Washington State is home to some of the world's most innovative tech companies from Microsoft to Amazon, not to mention Starbucks, Zillow, T-Mobile, Redfin and Costco, that are also headquartered in the Evergreen State! Washington is known for its gorgeous mountain ranges, volcanoes, coastline, and the eclectic excitement of Seattle, known as the "Emerald City."
You may have the chance to add to your college savings fund with these Washington scholarships. We’ve already done the searching for you; all you need to do is apply! Browse through our list of awards for Washington students to see all the awards available to you.
$7,500
Award Amount
5
Awards
Jun 30
Deadline
Scholarships are open to residents that reside in Zip Code 20024, who wish to pursue, or are pursuing, any course of study at an accredited undergraduate college, university or technical institution. The scholarship committee reviews the applications and conducts verification checks. Applicants are judged on a number of factors including acceptance to college or post-secondary institution, scholastic achievements, letters of recommendation, community involvement and a personal essay. Scholarship recipients are required to attend an awards program.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Nov 30
Deadline
Pontius Tax Law, PLLC is a proud supporter of U.S. Veterans. The firm’s founder, John Pontius, is a Veteran himself and is committed to honoring the military personnel who have served our country. Attorney Pontius started practicing law in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps with the 1st Armored Division in Germany and was later deployed to Iraq. Attorney Pontius also has experience supervising the IRS-sponsored military Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program in Germany. There he managed eight employees and ensured quality control of over 2,000 federal and 700 state tax returns for members of the military service.
Due to Attorney Pontius’ close ties to the military, he has decided to create a scholarship specifically for Veterans or a U.S. veteran’s child. Pontius Tax Law believes Veterans are owed a huge debt for the service they do for our country. We are looking to hear from Veterans, or the children of Veterans on ways that we as a community could better support Veterans. We are also looking to hear how being a Veteran or child of a Veteran has impacted your life and changed your views. The deadline for this $1,000 scholarship is November 30, 2024. If you are a Veteran or a child of a Veteran, please be sure to apply! Thank you to all those who have served and continue to serve our country.
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$1,000
Award Amount
2
Awards
May 1
Deadline
The CCD Law Spokane Community Scholarship is available to high school seniors who reside in Washington and will be attending college in the fall.
CCD Law has a Privacy Policy for all applicants’ submissions. These submissions will be for our office use only. No third party will be granted access to any information that we collect during this process. At the time of the submission deadline, we will evaluate all submissions and contact the winning applicant or FA dept. of the university. Students awarded scholarships will be featured on this website if they choose to have their photo taken.
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$5,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 15
Deadline
The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the annual National Washington Crossing Foundation Scholarship Awards for students completing twelfth grade (or final high school year) in 2023 who are planning careers in government service. Scholarship applicants must be citizens of the United States. The Trustees and Members of the Foundation, mindful of the significance of the important event in our nation’s history that occurred at Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, believe that if our country is to continue to progress, we must have thoroughly trained, dedicated young people to carry on our government’s work in future years.
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$20,000
Award Amount
20
Awards
Apr 15
Deadline
APCF was founded in 1990 by API community leaders in response to the need for alternative funding for Los Angeles-based nonprofit organizations serving API communities. Since 2011, APCF has partnered with donors such as local companies and family foundations to offer scholarship programs to financially assist students in their pursuit of higher education.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Dec 30
Deadline
David Benowitz, a founding partner of Price Benowitz LLP, has served as a high-profile criminal defense attorney for over 20 years. As a criminal defense attorney, David Benowitz has immense respect for public servants in our community.
Attorney Benowitz’s passion for public service and desire to encourage those considering entering this arena inspired him to create the Recognizing Public Servants Scholarship. Through this scholarship, attorney David Benowitz would like to give students the opportunity to share their thoughts on the vital role played by public servants in our communities.
Students are asked to compose a 750-1,000 word essay discussing the importance of public servants and public service in our society, focusing on the crucial role of public defenders within our legal system. Showcase your understanding of why public servants, especially public defenders, are essential pillars of justice and equitable access to the law. The scholarship will award $1,000 to the student who expresses their thoughts with insight and creativity on the importance of public servants and their work.
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$1,000
Award Amount
1
Award
Jul 1
Deadline
One of the rewarding things about being a personal injury attorney is helping people overcome difficult challenges. We truly enjoy using our abilities and knowledge to help others.
We want to help make the same opportunities to help available to others who aspire to use the law to achieve justice and make the world a better and safer place. We are therefore happy to offer two $1,000.00 annual scholarships – one for the fall semester and one for the spring semester – to deserving and qualified students.
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$22,500
Award Amount
1
Award
Feb 11
Deadline
Washington State Opportunity Baccalaureate Scholarship helps low- and middle-income Washington students earn degrees, certificates or apprenticeships in high-demand trade, health care or STEM fields and launch careers in Washington state with up to $22,500 in aid.
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$10,000
Award Amount
3
Awards
Feb 15
Deadline
U.S. undergraduate students who are enrolled in a hospitality management program and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher are eligible for this award. Applicants must attend and be nominated by an American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA) member school.
