How much does it cost to attend?
In State North Carolina Resident Sticker Price
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $1,000 |
| Books and Supplies | $621 |
| Other Fees | $3,367 |
| Room and Board | $11,097 |
| Other Expenses Budget | $2,933 |
Out of State Resident Sticker Price
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $5,000 |
| Books and Supplies | $621 |
| Other Fees | $3,367 |
| Room and Board | $11,097 |
| Other Expenses Budget | $2,933 |
In-State Tuition
In-state tuition at Western Carolina University for undergraduate students residing in North Carolina is $1,000. Room and board charges total $11,097 per year. Students will also need to budget for books and supplies, which typically amount to $621 annually. Other administrative or academic fees are $3,367 for the year. Additionally, students should plan an estimated $2,933 for other miscellaneous expenses throughout the year. In sum, residents attending Western Carolina University full time should expect a total annual cost of $19,018.
Out-of-State Tuition
Undergraduate tuition at Western Carolina University is $5,000 for out-of-state students. Additionally, out-of-state students are charged $11,097 for room and board, $621 for textbooks and educational resources, plus fees of $3,367. Students are advised to budget $2,933 for other expenses. When these costs are combined, annual out-of-state charges total $23,018. This figure is 21% higher than what North Carolina residents pay.
All price data is sourced from the 2021/2022 U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics survey.
Net Price
The average reported annual net price for Western Carolina University for students receiving grants or scholarship aid was $13,221 in 2019/2020. Net price includes tuition and required fees, books and supplies, and average cost for room and board and other expenses
The net price provides a more realistic estimate of the true cost of attending Western Carolina University, once common grants and scholarships have been taken into account. It's important to note that this net price can fluctuate based on factors such as family income and individual financial need.
Average Net Price 2019/2020
| Family Income | Net Price Paid |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $9,305 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $11,625 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $14,701 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $17,042 |
| $110,000+ | $17,857 |
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Financial Aid
83% of full-time undergrad Western Carolina University received financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, fellowships from the institution or from Federal, State or local government agencies. This aid averaged $5,319 per student during the 2019/2020 school year. Grant and scholarship aid does not need to be paid back. 60% of students received Federal Student Loans averaging $5,309 and 9% of undergrads took out private student loans averaging $8,925.
| Type | Avg./Student | Students Receiving |
|---|---|---|
| Total Grant and Scholarship Aid | $5,319 | 83% |
| Institutional Grants and Scholarships | $1,942 | 61% |
| Pell Grants | $4,808 | 37% |
| Other Federal Grants | $803 | 47% |
| State and Local Grants | $1,494 | 31% |
| Federal Student Loans | $5,309 | 60% |
| Other Student Loans | $8,925 | 9% |
Student Loans
To gauge a more realistic picture of what it may really cost you out of pocket to go to Western Carolina University, we've modeled a ten year student loan with an original principal value of $36,512. The loan balance of $36,512 is a four year multiple of the $9,128 average net price. This is a estimate of what you could owe upon graduation if you were to qualify for average financial aid and what a degree really may cost. Should you not qualify for financial aid, you may owe significantly more when you graduate. Based on these assumptions, a monthly repayment of $387 could be required to satisfy your student loan.
Please note that financial aid is not guaranteed and is only available for qualifying students. Federal Student Loans are not grants and must be repaid with interest. The current Stafford loan interest rate is 4.99%.
| Example Loan | $36,512 |
| Stafford Loan Interest Rate | 4.99% |
| Time to Pay Off Student Loan | 10 years |
| Example Monthly Payment | $387.09 |
| Total Interest Paid | $9,938.56 |
| Sum of All Loan Payments | $46,450.56 |
Projected 4 Year Degree Price
4 Year Sticker Price
| Year | North Carolina Residents | Non Residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $19,018 | $23,018 |
| 2 | $20,349 | $24,629 |
| 3 | $21,774 | $26,353 |
| 4 | $23,298 | $28,198 |
Based on published tuition prices, we estimate the current cost of a 4 year bachelor's degree and living expenses at Western Carolina University to be $76,072 - assuming graduation in normal time. The estimation assumes a 7% annual increase over the next 4 years which is the national trend.
Credit Hour Cost and Price per Class
| Price Per Credit | 3 Credit Class | 4 Credit Class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Residents | $177 | $531 | $708 | Out of State Residents | $333 | $999 | $1,332 |
Estimated cost for a class at Western Carolina University based on published credit hour prices. Note that not all schools allow single class enrollment. These prices should be used for comparison purposes as to how much it may cost to take a class at Western Carolina University versus other colleges.
Tuition Payment Plans Available
| Tuition Payment Plan | No |
| Prepaid Tuition Plan | No |
| Alternative Tuition Plan | No |
| Guaranteed Tuition Plan | No |
Costs for Similar Colleges
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Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=200004 IPEDS survey data for Western Carolina University.