Reports & Publications
View WSAC Publications
Click on the tabs below to view a list of WSAC publications by subject area.
Feature Publication
Research Spotlight: Fewer Washington High School Graduates in the Classes of 2020 and 2021 Enrolled Directly in Postsecondary Education
Over the past decade, Washington’s high school graduation rate has steadily increased, but the proportion of the state’s graduates who enroll directly in college has not. The direct enrollment rate that once hovered around 60 percent dropped to 50 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Washington’s direct enrollment rate is lower than the national average, and the decline in direct enrollment was more significant than the national trend. Declines in the direct enrollment rate varied by race, which could further exacerbate existing racial inequities in postsecondary enrollment. View the Research Spotlight.
Research and Data
Research and Data
- Washington State Encyclopedia of Education Data (2021)
- Lessons on Recovery: The Value and Potential of Higher Education in Response to the COVID-19 Crisis (2020 Executive Summary | Report)
Equity
- State Strategies for Building Equitable Access to and Success in Postsecondary Education (2022)
- Equity Can't Wait: Examining Racial Disparities in K-12 Education in Washington State (2022 Snapshot | Report)
- The Digital Divide: Examining High-Speed Internet and Computer Access for Washington Students (2021)
- What Evidence from Research Tells Us: Closing Racial Equity Gaps in K-12 Postsecondary Transitions - Research Spotlight (2021)
- Equity Landscape: Exploring Equity Gaps in Washington Postsecondary Education (2020 Snapshot | Report)
- What Evidence from Research Tells Us: Closing Equity Gaps in Postsecondary Access and Completion (2020)
- Access and Diversity in the Running Start Program (2014)
- Collaborative Efforts to Improve Access to Postsecondary Education for Students with Disabilities (2013)
- Educational Attainment for All: Diversity and Equity in Washington State Higher Education (2013)
Affordability
- State Student Loan Report (2023)
- Knowledge is Power: Ongoing Efforts to Increase Financial Aid Awareness and Access for Washington Students (2023)
- College Bound Scholarship Auto-Enrollment Brief (2023)
- Intergenerational Economic Mobility of Need-Based Financial Aid Recipients in Washington: Evidence from Three years After Postsecondary Graduation (2022 Snapshot | Report)
- Data Profile: FAFSA/WASFA and WCG Receipt (2021)
- Maintaining Investment in Higher Education During a Time of Crisis (2020)
- FAFSA Completion by High School Students (2019)
- From the Frontline: Principals' Views on Engaging Students About the Benefits of Acquiring Postsecondary Education and Training Using Financial Aid (2019)
- Issue Brief: Increasing financial aid applications pays off in student success (2019)
- Affordability Framework (2016)
Enrollment
- Postsecondary Enrollment Trends: Fewer Washington High School Graduates in the Classes of 2020 and 2021 Enrolled Directly in Postsecondary Education - Research Spotlight (2023)
- State-Level Enrollment Trends and Policy Responses (2022)
- Views from Research: Exploring Challenges to Postsecondary Access (2022)
- Exploring Challenges in Postsecondary Access (2022)
- Adult Learner Study (2022)
- What Evidence from Research Tells Us: Family Engagement in College Pathways Decisions - Research Spotlight (2022)
- Facing Learning Disruption: Examining the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on K-12 Students (2021)
- Fall Enrollment Report: Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 on Postsecondary Enrollment in Washington (2021)
- Improving Postsecondary Access: Washington Career and College Pathways Innovation Challenge Program (2021)
- Understanding Postsecondary Enrollment Trends in Washington and How the COVID-19 Crisis Continues to Impact Students’ Postsecondary Opportunities (2021)
- From the Frontline: Principals' Views on Engaging Students About the Benefits of Acquiring Postsecondary Education and Training Using Financial Aid (2019)
- College Bound Scholarship Postsecondary Enrollment: An Exploration of Students' Understanding and Beliefs (2017)
- GED Test Changes and Attainment (2016)
- Reciprocity Report (2015)
Completion
- Postsecondary Program Participation and Completion Patterns Among Individuals Incarcerated in Washington State Prisons (2021) - Developed for WSAC by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy, in partnership with the Dept. of Corrections and State Board for Community & Technical Colleges
