Washington has one of the most expansive financial aid programs of any U.S. state, the Washington College Grant. But according to Governor Jay Inslee, few students are aware that they can apply. They often assume the program is reserved for low-income students, or don’t know about it at all.
To apply, students need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. But last year, 44.9% of seniors filled out the FAFSA according to the Washington Student Achievement Council, the fourth-lowest rate of any state. So far, 34% of seniors have applied this year.
On May 1, Gov. Inslee’s office published a call for students to apply before next month’s deadline. Here’s what you need to know.
What is the Washington College Grant?
As its name suggests, the Washington College Grant is a need-based financial aid package that the state offers to students. The grant is open to students at a four or two year college, as well as trade schools and career training programs. It’s separate from the federal Pell Grant or any aid an individual college offers.
Who’s Eligible?
The grant is open to Washington residents attending college or a career training program in the state, as long as their income falls below a certain amount. Families of four need to make less than $120,500 to qualify for the minimum award. That number drops to $101,000 for families of three, and rises to $139,500 for families of five.
In order to qualify for the maximum grant, a family of four has to make $78,500 or less, while a family of five has to make under $91,000 and a family of three can’t make more than $65,500.
A detailed breakdown of income requirements for families of each size can be found on WSAC’s website.
What does WA college grant cover?
The maximum award covers in-state tuition at a public college. That amounts to roughly $12,400 for the University of Washington and $11,900 for Washington State University. The grant is capped at $9,739 for students at non-profit private colleges and $8,517 for students at for-profit colleges.
The minimum grant is much lower – around $1,000 for both public and private four-year schools.
If you’re still not sure how much aid you’d receive, you can use the state’s grant calculator to get a personalized estimate.
How can you apply?
To apply, you just need to fill out the FAFSA. The application deadline is June 30. For those who can’t fill out the FAFSA due to their immigration status, primarily undocumented students, the state offers the Washington Application for State Financial Aid.