Executive Summary
Adjusting Higher Education Funding
Background
The Washington College Grant (WA Grant) provides need-based financial aid to income-eligible students graduating from Washington high-schools who are pursuing education or training beyond high school. Eligibility for the WA Grant is determined by the household income of students pursuing higher education. Currently, a person is eligible if they are:
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- Washington residents (including undocumented people)
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- Recent high school graduates or working-age adults
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- Low- to middle-income families and individuals
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- People who plan to attend an approved certificate program, job training, apprenticeship, or college, part-time or full-time
Income Eligibility
Income eligibility for the Washington College Grant is based on Median Family Income (MFI), adjusted for family size. MFI represents the midpoint of household income—half of households earn more, and half earn less. For 2025–26, the MFI for a family of four is $131,000. To qualify for the full award amount, a student’s family income would need to be $78,500 or less for a family of four.Maximum Award Amount
The “maximum award” refers to the highest amount of financial aid a student can receive through the Washington College Grant. The actual award depends on several factors: the type of institution attended (public or private, two-year or four-year), the student’s family income relative to Median Family Income (MFI), and whether the student is enrolled full-time or part-time.Summary
The proposal expands who qualifies for the Washington College Grant and raises award amounts. The table below groups students by family income relative to the state median family income (MFI) and shows the percentage of the maximum WCG award they would receive under current law compared with HB 2098.
|
Percent of Median Family Income |
Percent of Maximum Award Available Current Law |
Percent of Maximum Award Available House Bill 2098 |
| 0% – 60% |
100% |
100% |
| 61% – 65% |
60% |
100% |
| 66% – 70% |
50% |
100% |
| 71% – 75% |
24.5% |
100% |
| 76% – 100% |
10% |
100% |
| 101% – 110% |
Not Eligible |
70% |
| 111% – 120% |
Not Eligible |
60% |
| 121% – 130% |
Not Eligible |
50% |
| 131% – 140% |
Not Eligible |
24.5% |
| 141% – 150% |
Not Eligible |
10% |
Revenue Generation
Eliminates a limitation on the annual collection of Workforce Education Investment Surcharge, which applies to select advanced computing companies, that caps the collective taxes paid by an ‘affiliated group’ of business at $75 million per year under this tax. The revenue generated through this change would fund the expansion of the Washington College Grant.Key Points
The cost of attaining postsecondary degrees and credentials can be a significant barrier for students who do not have the financial resources to enroll and persist in higher education opportunities. Providing additional stipends for students to cover the costs of attendance beyond tuition and fees can enable students to purchase the course materials and other resources needed to engage in their learning and continue their enrollment in higher education.
Learn more:
- What Evidence from Research Tells Us: Closing Racial Equity Gaps in K-12 Postsecondary Transitions (WA Student Achievement Council)
- Equity Landscape Report: Exploring Equity Gaps in WA Postsecondary Education (WA Student Achievement Council)
- Higher Education Context and Barriers to Equitable College Access and Readiness (Center for Policy Research and Evaluation)
Ways to Get Involved
Steps to Get Started
- Learn where the bill is in the legislative process.
- If there is an upcoming hearing, decide how you would like to get your voice heard and take action.
- If there is not an upcoming hearing, or if you want to supplement your advocacy, call or write your legislators.
- Spread the word and get other people on board.
Participating in a Hearing
Sign in Pro, Con, or Other
This is when individuals, advocates, and organizations make their position on a particular bill known for the record. This is particularly powerful in large numbers. Many organizations will send out Action Alerts asking people to sign in Pro or Con on a bill.
Submit Written Testimony
Submitting written testimony is a great way not only to make your position known to legislators but also to explain why in more detail. This is a good option if you don’t want to speak in front of others. People also like to offer more nuance to their position by writing.
Testify Virtually
Since COVID, many legislators are allowing remote/virtual testimony for bill hearings, as it greatly expands access to the legislative process across the state. For this, individuals usually have between 1-2 minutes to state their opinion on a bill in front of the legislative committee on Zoom.