Washington College Grant
Offered by Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) · Free to apply
Among the most generous state aid programs in the country, this grant scales with income: a family of four at roughly $83,500 or less qualifies for the full award, worth up to full public college tuition, and partial awards reach about $139,500 (2026-27 thresholds). It follows the student to public and private colleges, registered apprenticeships, certificate programs, and job training, part time or full time, at any age, with no GPA or test score requirement. Undocumented Washington residents file the WASFA instead of the FAFSA, and filing one of those two forms is the entire application. Funding is an entitlement rather than first come, first served, so filing late does not forfeit eligibility, though awards only pay terms inside the aid year that ends June 30. Renewal needs a fresh FAFSA or WASFA plus satisfactory academic progress.
How hard is the Washington College Grant to win?
This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives.
- Estimated odds
- qualifying students generally receive it
- Paperwork
- ~1 hr to file
What drives the odds here
Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.
- Fewer rivalsOpen only to Washington residents
- Fewer rivalsAn income ceiling applies
How Solyo estimates this: State programs that allocate by published formula are modelled on qualification and filing, not on competition, because there is no selection committee choosing between applicants. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.
Who can apply for the Washington College Grant?
These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.
- Must be a resident of Washington
- Open to high school seniors, current college students, transfer students, and adult learners
- Household income of $180,000 or less
- FAFSA or WASFA (for undocumented students) is the only application; no separate form
- Must not already hold a bachelor's degree
- Full award for lower-income families (around $83,500 for a family of four in 2026-27), with sliding partial awards up to roughly $139,500; thresholds scale by family size and reset annually
- Usable for certificate programs, job training, registered apprenticeships, and college, part time or full time
- No minimum GPA or test score; prior academic record is not a barrier to initial eligibility
- Explicitly open to undocumented Washington residents via the WASFA
What the application takes
No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is June 30, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around June 30 each year. Applications open when the FAFSA and WASFA open on October 1. No state date pressure since the award is guaranteed, but file by your college's own priority date to be packaged with the rest of your aid.
- FAFSA and WASFA open
- October 1, 2026
- Award included in the college aid offer
- Winter and spring
- Aid year closes
- June 30, 2027
Does your student actually qualify?
See if your student qualifies in 30 seconds. Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
Common questions about the Washington College Grant
How much is the Washington College Grant worth?
The Washington College Grant awards up to full public college tuition (sliding scale by income) and is renewable in later years.
When is the Washington College Grant deadline?
The current deadline is June 30, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around June 30 each year. Applications open when the FAFSA and WASFA open on October 1. No state date pressure since the award is guaranteed, but file by your college's own priority date to be packaged with the rest of your aid.
When do Washington College Grant applications open?
Applications open when the FAFSA and WASFA open on October 1, and close June 30, 2027. No state date pressure since the award is guaranteed, but file by your college's own priority date to be packaged with the rest of your aid.
Who is eligible for the Washington College Grant?
Key requirements: Must be a resident of Washington; Open to high school seniors, current college students, transfer students, and adult learners; Household income of $180,000 or less.
Does the Washington College Grant require an essay?
No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 1 hour on it.
How hard is it to win the Washington College Grant?
This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives. Solyo classifies this award as formula-based, meaning qualifying students generally receive it. Plan on about 1 hr of paperwork.
Is the Washington College Grant free to apply?
Yes. The Washington College Grant is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More state grants & programs
- 802 Opportunity GrantFull tuition and the $100 administrative fee at CCV (last-dollar)
- Access Missouri Financial Assistance ProgramVaries by SAI and school type per statutory table (amounts prorated if funding is short)
- Alabama Student Grant ProgramUp to $3,000/yr ($1,500 per semester; actual amount depends on state funding)
- Alaska Education Grant$500-$4,000/yr based on need and enrollment level
- Alaska Performance Scholarship$3,500-$7,000/yr depending on tier
- Arizona Promise ProgramFull tuition & mandatory fees at Arizona public universities (last-dollar)
Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.