Washington College Grant Eligibility & Awards

About the Washington College Grant (formerly the State Need Grant)

The new, nationally recognized Washington College Grant (formerly the State Need Grant) makes education and training beyond high school affordable. More families are eligible, and more programs and types of credentials are included. Most changes will begin next academic year and will affect students who apply now for financial aid for the 2020-21 school year.

Please revisit this page for further updates on the WCG.

Overview of Washington College Grant

The Washington College Grant (WCG) program—formerly known as the State Need Grant (SNG)—provides need-based financial aid to income-eligible students pursuing postsecondary education. Grant recipients can use the financial aid at Washington's eligible institutions, including public two- and four-year colleges and universities and many accredited private/independent colleges, universities, and career schools in the state. 

For 2019-20, eligible students have a household income that is less than 70 percent of the state's median family income (MFI).

Beginning in 2020-21, income eligibility will increase to 100 percent of MFI, with funding guaranteed for eligible students. The program will also expand to provide support for apprenticeships. Award amounts vary based on income, family size, and the school or program attended. 

State Need Grant & Washington College Grant Awards

Please note: Awards for the 2018-19 academic year were called State Need Grants. The program name changed to Washington College Grant in 2019-20; however, some colleges may have begun 2019-20 awarding before the program name change became official. Therefore, awards in 2019-20 may be made under the SNG or WCG name.

Washington College Grant amounts vary by the type of school attended. The chart below shows the maximum award recipients may be eligible to receive, if enrolled full time. 

Washington College Grant (formerly State Need Grant)
2019-20 Maximum Award Amounts*

Institution

Award
Public Research:
     University of Washington
     Washington State University		 $10,748
$10,464
Public Comprehensive:
      Central Washington University
      Eastern Washington University
      The Evergreen State College
      Western Washington University		 $7,020
$6,510
$6,961
$7,180
Private Four-Year:
      Independent/Private Four-Year Nonprofit Universities and Colleges
      Independent/Private Four-Year For-Profit Universities and Colleges
      WGU Washington		 $9,739
$8,517
$5,619
Community and Technical Colleges:
      Community and Technical Colleges
      CTC Applied Baccalaureate Programs		 $4,108
$6,557
Private Two-Year:
      Private Two-Year Nonprofit Colleges
      Private Two-Year For-Profit Colleges		 $3,694
$2,823

  *Award amounts noted above represent the maximum possible WCG award.  
   Actual WCG award amounts may vary due to individual campus awarding policies.


2019-20 Maximum Award Amounts

Median Family Income (MFI) Range

 

 % of Award

 
0-50%
100%
51-55%
70%
56-60%
65%
61-65%
60%
66-70%
50%


2019-20 Median Family Income (MFI) Levels for Washington College Grant (formerly State Need Grant) and College Bound Scholarship Program Eligibility

MFIs for 2019-20
(rounded to nearest $500)
Family Size
50%
55%
60%
65%
(CBS Max.)
70%
(WCG Max.) CBS Eligibles Receive WCG Priority
  
Not Eligible 2019-20
75%
Not Eligible 2019-20
100%
1
$24,000
$26,000
$28,500
$31,000
$33,500
  
$36,000
$47,500
2
$31,000
$34,500
$37,500
$40,500
$43,500
  
$47,000
$62,500
3
$38,500
$42,500
$46,500
$50,000
$54,000
  
$58,000
$77,000
4
$46,000
$50,500
$55,000
$59,500
$64,000
  
$69,000
$92,000
5
$53,000
$58,500
$64,000
$69,000
$74,500
  
$80,000
$106,500
6
$60,500
$66,500
$72,500
$78,500
$85,000
  
$91,000
$121,000
7
$62,000
$68,000
$74,500
$80,500
$86,500
  
$93,000
$124,000
8
$63,500
$69,500
$76,000
$82,500
$88,500
  
$95,000
$126,500
9
$64,500
$71,000
$77,500
$84,000
$90,500
  
$97,000
$129,500
10
$66,000
$72,500
$79,500
$86,000
$92,500
  
$99,000
$132,000
11 $67,500 $74,000 $81,000 $87,500 $94,500   $101,000 $135,000
12 $69,000 $75,500 $82,500 $89,500 $96,500   $103,000 $137,500
13 $70,000 $77,000 $84,000 $91,500 $98,500   $105,500 $140,500
14 $71,500 $78,500 $86,000 $93,000 $100,000   $107,500 $143,000
15 $73,000 $80,000 $87,500 $95,000 $102,000   $109,500 $146,000
16 $74,500 $82,000 $89,000 $96,500 $104,000   $111,500 $148,500
17 $75,500 $83,500 $91,000 $98,500 $106,000   $113,500 $151,500
18 $77,000 $85,000 $92,500 $100,000 $108,000   $115,500 $154,000
19 $78,500 $86,500 $94,000 $102,000 $110,000   $117,500 $157,000
20 $80,000 $88,000 $96,000 $104,000 $112,000   $120,000 $159,500


2018-19 State Need Grant Award & Eligibility Information