- Some College, No Degree: A look at those who left early (2015)
Student Supports
- Basic Needs Security Among Washington College Students (2023 Executive Summary | Report)
- Bridge to Finish Outcome Study (2023 Snapshot | Report | Technical Appendix)
- Otterbot Brief (2022)
- Exploring Food Insecurity for Postsecondary Students in Washington (2021)
- What Evidence from Research Tells us: Addressing Mental Health Needs for Postsecondary Students (2020)
- College Readiness (2016)
Labor Market
- COVID-19 Reskilling and Upskilling (2020 Report Snapshot I Report)
- COVID 19 Reskilling and Upskilling Regional Highlights:
- Exploring the Computer-Related Workforce of Washington State (2020)
- Washington's Skilled and Educated Workforce Report (2021) (2019) (2017) (2015) (2013)
- Educator Field Placement in Rural Areas (2019)
- For-Profit Degree-Granting Institutions and Private Vocational Schools in Washington - Phase II Report (2017)
- Regional Educational Needs Assessment (2017)
- Situation Assessment of the Regulation of For-Profit and Private Vocational Schools in Washington (2016)
- Southeast King County Higher Education Needs Assessment and Operating Plan Report (2016)
Dual Credit
- Increasing Equitable Access, Participation, and Success for Students in Dual Credit Legislative Report from the Dual Credit Task Force (2021)
- Dual Credit Report (2016)
- Advanced Placement and College Credit: Policy Brief (2014)
- Credit-by-Exam Acceptance Policies (2014)
Prior Learning Assessment
- Academic Credit for Prior Learning (2019) (2018) (2017) (2016)
- Prior Learning Assessment: Workgroup Progress Report (2015) (2013) (2012)
Transfer
- Transfer Equity Project: Summary of Themes & Priorities (2023)
- Transfer Report: A Review of Improvement in Transfer (2021) (2019) (2017) (2015) (2013) (2011)
Tuition and Fees
Residency
- Residency Workgroup Report (2022)
Roadmap and Strategic Planning
Roadmap and Strategic Planning
Strategic Action Plans
Roadmap Updates and Supporting Briefs
Roadmap Report
- Roadmap Report (2013)
- Accountable Funding - Issue Brief
- Affordability - Issue Brief & Policy Options
- Capturing the Potential of Technology - Issue Brief & Policy Options
- Demand and Capacity - Issue Brief & Policy Options
- Early Learning - Issue Brief & Policy Options
- High School to Postsecondary Alignment - Issue Brief & Policy Options
- Outreach and Support - Issue Brief & Policy Options
- Remedial Education - Issue Brief & Policy Options
- Skills and Knowledge - Issue Brief & Policy Options
Financial Aid Programs
Financial Aid Programs
- Access, Affordability, Achievement: Annual Report on State Financial Aid Programs (2012)
- Aerospace Training Student Loan Program Report (2019)
- Aim Higher Washington - Legislative Report (2020)
- College Bound Scholarship (2018) (2017)
- College Bound Senior Counts and FAFSA Completion (2019)
- Educator Workforce Report (2020)
- Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) SB 5954 Legislative Report (2016)
- Higher Education Loan Program Report (2012)
- Passport to College Promise: Program Update (2017)
- State Need Grant Legislative Report (2014)
- State Need Grant Policy Review (2012)
- State Need Grant Survey: Final Report (2014)
- State Need Grant Less-Than-Half-Time Pilot Project Report (2013)
- Student Financial Aid and Access Programs Annual Report: 2011-12 and 2012-13 (2013)
- Student Loan Advocate - Legislative Report (2021)
- Student Teaching Grant (2017)
- Teacher Shortage Conditional Grant (2018)
Financial Aid Programs Expenditure Reports
- 2022-23 Anticipated Expenditures by Program
- 2021-22 State Preliminary Need-Based Program Expenditures, by Institution
- 2021-22 State Need-Based Program Preliminary Expenditures, by Sector & Apprenticeships
- 2020-21 Need-Based Program Expenditures by Institution
- 2020-21 Need-Based Program Expenditures by Sector
- 2019-20 Need-Based Program Expenditures by Institution
- 2019-20 Need-Based Program Expenditures by Sector
- 2018-19 Need-Based Program Expenditures by Institution
- 2018-19 Need-Based Program Expenditures by Sector
- 2017-18 Need-Based Program Expenditures by Institution
- 2017-18 Need-Based Program Expenditures by Sector
Grant Awards
Grant Awards
Open Educational Resources
This page contains reports produced by the Washington Student Achievement Council since its inception on July 1, 2012. Reports and publications produced by its predecessor agency, the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB), can be found in our archives.