Western Washington University

What is the cost of studying for a year at Western Washington University?

For 2025-26, Western Washington University's reported full-time undergraduate tuition and required fees totaled about $9,582 for Washington residents and $28,332 for nonresidents. These are published charges before grants or scholarships, not estimates of what every student pays.

The same reporting data lists typical annual room and board charges of $18,510 and books and supplies of $1,224. Adding those amounts to tuition and required fees gives a limited subtotal of about $29,316 for a resident or $48,441 for a nonresident. Those subtotals are not complete cost-of-attendance estimates: transportation, personal expenses and other individual costs are additional. A student living off campus may have different housing and food costs.

Financial aid can change the amount a student ultimately pays. In the reported aid data, 95% of students received some form of financial aid, and the average undergraduate grant award across the specified grant sources was $9,066. Aid is not distributed equally: an applicant's residency, income, enrollment and eligibility affect the offer.

Eligible students can seek federal grants and loans through the FAFSA, as well as Washington state aid and Western scholarships under the applicable rules. Washington residents should examine state grant eligibility; students using veterans' education benefits should confirm how those benefits interact with tuition, housing allowances and other aid. For a useful comparison with other universities, request a current cost-of-attendance budget and compare net cost after grants, not just the tuition rate.

What are the work-study opportunities at Western Washington University?

Western Washington University students can pursue part-time campus employment, and eligible students may receive Federal Work-Study as part of a financial aid offer. Work-Study is a way to earn wages through an approved job; it is not an automatic tuition discount or a guarantee of employment.

Students generally need to complete the applicable financial aid application to be considered for Federal Work-Study and then apply for positions. Ordinary student jobs may be available without a Work-Study award. Hours, duties and hiring decisions vary by employer, and an off-campus position counts as Work-Study only if it meets program rules.

Western's career services offer separate support for longer-term planning, including individual counseling, résumé and interview help, employer events, job-search resources and networking opportunities. Internships can provide career experience, but the university does not require an internship of every undergraduate. Students should distinguish an internship's academic-credit and pay arrangements from those of a regular campus job.