Executive Summary
State based financial aid for students attending private four-year not-for-profit institutions in WA
Background
The Washington College Grant (WCG) and the College Bound Scholarship (CBS) are all need-based state-funded financial aid programs to help make postsecondary education and training more accessible. All three have different rules regarding how much financial aid support a student can access or how much time they remain eligible to access the financial aid through these programs:
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:
- Washington residents (including undocumented people)
- Recent high school graduates or working-age adults
- Low- to middle-income families and individuals
- 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 or College Bound Scholarship. 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.Changes made in 2025
The 2025 the Washington legislature reduced WCG and CBS award amounts for certain institutions.- Beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, for four-year not-for-profit institutions, the maximum WCG are 50 percent of the average awards granted to students at the public research institutions in Washington.
- Beginning with the 2027-28 academic year, for four-year not-for-profit institutions, the maximum CBS award is 50 percent of theaverage awards granted to students at the public research institutions in Washington.
Summary
- Beginning in the 2026-27 academic year, the maximum WCG award for a student attending a four-year not-for-profit institution is 90% of the average of awards for the same academic year granted to students at public regional institutions and the state college.
- Beginning in the 2027-28 academic year, the maximum CBS award for a student attending a four-year not-for-profit institution is 90% of the average of awards for the same academic year granted to students at public regional institutions and the state college
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.