Paying for WKU
Undergraduate Tuition & Fees
$27,000 ($11,436)
Graduate Tuition & Fees
$18,340 ($12,140)
On-campus Living Costs
$14,452
Off-campus Living Costs
$18,105
Undergraduate Tuition per Credit Hour
$1,125 ($477)
Graduate Tuition per Credit Hour
$917 ($607)
The 2024 tuition & fees of Western Kentucky University are $11,436 for Kentucky residents and $27,000 for out-of-state students. For graduate programs, the tuition & fees are $12,140 for Kentucky residents and $18,340 for out-of-state students.
Compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in Kentucky, both undergraduate and graduate tuition & fees are average.
Compared to similar schools in rankings such as Bellarmine University and University of the Cumberlands, tuition & fees of Western Kentucky University is average where the average tuition & fees of the schools are $24,621.
The average living cost of the school is $14,452 when a student lives in on-campus housing. When a student lives off-campus, the average living cost is $18,105.
*Data Source: 2023-2024 Tuition & Fees - NCES (Last Update: 03/01/2024)
2024 Tuition and Comparison Chart
The following chart visualizes the WKU's 2024 tuition & fees and compares to similar schools by school type, level, and location.
2024 Tuition & fees
The 2024 undergraduate tuition & fees at Western Kentucky University are $11,436 for Kentucky residents and $27,000 for out-of-state students. The undergraduate tuition & fees have decreased by 1.00% from last year.
The 2024 graduate tuition & fees are $12,140 for Kentucky residents and $18,340 for out-of-state students. The graduate tuition & fees stay same as last year.
The following table and chart show the 2024 tuition & fees and the tuition trends over the last 5 years.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Residents | Out-of-State | Kentucky Residents | Out-of-State | |
| 2020 | $10,802 | $26,496 | $12,140 | $18,340 |
| 2021 | $10,802 | $26,496 | $12,140 | $18,340 |
| 2022 | $10,992 | $27,000 | $12,140 | $18,340 |
| 2023 | $11,112 | $27,072 | $12,140 | $18,340 |
| 2024 | $11,436 | $27,000 | $12,140 | $18,340 |
Living Costs
The 2024 average on-campus living costs is $14,452 including room & board and other living expenses (a student lives in on-campus housing such as dormitory and school-owned apartment). For students living in off-campus housing, the average living cost is $18,105.
The living cost at the school has increased by 8.37% from last year.
The following table and chart show the living costs changes over the last 5 years.
| Year | On-Campus | Off-Campus | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Room & Board | Other Expenses | Room & Board | Other Expenses | |
| 2020 | $8,432 | $2,035 | $8,432 | $4,080 |
| 2021 | $10,044 | $2,086 | $10,044 | $4,238 |
| 2022 | $10,708 | $2,115 | $10,708 | $5,195 |
| 2023 | $11,072 | $2,264 | $11,072 | $5,530 |
| 2024 | $12,043 | $2,409 | $12,043 | $6,062 |
Books & Supplies Costs Trends Chart
The 2024 average cost for purchasing books & supplies is $1,000 at Western Kentucky University. The books & supplies cost stays same as last year.
The following table and chart show the 2024 books & supplies costs and the trends over the last 5 years.
| Year | Books & Supplies Costs |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $1,000 |
| 2021 | $1,000 |
| 2022 | $1,000 |
| 2023 | $1,000 |
| 2024 | $1,000 |
Tuition Per Credit Hour
The 2024 undergraduate tuition per credit hour at Western Kentucky University is $477 for Kentucky residents and $1,125 for out-of-state students. The undergraduate tuition per credit hour has decreased by 1.00% from last year.
The 2024 graduate tuition per credit hour is $607 for Kentucky residents and $917 for out-of-state students. The graduate tuition per credit hour stays same as last year.
The following table and chart show the 2024 tuition per credit hour and its trends over the last 5 years.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Residents | Out-of-State | Kentucky Residents | Out-of-State | |
| 2020 | $450 | $1,104 | $607 | $917 |
| 2021 | $450 | $1,104 | $607 | $917 |
| 2022 | $458 | $1,125 | $607 | $917 |
| 2023 | $463 | $1,128 | $607 | $917 |
| 2024 | $477 | $1,125 | $607 | $917 |