Cost of Attendance
Cost of Attendance
The Cost of Attendance, or COA, is an estimate of the amount it will cost a student to attend CWU during the regular academic year. The direct (actual) costs will depend on the campus modality, housing, and dining choices.
If you’re attending at least half time, the COA is the estimate of
- tuition and fees
- books, course materials, supplies, and equipment;
- cost of housing and food (or living expenses);
- transportation expenses;
- loan fees (excluding any loan fees for non-federal student loans);
- miscellaneous expenses.
Contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships if you have additional costs that need to be included. We can include items like
- an allowance for childcare or other dependent care;
- the purchase of a computer and necessary software (one time only);
- costs related to a disability;
- costs of obtaining a license, certification, or a first professional credential; or
- reasonable costs for eligible study abroad programs.
Note: Increasing the COA for approved expenses does not necessarily mean a student is eligible for more financial aid. It is important to consult with a financial aid counselor to discuss your funding options.
For help with understanding costs and aid- review our Paying for College Guide.
Washington Residents COA
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Undergraduate/Post Baccalaureate Students
Select one of the links below to view the itemized, quarterly tuition and fee schedules for resident undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students attending the Ellensburg campus, one of the CWU Centers, or online.
26-27 Resident Undergrad/Pbac: Ellensburg Campus
2026-2027 Cost On Campus On Campus with dependents Off Campus With Parent Tuition 7,716 7,716 7,716 7,716 Mandatory Fees 2,396 2,396 2,396 2,396 Housing 9,718 11,681 9,718 4,500 Food 6,562 9,843 6,562 3,225 Books & Supplies 900 900 900 900 Loan fees 66 66 66 66 Personal 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 Transportation 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200 Annual COA $30,058 $35,302 $30,058 $21,503 Quarterly COA $10,019 $11,767 $10,019 $7,168 26-27 Resident Undergrad/Pbac: Centers and Online
2026-2027 Cost On Campus Off Campus With Parent Tuition 7,716 7,716 7,716 Mandatory Fees 1,386 1,386 1,386 Housing 9,718 9,718 4,500 Food 6,562 6,562 3,225 Books & Supplies 900 900 900 Loan fees 66 66 66 Personal 1,500 1,500 1,500 Transportation 1,200 1,200 1,200 Annual COA $29,048 $29,048 $20,493 Quarterly COA $9,683 $9,683 $6,831 -
Graduate Students
Select one of the links below to view the itemized, quarterly tuition and fee schedules for graduate students attending the Ellensburg campus, one of the CWU Centers, or online.
26-27 Resident Graduate: Ellensburg Campus
2026-2027 Cost On Campus On Campus with dependents Off Campus With Parent Tuition 11,772 11,772 11,772 11,772 Mandatory Fees 2,396 2,396 2,396 2,396 Housing 9,718 11,681 9,718 4,500 Food 6,562 9,843 6,562 3,225 Books & Supplies 900 900 900 900 Loan fees 66 66 66 66 Personal 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 Transportation 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200 Annual COA $34,114 $39,358 $34,114 $25,559 Quarterly COA $11,371 $13,119 $11,371 $8,520 26-27 Resident Graduate: Centers and Online
2026-2027 Cost On campus Off campus With parent Tuition 11,772 11,772 11,772 Mandatory Fees 1,386 1,386 1,386 Housing 9,718 9,718 4,500 Food 6,562 6,562 3,225 Books & Supplies 900 900 900 Loan fees 66 66 66 Personal 1,500 1,500 1,500 Transportation 1,200 1,200 1,200 Annual COA $33,104 $33,104 $24,549 Quarterly COA $11,035 $11,035 $8,183 -
College of Business Graduate Students
Select one of the links below to view the itemized, quarterly tuition and fee schedules for non-resident College of Business (COB) graduate students attending the Ellensburg campus, one of the CWU Centers, or online.
26-27 Resident COB Grad: Ellensburg Campus
2026-2027 Cost On Campus On Campus with Dependents Off Campus With Parent Tuition 14,718 14,718 14,718 14,718 Mandatory Fees 2,396 2,396 2,396 2,396 Housing 9,718 11,681 9,718 4,500 Food 6,562 9,843 6,562 3,225 Books & Supplies 900 900 900 900 Loan fees 66 66 66 66 Personal 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 Transportation 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200 Annual COA $37,060 $42,304 $37,060 $28,505 Quarterly COA $12,353 $14,101 $12,353 $9,502 26-27 Resident COB Graduate: Centers and Online
2026-2027 Cost On Campus Off Campus With Parent Tuition 14,718 14,718 14,718 Mandatory Fees 1,386 1,386 1,386 Housing 9,718 9,718 4,500 Food 6,562 6,562 3,225 Books & Supplies 900 900 900 Loan fees 66 66 66 Personal 1,500 1,500 1,500 Transportation 1,200 1,200 1,200 Annual COA $36,050 $36,050 $27,495 Quarterly COA $12,017 $12,017 $9,165
Non-Washington Residents COA
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Undergraduate/Post Baccalaureate Students
Select one of the links below to view the itemized, quarterly tuition and fee schedules for non-resident undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students attending the Ellensburg campus, one of the CWU Centers, or online.