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$500
Award Amount
1
Award
Jan 31
Deadline
The William Bennett, W7PHO, Memorial Scholarship is open to international and U.S. undergraduate and graduate students who are licensed radio amateurs (general class or higher) and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Students must reside in the areas covered by the ARRL Northwest, Pacific, or Southwest divisions.
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Washington is known for its world-renowned colleges and universities including University of Washington (UW), Washington State University (WSU), Seattle University, Evergreen State College, Whitworth University, University of Puget Sound, and Gonzaga University! With all these great institutions, Washington State takes pride in keeping college affordable!
Washington State is a highly desirable place to study with 291,303 students enrolled across 37 colleges and universities, as of spring 2024.
Understanding Scholarships in Washington State
Before we look at the grants and scholarships that can help make attending college in Washington more affordable, it is important to understand how much going to college in the Evergreen State will cost.
Tuition and fees to attend UW in 2024-25 is $ 12,973 for residents of the state of Washington and $ 43,209 for out-of-state students. At WSU tuition and fees for in-state residents is $ 13,372. Tuition and fees for out-of-state students at WSU is considerably more affordable than at UW, at $ 29,930. At Evergreen State College, which is a very popular option for students who live in Washington as well as out-of-state students, resident tuition and fees for a full-time student in 2024-25 is $ 8,988 and just over $ 36,000 for out-of-state students. If you live in California, Oregon, Colorado, Oregon, and 11 other states, several public colleges and universities including Evergreen State and WSU participate in the Western Undergraduate Exchange, which will provide substantial savings on out-of-state tuition for students who are not Washington state residents!
Many Washington students are eligible for federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarships that can make the cost of college more manageable. Even with generous financial aid opportunities like these, students often find they will still incur out of pocket costs associated with pursuing their education in the state of Washington. For this reason, private scholarships can play an important role for many students in keeping college costs affordable!
Washington State Scholarships for College
If you plan to attend school in the state of Washington, here are some grants and scholarships to consider.
Washington College Grant
The Washington College Grant (WA Grant) is a need-based grant with annual awards of between $ 282 and $ 12,378 for 2024-25. Your actual award amount will be based on your family income, the school you are attending, and whether you are attending part or full-time. WA Grant can even be used for certain apprenticeship training. Awards can only be used at eligible colleges, universities, and apprenticeship programs in the state of Washington. Unlike federal grants, WA Grant is also available to undocumented students.
College Bound Scholarship
The College Bound (CB) Program and Scholarship is a need-based program. Public school students in the state of Washington who meet certain income requirements are enrolled in this program as early as the 7th grade. Students who are homeschooled or in private schools will need to apply to participate. The maximum annual award amount for College Bound is $ 12,456 each year when combined with WA Grant and other programs.
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship for Baccalaureate Students
The Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS) is a generous scholarship program that provides baccalaureate students who are majoring in certain eligible health care and STEM-related majors that lead to high-demand careers with scholarships of up to $ 22,500. Awards can be used at any eligible college or university in the state of Washington. Recipients must meet certain income and GPA requirements. WSOS is available to residents of Washington state including undocumented residents.
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship for Career and Technical Students
Students pursuing an apprenticeship, certificate, or associates degree in certain health care, STEM, and trade fields may be eligible for the Career & Technical Scholarship (CTS) offered by WSOS. CTS recipients receive up to $ 1,500 per quarter and if you are pursuing a career in certain high-demand fields in specific rural areas of Washington state, you may be eligible for up $ 3,500 for the first quarter of your studies, up to $ 2,500 for the second, and up to $ 2,000 per quarter until you graduate (up to a total of 18 terms). Awards for CTS may be used at one of Washington state’s eligible public community or technical colleges. To be eligible, you and your family must not have income that exceeds 125% of Washington’s median family income.
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship for Graduate Students
Students who are pursuing their Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) or their Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at any of Washington state’s nursing programs, with the goal of becoming a nurse practitioner may be eligible for the WSOS for Graduate Students (GRD). GRD provides awards up to $ 25,000.
Opportunity Grant
The Opportunity Grant program helps low-income students complete up to one year of college and a certificate in a high-wage, high-demand career. Awards are up to full tuition and fees for up to 45 units of study. Additional awards of up to $ 1,000 for books and supplies are also available. The Opportunity Grant also provides certain recipients with tutoring, emergency child care and transportation, career advising, and mentorship.
National Guard Postsecondary Grant
Members of the Washington National Guard with financial need can apply for the Washington National Guard Grant (NCG) to fund earning a first-time undergraduate degree. Awards of up to $ 6,500 are available. Awards may be used at eligible public and private colleges and universities in Washington as well as at Western Governors University (WGU).
