International Graduate Student Costs

Full time international graduate student expenses

The estimated expenses for a full-time international graduate student for one academic year at Western are included here.

Note that bringing a spouse or dependent would add substantially to the cost of living in Bellingham while attending WWU, and will require additional proof of financial support.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling, MBA, Speech-Language Pathology, and Clinical Doctorate of Audiology have additional tuition expenses and are presented separately.

Financial responsibility

International students must assume all responsibility for student expenses. Proof of sufficient funds is required for the visa application process to gain entrance to the United States. Applicants need to complete the Declaration of Financial Responsibility on the application for admission, demonstrating that they can meet Western's estimated expenses for one year and that there is reasonable expectation that funds will be available for the complete course of study.

Since it is difficult for international students to get jobs while in the U.S., these funds must be available from sources other than potential employment. Acceptable evidence may take the form of notarized bank statements in U.S. funds in the student's or family's name, a scholastic award letter from a foundation, agency, government, industry, etc., or a notarized letter from an individual sponsor indicating willingness to provide support for the specified amount and accompanied by a verified bank statement.