Tuition and affordability
Anticipating your costs
Find detailed information about tuition and expenses.
To get a grip on direct costs, indirect costs and see tips on how to compare cost of attendance across colleges, download the WSU Vancouver Cost of Attendance worksheet.
How to manage the cost of a college education
More than 80% of WSU Vancouver students receive some type of financial aid, and nearly half pay no out-of-pocket tuition. In just three steps, you can get the maximum financial aid you qualify for.
Apply for financial aid
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the gateway to grants, loans, scholarships and work study. If you are not eligible to submit the FAFSA, submit the WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) instead. As soon as the application process opens, get your application in. File your FAFSA/WASFA as soon as possible every year. All WSU campuses use the same school code: 003800.
Apply for scholarships
Scholarships can be an important part of paying for a college education. They provide money that does not have to be paid back.
- WSU scholarships: WSU Vancouver students are eligible for both WSU systemwide scholarships and WSU Vancouver-specific scholarships. Submit the WSU General Scholarship Application by January 31 to be considered.
- Non-WSU scholarships: Many scholarships are available from outside sources. Take the initiative to research and apply for additional funding at the washboard.org and finaid.wsu.edu/scholarships.
Take advantage of special opportunities
Eligible College Bound scholarship students get their tuition completely covered, plus a little extra for education-related expenses.
WSU Vancouver awards for high-academic achievers (no application required—awarded automatically based on eligibility)
- Vancouver Academic Achievement Award: A renewable $3,000 scholarship.
- Vancouver Transfer Achievement Award: A renewable scholarship of up to $1,200 per term. Maximum award is $4,800 over three years
If you live in Oregon’s Clackamas, Multnomah or Washington county, you may qualify for reduced tuition equal to in-state rates, thanks to the PDX Tuition Advantage.
If you live in one of 13 Oregon border counties, you may be eligible for the state of Washington’s Border Bill program, which allows you to pay in-state tuition if you attend part-time.
For all other out-of-state students, the Western Undergraduate Exchange is a renewable $12,000 award available to first-year and transfer students.
Tell Me About Student Debt
You’ve seen sensational headlines about student debt. This is how student debt shakes out.
The WSU Vancouver average student debt is incurred only among those students who take loans. More than half of students leave with no debt. If you have questions about how to manage the cost of a college education, contact Student Financial Services at 360-546-9788 or van.finaid@wsu.edu.
$33K
U.S. Average
$25K
WSU Average
$19K
WSU Vancouver
More ways to save
Live at home: Many students choose WSU Vancouver because it's close to home. If you can live at home while attending college, you can save about $12,000 a year by not having to pay for housing, dining and transportation at a distant university.
Find a job: Work opportunities are abundant on campus and in the community - and can help build your resume. On-campus jobs teach career skills such as time management, software applications, customer service, communication, business writing and more. Undergraduate students also have the opportunity to work side-by-side with professors on their research and creative endeavors.
Ride free: Students may ride C-TRAN for free within Clark County.
Resources and opportunities
Paying for your WSU Vancouver education
To assess what college might cost you personally, see the WSU financial aid estimator and net price calculator.
