | 4.02% |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $10,294 | $11,813 | 7.12% |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $10,328 | $11,983 | 0.33% |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $10,467 | $12,512 | 1.35% |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $12,130 | $14,282 | 15.89% |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $12,823 | $15,903 | 5.71% |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $13,336 | $16,602 | 4.00% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $14,452 | $18,105 | 8.37% |
|---|
| 2024-25 | $15,066 | $18,770 | 4.25% |
|---|
Compare Tuition Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between Western Kentucky University and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate |
|---|
| Western Kentucky University | $27,000
($11,652) | $27,000
($11,436) | - |
|---|
|
| The University of Texas at San Antonio | $22,249
($9,326) | $22,217
($9,279) | 0.14% |
|---|
|
| University of Southern Mississippi | $11,998
($9,998) | $11,618
($9,618) | 3.27% |
|---|
|
| Rice University | $61,247
($45,608) | $58,128
($45,608) | 5.37% |
|---|
|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | $22,562
($9,098) | $21,864
($8,832) | 3.19% |
|---|
|
| University of North Texas | $21,149
($11,309) | $21,244
($11,164) | -0.45% |
|---|
|