26-27 Non-Resident Undergrad/Pbac: Ellensburg Campus
2026-2027 Cost On Campus On Campus with Dependents Off Campus With Parent Tuition 27,041 27,041 27,041 27,041 Mandatory Fees 2,396 2,396 2,396 2,396 Housing 9,718 11,681 9,718 4,500 Food 6,562 9,843 6,562 3,225 Books & Supplies 900 900 900 900 Loan fees 66 66 66 66 Personal 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 Transportation 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200 Annual COA $49,383 $54,627 $49,383 $40,828 Quarterly COA $16,461 $18,209 $16,461 $13,609 26-27 Non-Resident Undergrad/Pbac: Centers and Online
2026-2027 Cost On Campus Off Campus With Parent Tuition 27,041 27,041 27,041 Mandatory Fees 1,386 1,386 1,386 Housing 9,718 9,718 4,500 Food 6,562 6,562 3,225 Books & Supplies 900 900 900 Loan fees 66 66 66 Personal 1,500 1,500 1,500 Transportation 1,200 1,200 1,200 Annual COA $48,373 $48,373 $39,818 Quarterly COA $16,124 $16,124 $13,273 -
Graduate Students
Select one of the links below to view the itemized, quarterly tuition and fee schedules for non-resident graduate students attending the Ellensburg campus, one of the CWU Centers, or online.
26-27 Non-Resident Graduate: Ellensburg Campus
2026-2027 Cost On Campus On Campus with Dependents Off Campus With Parent Tuition 27,579 27,579 27,579 27,579 Mandatory Fees 2,396 2,396 2,396 2,396 Housing 9,718 11,681 9,718 4,500 Food 6,562 9,843 6,562 3,225 Books & Supplies 900 900 900 900 Loan fees 66 66 66 66 Personal 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 Transportation 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200 Annual COA $49,921 $55,165 $49,921 $41,366 Quarterly COA $16,640 $18,388 $16,640 $13,789 26-27 Non-Resident Graduate: Centers and Online
2026-2027 Cost On Campus Off Campus With Parent Tuition 27,579 27,579 27,579 Mandatory Fees 1,386 1,386 1,386 Housing 9,718 9,718 4,500 Food 6,562 6,562 3,225 Books & Supplies 900 900 900 Loan fees 66 66 66 Personal 1,500 1,500 1,500 Transportation 1,200 1,200 1,200 Annual COA $48,911 $48,911 $40,356 Quarterly COA $16,304 $16,304 $13,452 -
College of Business Graduate Students
Select one of the links below to view the itemized, quarterly tuition and fee schedules for College of Business (COB) graduate students attending the Ellensburg campus, one of the CWU Centers, or online.
26-27 Non-Resident COB Graduate: Ellensburg Campus
2026-2027 Cost On Campus On Campus with Dependents Off Campus With Parent Tuition 27,579 27,579 27,579 27,579 Mandatory Fees 2,396 2,396 2,396 2,396 Housing 9,718 11,681 9,718 4,500 Food 6,562 9,843 6,562 3,225 Books & Supplies 900 900 900 900 Loan fees 66 64 66 64 Personal 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 Transportation 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200 Annual COA $49,921 $55,165 $49,921 $41,366 Quarterly COA $16,640 $18,388 $16,640 $13,789 26-27 Non-Resident COB Graduate: Centers and Online
2026-2027 Cost On Campus Off Campus With Parent Tuition 27,579 27,579 27,579 Mandatory Fees 1,386 1,386 1,386 Housing 9,718 9,718 4,500 Food 6,562 6,562 3,225 Books & Supplies 900 900 900 Loan fees 66 64 64 Personal 1,500 1,500 1,500 Transportation 1,200 1,200 1,200 Annual COA $48,911 $48,911 $40,356 Quarterly COA $16,304 $16,304 $13,452
Mandatory Fees
The 2026-2027 Cost of Attendance (COA) is estimated for one regular academic year: Fall 2026, Winter 2027, and Spring 2027. It is subject to change by action of the State of Washington or CWU Board of Trustees. Costs may vary based on personal decisions; CWU encourages students to accept the amount of aid needed to meet educational expenses.
Mandatory Fees:
| Services & Activities Fee | $294.30 |
| Wellness Fee* | $18.00 |
| Athletic Fee* | $74.60 |
| Rec Center Fee* | $132.00 |
| Student Union Fee* | $89.00 |
| Central Transit Fee* | $3.00 |
| Basic Needs Fee* | $15.00 |
| Student Green Fund Fee* | $5.00 |
| Telehealth, Medical & Counseling Fee | $128.22 |
| Student Lobby Fee | $2.00 |
| Tutoring Center Fee | $7.50 |
| Technology Fee | $30.00 |
| Ellensburg Campus per quarter | $798.62 |
| Centers/Online per quarter | $462.02 |
*Ellensburg campus only
A complete list of mandatory and miscellaneous fees can be found in the 2026-27 Course Catalog.
All government sponsored students are assessed a $200 Sponsored Student fee for each quarter of attendance (fall, winter, spring, and summer quarters).
Housing and food costs vary; the above costs were determined in compliance with federal Department of Education requirements and may not reflect the price of CWU housing and food options. Each quarter, excess funds will be released to students for living expenses after add/drop.
Adjustments: The budgeted costs of specific COA items can be increased with proper documentation. Increasing the budget does not mean additional financial aid is available.
- Transportation costs vary depending on factors such as the need for transportation to a job or internship, length of commute to in-person classes, and distance traveled to your home on scheduled breaks. If your transportation expenses exceed the budgeted amount, you may request an increase in your transportation allowance.
- If you have additional dependent care expenses, you may submit a request to include them in your cost of attendance.
- Once during your academic career, you may request a cost of attendance allowance to purchase a computer.
CWU and State Employee Benefits
For information about CWU & State Employee Tuition Exemption eligibility, visit our Faculty & Staff Resources page.
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