“Without the Washington College Grant, my education journey would have been much harder.”
“Without the WA Grant, I would probably not be able to go to college.”
“I thank my state legislators for it and urge them to continue prioritizing Washington students so that everyone has access to the opportunities I had.”
“I wish more students knew that the Washington College Grant is available to so many people and can make college possible…”
“Financial aid doesn’t just fund an education. It builds opportunity, and that benefits all of us…”
“Without the Washington College Grant, I would’ve worked more hours outside of work-study and felt more financially insecure…”
“‘Receiving the Washington College Grant changed the question from ‘Can I afford higher education?’ to ‘What school do I want to go to?’…”
“Be sure to apply for FAFSA. Just apply—it doesn’t hurt, and you never know what you might qualify for…”
“I was interested in the medical field but unsure how to get a foot in the door…”
“It’s really important to think about financial aid as not just this transaction of student and university and state…”
“A college education is about more than just me and my needs…”
“Education or training after high school is important…”
“Having financial aid sets me up for the future…”
“After years in construction, he is now succeeding in the cybersecurity program at Columbia Basin College…”
“The support I received was beyond great. They helped me and guided me to things I’m super interested in…”
“Financial aid is what really makes it or breaks it for me so that I can achieve what I want to in life…”
“A college education is about more than just me and my needs…”
“When it’s at the high school, it’s a lot more accessible for people…”
“Receiving a grant helps me stress less and spend more time working on my education…”
“I wanted to be the first in my family to finally be able to have the chance to go to college…”
“Without the Washington College Grant, I would not have even considered pursuing postsecondary education…”
“It literally wouldn’t be possible to attend college without the scholarships I’ve received…”
March 17, 2026: Last week, the 2026 legislative session concluded with Washington lawmakers taking important steps to protect higher education funding during a challenging budget year…
February 26, 2026: As lawmakers finalize budget decisions this session, Washington students cannot afford further cuts to financial aid and postsecondary education…
February 17, 2026: As lawmakers continue making budget decisions this session, we must remember that budgets are more than numbers on a page. They reflect our values and priorities as a state…
January 27, 2026: Lawmakers have convened at a moment when students are doing everything asked of them. They are setting goals, pursuing credentials, and preparing to contribute to Washington’s economy…
December 19, 2025: As we close out the year and look ahead to the upcoming legislative session, there is reason for both optimism and urgency when it comes to Washington students…
November 13, 2025: The 2025 legislative session in Olympia is fast approaching, and the stakes for Washington students have rarely been higher…
October 10, 2025: For students like Tamariya and Marc-Antony, financial aid opened doors that once felt out of reach and kept those doors open when the path forward got tough…
September 16, 2025: For Kathleen Duncan, a student at Clover Park Technical College, financial aid didn’t just open the door to higher education, it kept her there…
July 7, 2025: Students like Zari, Colton, and Rodrigo have big dreams and are ready to build the skills our state needs.…
April 23, 2025: The Washington College Grant (WA Grant) is more than just financial aid—it’s a pathway to opportunity and a brighter future…
April 7, 2025: Washington’s economy depends on people who complete a credential after high school, such as a degree, apprenticeship, or certificate…
March 24, 2025: Seventy-six percent of Washingtonians agree that education beyond high school is necessary for success in today’s work world…
March 6, 2025: Financial aid can be life-changing—and Rodrigo Ortiz Mendoza’s story is a testament to that…
February 6, 2025: Last week, we gathered in Olympia for our largest Advocacy Day to date, and our message was clear: Washington’s students must remain a top priority…
January 13, 2025: As we welcome a new year, Washington faces a critical moment. While our state’s economy is growing…
2/18/2026 Opinion: “When students talk about the ability to take Running Start courses during the summer, they don’t talk about credits; they talk about opportunity.
For one high school student, enrolling in a summer class provided an invaluable opportunity…”
2/17/2026 Opinion: “Washington lawmakers face difficult budget choices. But further cuts to funding for public colleges and universities like Western Washington University would close doors for Washington students…”
2/16/2026 Opinion: “Every year, we meet students who are doing everything right—working long hours, caring for family members, serving their communities—and still stretching every dollar to stay in school….”
2/3/2026: “Budgets are moral documents, dollars-and-cents depictions of priorities and values. By that logic, it’s hard to sit comfortably with a spending plan…”
2/4/2026: “When Jack Kashork was a Ferris High School student, he said he “looked all over the country” trying to decide where to go to college…”
12/12/2025: “Washington saw its highest rate of students filing financial aid applications ever recorded in 2025…”
8/4/2025: “Washington saw its highest rate of students filing financial aid applications ever recorded in 2025…”
5/3/2025: “Washington state’s college financial aid program is getting scaled back for the first time in recent memory…”
01/17/2024: Jim Wohlpart, President, Central Washington University, writes, “Despite all of the available information showing how higher education…”
12/10/2023: “So far, the results of Seattle’s program are strong. ‘We’re outperforming what we anticipated in the levy…’”
09/12/2023: “In 2016 the Washington Roundtable, a group composed of major employers in our state, set an important goal: 70% of Washington students would achieve…”
09/11/2023: “Thinking about life after high school can be stressful. But new pathways are available for young people that blend education and work…’”
08/23/2023: Jim Wohlpart, President, Central Washington University, writes, “Despite all of the available information showing how higher education…”
05/30/2023: “Since 1981, the University of Washington has partnered with high schools across Washington state to offer official UW courses…”
12/03/2021: “Shelzy Juta is a business student at South Seattle College. She didn’t always think college was for her…’”
11/17/2021: “In the midst of a global pandemic, the Seattle Promise program, which guarantees two years tuition-free at Seattle Colleges, is thriving…’”
11/04/2021: “Only 40% of Washington students complete a credential after high school. It doesn’t take a Ph.D. in math to figure out that’s a problem….’”