Paying for Western Carolina
Undergraduate Tuition & Fees
$8,630 ($4,630)
Graduate Tuition & Fees
$18,595 ($7,876)
On-campus Living Costs
$15,735
Off-campus Living Costs
$16,235
Undergraduate Tuition per Credit Hour
$339 ($184)
Graduate Tuition per Credit Hour
$1,214 ($443)
The 2025 tuition & fees of Western Carolina University are $4,630 for North Carolina residents and $8,630 for out-of-state students. For graduate programs, the tuition & fees are $7,876 for North Carolina residents and $18,595 for out-of-state students.
Compared to Public, 4-Years Colleges in North Carolina, the undergraduate tuition & fees are very inexpensive and the graduate tuition & fees are average.
Compared to similar schools in rankings such as North Carolina A & T State University and East Carolina University, tuition & fees of Western Carolina University is very inexpensive where the average tuition & fees of the schools are $21,276.
The average living cost of the school is $15,735 when a student lives in on-campus housing. When a student lives off-campus, the average living cost is $16,235.
*Data Source: 2024-2025 Tuition & Fees - NCES (Last Update: 6/05/2025)
2025 Tuition and Comparison Chart
The following chart visualizes the Western Carolina's 2025 tuition & fees and compares to similar schools by school type, level, and location.
2025 Tuition & fees
The 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees at Western Carolina University are $4,630 for North Carolina residents and $8,630 for out-of-state students. The undergraduate tuition & fees have increased by 1.15% from last year.
The 2025 graduate tuition & fees are $7,876 for North Carolina residents and $18,595 for out-of-state students. The graduate tuition & fees have increased by 0.53% from last year.
The following table and chart show the 2025 tuition & fees and the tuition trends over the last 5 years.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Residents | Out-of-State | North Carolina Residents | Out-of-State | |
| 2021 | $4,285 | $8,285 | $7,414 | $17,821 |
| 2022 | $4,367 | $8,367 | $7,480 | $17,887 |
| 2023 | $4,453 | $8,453 | $7,566 | $17,973 |
| 2024 | $4,532 | $8,532 | $7,778 | $18,497 |
| 2025 | $4,630 | $8,630 | $7,876 | $18,595 |
Living Costs
The 2025 average on-campus living costs is $15,735 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 $16,235.
The living cost at the school has increased by 4.25% 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 | |
| 2021 | $10,954 | $3,019 | $11,277 | $3,019 |
| 2022 | $11,097 | $2,933 | $11,428 | $2,933 |
| 2023 | $11,173 | $3,051 | $12,065 | $3,051 |
| 2024 | $11,764 | $3,330 | $12,322 | $3,330 |
| 2025 | $12,354 | $3,381 | $12,854 | $3,381 |
Books & Supplies Costs Trends Chart
The 2025 average cost for purchasing books & supplies is $800 at Western Carolina University. The books & supplies cost has increased by 15.44% from last year.
The following table and chart show the 2025 books & supplies costs and the trends over the last 5 years.
| Year | Books & Supplies Costs |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $616 |
| 2022 | $621 |
| 2023 | $664 |
| 2024 | $693 |
| 2025 | $800 |
Tuition Per Credit Hour
The 2025 undergraduate tuition per credit hour at Western Carolina University is $184 for North Carolina residents and $339 for out-of-state students. The undergraduate tuition per credit hour has decreased by 1.00% from last year.
The 2025 graduate tuition per credit hour is $443 for North Carolina residents and $1,214 for out-of-state students. The graduate tuition per credit hour has decreased by 0.96% from last year.
The following table and chart show the 2025 tuition per credit hour and its trends over the last 5 years.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Residents | Out-of-State | North Carolina Residents | Out-of-State | |
| 2021 | $173 | $332 | $410 | $1,174 |
| 2022 | $177 | $333 | $433 | $1,197 |
| 2023 | $181 | $341 | $429 | $1,240 |
| 2024 | $184 | $340 | $442 | $1,260 |
| 2025 | $184 | $339 | $443 | $1,214 |