Free Money for College
The Washington College Grant (WCG) provides guaranteed college funding through the state to all eligible residents of Washington State, including low- and middle-income students. The first step toward getting funding through the grant is to complete a federal or state financial aid application: FAFSA or WASFA.
For those who qualify, the grant guarantees that you’ll get the full Washington College Grant award that you qualify for, eliminating wait lists and letting you start college any quarter with your full WCG grant award.
Submit Financial Aid Application
Frequently Asked Questions
Submit the FAFSA as soon as possible starting Oct. 1 for the following year. Include SPSCC, school code 005372, in your list of schools.
Need help? Request an in-person or virtual appointment. Or, you can view the How to Fill Out the FAFSA video or contact the One Stop at SPSCC.
Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) if you are a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen.
Complete the WASFA (Washington Application for State Aid) if you are a Washington resident and not eligible to complete the FAFSA.
Within 3-5 business days, FAFSA will email your Student Aid Report, which identifies errors and if you're selected for verification.
If you're attending SPSCC, apply to SPSCC and activate your student email and mySPSCC portal.
Check your Financial Aid Portal. Financial Aid will send notifications to your student email. Application status, required documentation, and award information is available on the Financial Aid Portal. Go to Financial Aid: Steps to Apply.
As your income goes up, the award amounts go down. A family of four making $50,500 or less will receive a full financial-aid award that covers the full cost of tuition plus state-mandated fees. A middle-income family of four making up to about $92,000 will get some level of aid (i.e. a partial award). See the estimated award chart for details.
| Estimated 2020-21 Washington College Grant Award Amounts for 3 Quarters/2 Semesters | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Institution/Sector | Median Family Income | |||||
| 0% - 55% (full award) |
56% - 60% (70% of full award |
61% - 65% (60% of full award) |
66% - 70% (50% of full award) |
71% - 75% (24.5% of full award) |
76% - 100% (10% of full award) |
|
| Community & Technical Colleges | $4,190 | $2,933 | $2,514 | $2,095 | $1,027 | $419 |
| University of Washington | $10,674 | $7,674 | $6,578 | $5,482 | $2,686 | $1,096 |
| Washington State University | $10,674 | $7,472 | $6,404 | $5,337 | $2,615 | $1,067 |
| Central Washington University | $7,160 | $5,012 | $4,296 | $3,580 | $1,754 | $716 |
| Eastern Washington University | $6,640 | $4,648 | $3,984 | $3,320 | $1,627 | $664 |
| The Evergreen State College | $7,100 | $4,970 | $4,260 | $3,550 | $1,740 | $710 |
| Western Washington University | $7,324 | $5,127 | $4,394 | $3,662 | $1,794 | $732 |
| Private Four-Year Non-Profit | $9,739 | $6,817 | $5,843 | $4,870 | $2,386 | $974 |
| Private Four-Year For-Profit | $8,517 | $5,962 | $5,110 | $4,259 | $2,087 | $852 |
| WGU Washington | $5,619 | $3,933 | $3,371 | $2,810 | $1,377 | $562 |
| CTC Applied Bachelor's | $6,718 | $4,703 | $4,031 | $3,359 | $1,646 | $672 |
| Private Two-Year Non-Profit | $3,694 | $2,586 | $2,216 | $1,847 | $905 | $369 |
| Private Two-Year For-Profit | $2,823 | $1,976 | $1,694 | $1,412 | $692 | $282 |
| Apprenticeship | tbd | tbd | tbd | tbd | tbd | tbd |
Note: These are only estimates. Award amounts will be finalized when the 2020 legislative session has concluded.
No – grant funding is “free money” and does not need to be paid back.
No – the Washington College Grant preserves all the flexible ways financial aid can be used in Washington State so you can pursue the path that fits you best — whether it means a certificate, two-year degree, four-year degree, or an apprenticeship.
The Washington College Grant replaces the State Need Grant under a bill passed by the Legislature during the 2019 legislative session (HB 2158).
The Washington College Grant provides guaranteed funding to everyone who qualifies, while the State Need Grant had limited funding that left a significant gap of underserved students. Additionally, the Washington College Grant expands funding to middle-income families, or those making up to 100% of the median family income, while the State Need Grant capped at 70%.