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Introduction 
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PAIS Calculator
Scholarship Search
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Washington State Financial Aid Programs Washington State Residency More Online Resources Washington State Financial Aid ProgramsThe state of Washington offers financial aid opportunities to assist students pursuing a higher education. Most are open to students who are Washington residents with financial need.Washington State Need Grant This grant is for low-income or disadvantaged Washington residents who enroll as undergraduates at one of the state's public or private, two- or four-year colleges or participating proprietary schools. To qualify, you must demonstrate financial need and enroll at least half time as an undergraduate and not be pursuing a degree in theology. For 2005-2006, approximately 55,500 students received more than $150 million in grants. Awards ranged from $2,328 to $5,008, depending on the type of school. You're automatically considered for a State Need Grant when you submit the FAFSA for financial aid at the college you plan to attend. If you have child care costs that aren't covered by other agencies or programs, you may receive an additional dependent care allowance of up to $703. To apply, you must file the FAFSA. Washington Promise Scholarship The Washington Promise Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for low- and middle-income students who have achieved an excellent academic record throughout their high school years. The maximum grant is equal to about two years of community college tuition and can be used at any accredited Washington public or independent college. Funding for the Promise Scholarship for students from the graduating class of 2005 and beyond was recently eliminated. However, current recipients of the class of 2004 will receive the second and final year of their scholarships. For these students, the grant amount for the 2005-06 year is $1,254. The Washington Promise Scholarship Program will end with spring term 2006 and no payments will be made after June 30, 2006. Washington State Work-Study Each year the Washington State Work Study program helps about 8,100 students with financial need earn money to pay for their college expenses while gaining academic or vocational experience through part-time employment. While award amounts vary, students generally earn between $2,000 and $5,000 per year. State Work Study is available for undergraduate, graduate and professional students attending any eligible Washington public or independent college and who are not pursuing a degree in religious, seminarian or theological studies. Priority is given to Washington state residents. For more information, contact your college's financial aid office. Students are automatically considered for the State Work Study program by filing the FAFSA. Contact your school's financial aid office to determine if you're eligible and to identify employment opportunities. Educational Opportunity Grant Approximately 500 new $2,500 grants, renewable for one additional year, are awarded each year to "placebound" students with a financial need living in certain Washington counties as an incentive to complete their bachelor's degree. A placebound student is one who would find it difficult to complete the junior or senior year of a bachelor's degree without this grant due to family or job commitments, health concerns, financial considerations, or other reasons. To qualify, you must be a Washington resident, and have completed the first two years of college or have an associate of arts degree, associate of science degree or the equivalent. You also cannot have enrolled at the college you plan to attend during the prior year, or be pursuing a degree in religious, seminarian or theological studies. Applications are available from your college's financial aid office or the Higher Education Coordinating Board in October, prior to the year of enrollment. Your college's financial aid administrator must complete a section of the application, so be sure to give it to the administrator at least four weeks before your initial term of enrollment. You also must file the FAFSA. Funds are limited, with priority given to the earliest complete applications. Washington Scholars Scholarship This scholarship recognizes the academic, leadership and community accomplishments of the state's high school seniors. The award value depends on annual funding and the number of eligible students but may not be more than the undergraduate tuition at a public research university. You can receive a scholarship for up to 12 quarters or eight semesters of undergraduate study at a Washington public college or university. Those attending Washington independent institutions may receive a scholarship if their college matches the state grant dollar for dollar. High school seniors in the top 1 percent of their graduating class may be nominated for this award by their principal. From these nominations, three seniors from each legislative district are selected to receive scholarships. In addition, one alternate is designated in each legislative district in the event an original recipient relinquishes the award. For more information, contact your high school counselor in early fall or go to www.hecb.wa.gov/financialaid/wsp/wspindex.asp. Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) The WAVE award honors students for outstanding achievement in vocational or technical education. Each year, three students in each legislative district are selected to receive the tuition grants for up to two years. The amount of the award depends on annual funding and the number of eligible students but may not be more than the undergraduate tuition and fees at a Washington public research university. To be eligible, you must graduate from high school with at least 360 hours in an approved vocational program, or be enrolled in a community or technical college and have completed at least one year in an approved vocational program. High schools, skill centers, and community and technical colleges nominate students for this award. Notification letters are mailed to recipients in April. About two-thirds of the awards go to high school seniors. For more information, contact your high school's vocational administrator or WAVE coordinator in early fall, the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board at 360.753.0892, or log on to www.wtb.wa.gov/index.html. Future Teachers Conditional Scholarship/Loan Repayment This program is designed to encourage outstanding students and paraprofessionals to become teachers, and to encourage current teachers to obtain additional endorsements in teacher-shortage subjects. In return for conditional scholarships or loan repayments, participants agree to teach in Washington K-12 public schools. Individuals seeking certification or additional endorsements in math, science, technology, or special education can receive priority in the selection process. Individuals with demonstrated bilingual ability can also receive additional priority. Visit www.hecb.wa.gov/paying/waaidprgm/future.asp for more details about this program. Foster Youth Grants Up to $5,000 a year for college or vocational training is available for foster youth who have aged out of foster care or who were adopted after age 16. To learn more contact your college or the Washington Children's Administration at 360.902.8243 or e-mail ilskids@dshs.wa.gov. In addition, the state currently offers a scholarship that provides financial help to enable youth in foster care to finish high school and go on to complete