Is WashU or UCLA cheaper overall for an out-of-state student?

For an out-of-state student paying full price, UCLA usually comes out cheaper overall than WashU, but the gap is not always huge once you include housing, meals, fees, books, and travel. UCLA’s out-of-state tuition is high by public-university standards, yet WashU is a private university with a higher sticker price in most years. Total cost at both schools is substantial, and the final difference often depends on financial aid more than travel or book costs.

WashU can become the less expensive option if you receive strong need-based aid or merit scholarship support there. Private universities sometimes discount their published price more aggressively than an out-of-state public school. So at full pay, UCLA often has the lower total bill, but with aid, WashU can absolutely flip the comparison.

Living costs matter, but they usually do not overturn the basic pattern. UCLA housing and Los Angeles day-to-day expenses can be expensive, while St. Louis is often more manageable for off-campus living and everyday spending. On the other hand, UCLA’s campus fees and nonresident charges are a major part of the bill, so even somewhat cheaper living in Missouri does not automatically make WashU cheaper overall.

Travel is the most personal variable here. If you live closer to one campus, flights or repeated trips home can noticeably change your yearly cost, but for most students travel is still smaller than the tuition-and-aid difference. The smartest way to compare them is by lining up each school’s full cost of attendance and then subtracting grants and scholarships, because that net price is what often decides this question.