Tuition
Offered completely online and requiring no supplemental on-campus residency, our online graduate programs are accessible and affordable for students from around the world. Tuition and fees are based upon the current WVU Fee Schedule. All online marketing communications master's degree students are assessed the in-state tuition rate, regardless of residency.
Cost Per Credit Hour
$816
Cost Per Course (3 credit hours)
$2,448
Estimated Graduate Certificate Program Cost (12 credit hours)
$9,792
Estimated Master’s Degree Program Cost (30 credit hours)
$24,480
Financial Aid
The WVU Hub is your connection to information on financial aid, costs of attendance, and payment options for your master’s degree. Contact the WVU Hub for more information at 304-293-1988.
For online graduate students, the following types of aid are generally available:
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Federal Direct Student Loans
- Must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid each year at least 4 weeks prior to the term in which you want financial aid.
- Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students; there is no requirement to demonstrate financial need.
- Must be degree seeking (master’s degree in IMC or Data only, graduate certificate programs are not eligible as they are non-degree)
- Maximum annual amount $20,500 (unsubsidized only) or cost of attendance
- Must be enrolled at least half-time (a minimum of 5 credit hours in fall/spring and 3 credit hours in summer) during the semester for which the loan is processed
- Current interest rates and repayment terms for federal student loans are published on the Federal Student Aid website
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Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loans (no longer available starting July 1, 2026)
- Direct PLUS Loans are loans made to eligible graduate and professional degree students who need to borrow more than the maximum unsubsidized loan amounts to meet their education costs
- Credit based loan (a credit check will be done)
- Must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid each year
- Must be degree seeking (master’s degree in IMC or Data only, graduate certificate programs are not eligible as they are non-degree)
- Maximum annual amount is the cost of attendance minus any other financial assistance received (including Federal Direct Student Loan)
- Must be enrolled at least half-time (a minimum of 4 credit hours in fall/spring and 3 credit hours in summer) during the term for which the loan is processed
- Current interest rates and repayment terms for federal student loans are published on the Federal Student Aid website
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Private Loans
- Private student loans are nonfederal loans, made by a lender such as a bank, credit union, state agency, etc.
- Credit-based loan (Application Required)
- Your application cannot be certified until after you are registered for classes and have accepted or declined any other financial aid you have been offered
- Access the list of lenders used by WVU students (No specific endorsements of these lenders are intended by WVU, the Financial Aid Office, and the IMC, Digital, or Data program.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) was signed into law on July 4, 2025, and introduces significant changes to federal student loans, borrowing limits, and repayment plans starting July 1, 2026. This will affect aid borrowed for the 2026-2027 Academic Year. One key change is that the Graduate PLUS loan will no longer be available to new students. If students need to borrow more than the amount available from the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, they will be required to apply for a private loan. More information about this change can be found on the following sites:
WVU Planning and Resources OBBB
NASFAA One Big Beautiful Bill Act Web Center
2026-27 & Beyond Graduate Student Loan Borrowing Limits
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Employer Reimbursement
The employer must submit an official letter authorizing WVU to invoice them and must include details (e.g., % of cost covered, student info). Contact the WVU Hub with any questions regarding this process.
Important Information about the Financial Aid Process
The cost of attendance is estimated by West Virginia University and includes educational costs for the academic year. This includes tuition (direct cost) and indirect costs, books, personal expenses, transportation, and living expenses. This is included in your financial aid package which is available for review in the WVU Portal.
- The total financial aid package cannot exceed the financial aid cost of attendance. You do not need to accept all aid offered.
- Students who do not opt out of the school’s health insurance plan can request that their loan be increased by the cost of the health insurance for the academic year.
- A federal loan processing fee will be included and assessed for each loan that is taken out by the student.
- A Cost and Resource Planner is available at https://hub.wvu.edu/planning-and-resources/planner.
- Employee and Graduate Assistantship Tuition Waivers are no longer accepted by the College of Creative Arts and Media Online Programs.
-Tuition cost is determined by the West Virginia University Board of Governors and released annually in June/July. The academic year includes fall, spring, and summer.
Financial aid may be adjusted if you alter your enrollment during the fall/spring/summer terms or if you do not earn at least one passing grade in a term. Previously awarded aid may be adjusted if you obtain additional funding that was not originally part of your financial aid package. Adjustments to financial aid can result in the need to return funds to WVU.
You must maintain a certain level of satisfactory academic progress to retain aid eligibility. Students must complete 67% of all attempted credits and maintain at least a 2.75 cumulative grade point average. For more details, review the entire policy on satisfactory academic progress for graduate students.Questions about financial aid?
Contact our Enrollment Specialist at wvuimc@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-6278.