college. Also, go to www.waedfoundation.org and select "Governor's Scholarship Program" or call toll free 425.416.2000. WICHE Student Exchanges You may be able to achieve your educational goals through the programs offered by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Through the Western Undergraduate Exchange, Washington residents may enroll in designated undergraduate programs and colleges in 14 states at 150 percent of resident tuition instead of paying out-of-state tuition. You should apply directly to the college you wish to attend and request admission as a "WUE" student. Last year, more than 2,609 Washington students took advantage of this program. The Regional Graduate Program enables qualified Washington residents to enroll in selected master's and doctoral programs out of state at reduced tuition rates. The programs are primarily in the science and liberal arts and not offered by Washington colleges. If you're interested, apply to the college you wish to attend and request admission as a "WICHE" student. The Professional Student Exchange Program provides tuition and fee assistance for Washington residents with financial need who would like to attend optometry and osteopathy programs at colleges outside the state. Each year about 13 students receive support fees of up to $16,000. Applications are available from the Higher Education Coordinating Board and are due no later than October 15 of the year before professional enrollment. To learn more, contact the Higher Education Coordinating Board, or the Certifying Officer for Washington, WICHE Student Exchange Program at 360.753.7861, or go to www.wiche.edu. American Indian Endowed Scholarship This scholarship is for students with financial need who have close cultural and social ties to an American Indian tribe or community in Washington state. The scholarships are funded with the interest earnings of an endowment established by state and private contributors, including individuals, corporations, and tribes. About 15 new scholarships of approximately $500 to $2,000 each are awarded annually. You must attend an in-state college full time and agree to use your education to benefit Native Americans. Applications are available in February from the Higher Education Coordinating Board and selections are made in June. Tuition and Fee Waiver Public two- and four-year colleges and universities in Washington can waive all or part of the tuition and fees for certain students with financial need. Each school has its own requirements. An estimated $13 million in waivers is granted each year. For more information and an application, contact each college's financial aid office when applying for admission. Yakama Scholarships and Assistance Financial aid of $1,500 to $2,000 is available to members of the Yakama Indian Nation through a number of programs, including Yakama College Student Assistance (also known as the BIA grant), the Yakama Tribal Scholarship and the Yakama Adult Vocational Training Program. For the $2,000 BIA grant, you must have financial need. To learn more, write to the Yakama Indian Nation, Higher Education Programs, P.O. Box 151, Toppenish, WA 98948, or call 509.865.5121, ext. 519. Students With Disabilities If you have a disability that makes it difficult for you to get a job or stay employed, you may be eligible for assistance from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation within the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. The Transition from School to Work Program can help you identify your career interests and learn what skills and training are needed to prepare for your career. To learn more, contact your teacher, high school counselor, or the local office of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, or call the main office at 800.637.5627 (or 360.438.8000). You can also visit www1.dshs.wa.gov/dvr. Families With Dependent Children If you're both a student and a parent, you may be eligible for educational assistance and training. Contact your local office of the Washington Department of Social and Health Services to learn more. For locations, visit https://wws2.wa.gov/dshs/onlinecso/cover.asp. Guaranteed Education Tuition Program Through Washington's Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) Program, residents can pay for a child's future college tuition at today's unit price. The state guarantees that when students enroll in college, they will receive the current value of the same number of tuition units that were purchased earlier. To learn more, call 877.GET.TUIT or visit www.get.wa.gov. Health Professional Scholarship and Loan Repayment This scholarship encourages qualified individuals, regardless of financial need, to provide primary care in rural and underserved urban areas of Washington state. The scholarship pays a portion of your professional education expenses in return for providing primary care in a designated health-professional shortage area for three to five years, depending on how many years you received the scholarship. You don't need to be a Washington resident or attend a college in the state, but you must be eligible for licensure in Washington. If you don't complete the service required, you must repay the scholarship, along with penalty and interest costs. Applications are available from the Higher Education Coordinating Board in January and are due in late April. Under the loan repayment program, you can have up to $25,000 of your student loan debt repaid each year for serving as a health professional in an underserved area for at least three years. If you work a fourth and fifth year, up to $35,000 a year in student loan debt will be repaid. You don't need to be a Washington resident, but must be licensed by the state. Applications are available from the Higher Education Coordinating Board, with deadlines in February and July. Washington State ResidencyFor tuition purposes, determinations of residency status at public colleges and universities are made by administrators at each college or university. In general, to be considered a resident, you must demonstrate that Washington is your permanent home. You need to have been domiciled in Washington for a least one year and provide appropriate documentation to be eligible for in-state tuition. If you're a dependent student, determination is based on the residency status of your parents or legal guardian.For more information, contact each college's financial aid or residency office when applying for admission. More Online ResourcesIf you think you'll need financial help, apply for it. For more information, contact your high school counselor or college financial aid administrator or go to:The Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board, for more on the state's financial aid programs. You may write to the board at P.O. Box 43430, Olympia, WA 98504-3430 or call toll free 888.535.0747. The Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, for more on the Washington Award for Vocational Excellence. You can write to the board at 128 10th Avenue, SW, or P.O. Box 43105, Olympia, WA 98504-3105 or call 360.586.3321. The Washington Education Foundation, which provides college scholarships and mentoring to low-income, high school students. EDFUND, for information on low-interest federal student loans, college and financial planning, strategies on managing loans and more. Or call toll free 877.2EDFUND (that's 877.233.3863). The Federal Student Aid Information Center, for more on Pell Grants, other federal grants and loans, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Or call toll free 800.4FED.AID (that's 800.433.3243). |
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