Estimated Cost of Attendance
*Select the YEAR, CAMPUS, and CAREER PATH based on your current/future information*
*All costs other than Tuition, Mandatory Fees, and Program Fees are considered indirect costs. These are estimations based off of the average cost of housing, meal plans, and other expenses. Students will not be directly charged for indirect costs, and these expenses may vary depending on individual situations.
**This is not a bill. This is only an estimate based on financial aid packaging policies & timelines. For the EXACT COST of tuition and mandatory fees, refer to the Budget Office Figures. Washington State University reserves the right to increase or modify tuition and fees without prior notice, upon approval by the State of Washington and Washington State University Board of Regents and to make such modifications applicable to students enrolled at WSU at the time as well as to incoming students. In addition, all tuition and mandatory fees are subject to change at any time for correction of errors.
If you have questions or comments about tuition and fees charges on your account, please contact the Bursar’s Office.
If you have questions or comments about financial aid and the cost of attendance, please contact Student Financial Services.
Direct vs. Indirect Costs
Cost of Attendance Worksheet
Affording College at WSU
Important notes
- Tuition assumes full-time study:
- Undergraduate Students: 12-18 credits (Fall/Spring), 6 credits (Summer)
- Graduate Students 10-18 credits (Fall/Spring), 3 credits (Summer)
- Full time charges will be assessed at 10 credits, regardless of academic career (undergraduate, professional, etc.)
- Students are charged tuition based on the specific number of enrolled units
- Per cost of attendance regulations, housing, food, transportation and miscellaneous components are calculated based on actual weeks of enrollment within the term
- Check enrollment criteria for summer
- Housing & food cut in half if living with parents
- Minimum 2 credit charge for tuition
For the EXACT COST of tuition and mandatory fees,
Budget Office Figures
Detailed housing costs
Breaking down the costs for an academic year
When looking at the cost of college and budgeting your funds, there are two types of costs you need to consider: direct costs and indirect costs.
- Direct costs are those that must be paid to WSU to attend (i.e. tuition and fees).
- Indirect costs are things such as living expenses, transportation, miscellaneous expenses, etc.
It is important to differentiate between the two; indirect costs are simply estimates used by our office in the awarding process to ensure that you have enough aid, while direct costs are the actual amounts that will be charged to your myWSU account.
We include indirect costs in the budget so that aid can be awarded to assist you in paying living and miscellaneous expenses. The costs provided here are derived from past figures, institutional changes, and cost of living adjustments. They should be adequate for the average student; however, differences in lifestyle and individual tastes can dramatically affect these costs.
Keep in mind that financial aid awards cannot exceed the total cost of attendance (and in many cases will be less than that). If you have additional educational expenses, including additional course fees, or budget concerns that may change the amount of aid you’ve been offered, you may be eligible for a revision request or and special circumstances appeal.
If you have questions or concerns regarding your budgeted cost of attendance, please contact us.
Travel/transportation/miscellaneous expenses
These indirect costs are accounted for in the cost of attendance to ensure that students have the funds necessary to cover other aspects of their lives. It’s important to note that these allowances are calculated using averages. Per cost of attendance regulations transportation and miscellaneous components will be adjusted using actual weeks of enrollment within the term. Your actual expenses may also be higher or lower depending on your personal budget or spending habits. It is important for you to budget and plan accordingly.
Tuition
Tuition is a direct cost that you must pay to WSU student accounts. The full-time tuition charge covers from 10 to 18 credits at the same cost. Course loads of fewer than 10 or more than 18 credit hours are charged on a per-credit basis. A note for non-resident students: You should plan on paying non-resident tuition for each year you attend WSU. State policies do not allow individuals to become residents if they move to the state of Washington with the sole purpose of pursuing higher education. See the Registrar’s Office for more information on residency requirements.
Out-of-state students, who pay higher tuition than Washington residents, often need to carefully consider how they will finance their education. Most financial aid packages WSU offers to you as a non-resident, dependent student will include parent loans that require parents to be credit eligible. Families who are unable to assume these loans will need to pursue alternatives, such as finding someone to co-sign a loan with them or seeking other outside financial support.
Mandatory fees by Campus
Depending on which campus you decide to attend, you maybe responsible for paying mandatory fees. These are nonnegotiable and must be paid. This component, as well as the actual tuition, are the 2 aspects of the cost of attendance that are considered to be direct costs to you.
Housing and Food
This component of the cost of attendance is an estimate of your general costs of living for the academic year, regardless of WSU campus; it is not an indication of on-campus housing availability or requirements. It is comprised of average living costs, food or meal plans, and other factors. It is important to note that if on your financial aid application, you indicate that you plan to live at home with family, your Cost of Attendance will be reduced. For WSU Pullman students living in residence halls, housing and food is considered to be a direct cost due to the University. Actual costs for housing and food will vary based on whether students live in a residence hall, Greek housing, or off-campus. It is important that you budget and plan accordingly. Per cost of attendance regulations, housing and food allowances for financial aid are calculated based on actual weeks of enrollment within the term.
Books and Supplies
Books and supplies estimates are calculated using the average expenses of most students. Depending on your major and program of study, these costs can vary. These are indirect costs, paid by you out of pocket. For degree programs requiring the use of extensive materials or books, a Revision Request can be completed to account for any these additional costs.