American Indian Endowed Scholarship
If you have close cultural or social ties to a Native American tribe or community in the state of Washington, you may be eligible for the American Indian Endowed Scholarship (AIES). This program provides awards for up to 10-15 students each year. AIES award amounts range from $ 500 to $ 2,000. Recipients must be residents of the state of Washington, be enrolled full-time, and intend to use their education to benefit Native American communities in the state of Washington. Awards can be used at eligible public and private institutions in Washington state, including for graduate studies.
Washington Workforce Programs
If you are interested in pursuing a career in teaching, certain health card fields, or aerospace, various opportunities for scholarships, grants, and low interest loans may be available to you from the Washington Student Achievement Council.
Institutional Grants and Scholarships for Colleges and Universities in Washington State
Grants and scholarships awarded by colleges and universities are available at most schools in the state. Such institutional grants and scholarships are designed to supplement federal and state grants many students receive. Institutional awards vary in size They can be need-based, merit-based, or a combination thereof. These types of grants and scholarships are designed to attract students by making the complete cost of education including tuition and fees, books, room and board, and other educational-related expenses more affordable for students.
Federal Grants
Washington state students that are legal US residents or U.S citizens who come from lower income households may qualify for federal grants such as the Pell Grant, with a maximum award for 2024-25 of $ 7,395. Pell and other federal grants are need-based and do not require repayment so they can make a big difference in keeping education costs low!
Private Scholarships for Students In Washington State
Washington has very generous scholarships and grants for its residents. For many students, these opportunities coupled with federal financial aid programs and institutional aid can make a big difference in making college more affordable. At the same time, eligibility for federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarships is not guaranteed. While many students do qualify for government and institutional aid programs, many students will still experience a gap between the aid packages they receive and the cost of attendance. This is where private scholarships can be a big source of support and why all students should consider applying for private scholarships.
Private scholarships do vary in criteria and eligibility, offering opportunities for students pursuing a college education at colleges and universities in Washington state and across the United States. For this reason, you should plan to apply broadly for as many private scholarships as you may qualify. Websites like unigo.com provide comprehensive listings and application details for many private scholarships.
Tips for Washington Students for Applying for Scholarships and Grants
There is a lot of money available for Washington state students to help make college more affordable. Since many Washington students rely heavily on grants and scholarships to attend school, scholarships and grants can be competitive. By applying for as many scholarships and grants as possible, you will increase your chances of being awarded scholarships and grants that can make your college dreams within reach! Here are some tips to live by!
- Start As Soon As Possible: Many scholarships and grants have deadlines well before the academic year starts. Some scholarships and programs in Washington such as College Bound can be applied for as early as the 7th grade! It’s never too soon to begin your search and apply for scholarships.
- Get Organized: Keep track of deadlines, required documents, and application requirements. Using a spreadsheet or calendar can help you manage your scholarship and grant applications like a pro!
- Personalized Approach: Make sure and personalize your essays and applications to align with the specific criteria and mission of each scholarship or grant you are applying for.
- Get Solid Recommendations: Ask your teachers, counselors, church leaders, or community leaders for letters of recommendation.These letters can help you shine. It is important to ask for these letters as early as possible as other students may also be asking for letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, etc.
- Highlight Achievements: Be sure to spotlight your various academic achievements, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, community service, and future plans.
- Complete the FAFSA: The majority of Washington’s state financial aid programs as well as grants awarded by colleges and universities will require you to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be considered for grants and scholarships. Since you will also need to complete the FAFSA in order to be considered for any federal student aid programs including Pell Grants, you should plan to submit your FAFSA as soon as you can.
- Complete the WASFA: If your immigration status does not qualify you for federal student aid or to complete the FAFSA, you will need to complete the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA). Most of Washington’s state financial aid programs are open to undocumented students but to be considered for grants or scholarships under any of these programs, students must complete the FAFSA or WASFA.
How about student loans?
Relying on student loans can make the difference between being able to afford going to college or not. Deciding to borrow to cover your educational expenses is a decision that requires careful thought and consideration. Even with grants and scholarships, you still may have educational expenses that are owed. Taking a student loan out is one way of addressing these expenses.
The first thing to remember is that student loans must be repaid and accrue interest until they are paid. That’s why scholarships and grants that do not need to be repaid are always preferable! Student loans are available through the federal government as well as private student loan providers. Federal student loans will typically have more favorable terms as it relates to repayment and the amount of interest you will pay to borrow. At the same time, lower loan limits on federal student loans may require you and your family to consider private student loans.
A college education is within every student’s reach in the Evergreen State! Applying for all available scholarships and grants can make a big difference in you being able to achieve your educational goals without breaking the bank!
Our Scholarships
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$1,500 – I Have a Dream
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$10,000 – Unigo $10K Award
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$1,500 – Sweet and Simple
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$2,500 – Superpower
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$3,000 – All About Education
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$1,500 – Fifth Month Scholarship
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$1,500 – Do-Over
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$1,500 – Flavor of the Month
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$1,500 – Make Me Laugh
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$1,500 – Shout It Out
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$2,000 – Zombie Apocalypse
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$5,000 – Education Matters
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$1,500 – Top Ten List
Written by Dave Moniz
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Edited by Unigo Staff