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Scholarships
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Scholarships
Top Washington scholarships for you
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What are Washington scholarships?
Washington scholarships are financial aid for college created specifically for students living in Washington or looking to go to school in Washington. Washington scholarships can help students attain higher education opportunities that otherwise may be out of reach due to financial reasons. All scholarships are free money for college that you don’t have to pay back.
Eligibility requirements for Washington scholarships
Before you apply for Washington scholarships, make sure you check the eligibility requirements. To qualify for Washington scholarships, you’ll most likely need to prove you’re a resident or you’re attending school in that state. Some other common eligibility requirements may include your GPA, community service, citizenship, plan to attend an accredited program, leadership potential, and submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Scholarship eligibility requirements vary, so don’t assume you won’t qualify. Check them out!
Are Washington scholarships worth my time?
Some scholarships are quick and easy to apply for. Others require time and effort. Typically, fewer students apply to scholarships that require work which means you could have better odds of winning.
Pro tip: Don’t skip over Washington scholarships with smaller award amounts ($). There’s typically less competition for them—and they add up!
How do I find Washington scholarships?
There are many resources to help you find Washington scholarships.
Scholarship resources
- The financial aid office at a college or career school
- Organizations (such as professional associations) related to your field of interest
- Federal agencies
- Free scholarship search tools like Scholly Scholarships
- Local libraries, businesses, or associations
Your high school guidance office is a great place to start when looking for local scholarships. You could also try doing a search for your city’s name and “community foundation,” or the county you live in and “foundation.”
Scholly Scholarships
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Easily search through thousands of college scholarships based on your background, major, state you live in, and more.
Hot tip! Smaller scholarships may have less competition, increasing your odds of winning.
Scholarships for Washington
Entercom Portland Radio Scholarship
Due: 4/1/2025
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
Amount Varies
The Entercom Portland Radio Scholarship will be awarded to students from eligible Oregon and Washington counties. Students may apply-compete annually as this scholarship may be received for a maximum of 4 years. Awardees must give permission for Entercom Portland Radio to issue a publicity release about their selection as an Entercom Portland Radio Scholarship recipient. February 15 is the Early Bird deadline and April 1 is the final deadline for all materials to be submitted to OSAC. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Oregon Office of Student Access and Completion for more information.
Pacific NW Federal Credit Union Scholarship
Due: 4/1/2025
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
Amount Varies
The Pacific NW Federal Credit Union Scholarship will be awarded to either graduating high school seniors (including GED recipients), prior high school graduates, or college undergraduates. Applicants must be members in good standing of Pacific NW Federal Credit Union. Immediate family members of Pacific NW Federal Credit Union employees and credit union elected, appointed officials not eligible. Financial need is not a requirement, but it may be considered. However, filing of the FAFSA or ORSAA is required. February 15 is the Early Bird deadline and April 1 is the final deadline for all materials to be submitted to OSAC. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Oregon Office of Student Access and Completion for more information.
Mary Lou Brown Scholarship
Due: 1/10/2025
No Essays
No Recommendations Required
$2,500
The Mary Lou Brown Scholarship will be awarded to those with General Class License or higher. The applicant must be holding an amateur radio license for at least one year. Eligible fields of study are bachelor's degree or higher. Students must have demonstrated interest in promoting the Amateur Radio Service. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the ARRL Foundation Inc. for more information.
Edmund F. Maxwell Foundation Scholarship
Due: 5/10/2025
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
$5,000
The Edmund F. Maxwell Foundation Scholarship was established to assist high school seniors from Western Washington in obtaining a higher education. Applicants must have attended the last two years of high school (or homeschool) and lived in a location west of the Cascade Mountains. This award has the potential to be renewed for up to an additional three years of undergraduate education based on reasonable progress toward graduation. A simple renewal application is required each year. Applicants must be pursuing post-secondary education at a private college or university. Applicants must submit their transcript on May 24, 2024. It is optional for 2024 but highly recommended for students to also provide their Standardized Test Scores with their transcript. Scholarships will generally be limited to entering freshmen, with combined math and reading or writing SAT scores of 1200 or higher (or ACT composite scores of over 26). The Trustees of the Foundation, at their discretion, may consider students with lower scores. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
A. Victor Rosenfeld Scholarship
Due: 4/1/2025
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
Amount Varies
The A. Victor Rosenfeld Scholarship will be awarded to the dependents of eligible employees of Calbag Metals. Eligible employees must have been employed by Calbag Metals for more than three years as of the scholarship deadline. This scholarship is automatically renewable if renewal criteria are met. February 15 is the Early Bird deadline and April 1 is the final deadline for all materials to be submitted to OSAC. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Oregon Office of Student Access and Completion for more information.
AIES
Due: 3/1/2025
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
$2,000
The American Indian Endowed Scholarship helps students who have close social and cultural ties to an American Indian community in the state of Washington. Students can use the scholarships at public colleges and many independent colleges in Washington. The program prioritizes upper division and graduate level students, but all applicants are considered. Students may get AIES funding for up to five years, but they must reapply each year. New applicants must submit a minimum of three recommendation letters. At least two letters must describe the applicant's close social and cultural ties to an American Indian tribe or community in Washington, and one letter must describe their personal commitment to benefit the American Indian community in this state. A fourth letter, from a recent teacher or instructor regarding the applicant's academic performance, is encouraged.
WA Grant
Due: Varies
No Essays
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
No Transcripts Required
Amount Varies
The Washington College Grant (WA Grant) gives eligible people more money for more types of education like certificate programs, job training, apprenticeships, or college. WA Grant is one of the most generous financial aid programs in the country. The amount you receive depends on family size, income, and the cost of your school or program. WA Grant is available to recent high school graduates or working-age adults; and low- to middle-income families and individuals.
Oregon Wine Brotherhood Scholarship
Due: 4/1/2025
No min. GPA Required
No Recommendations Required
Amount Varies
The Oregon Wine Brotherhood Scholarship will be awarded to students who major in Enology, Viticulture, Culinary Arts (with an emphasis on wine), Hospitality programs (with an emphasis on wine), or Wine Studies. Financial need may or may not be considered but filing of FAFSA is still required. Students may apply-compete annually as this scholarship may be received for a maximum of 4 years. OSAC receives FAFSA automatically for Oregon residents only. Non-Oregon residents must upload the first page, only, of their FAFSA Submission Summary. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Oregon Office of Student Access and Completion for more information.
Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber Latino Scholarship Program
Due: 1/28/2025
$6,000
The Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber Latino Scholarship Program aims to provide support and encourage Latino students to continue their higher education. Applicants must be currently attending a high school in Oregon or Clark County, Washington; or have attended a high school in Oregon or Clark County, Washington and currently enrolled in an accredited college. Applicants will be evaluated on academics, extra-curricular activities, community service, written essays and letters of recommendation. Applicants must be enrolled by September 2024. First Generation Students and DACA recipients are encouraged to apply. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
What types of scholarships are available for students?
Need-based scholarships
These are scholarships for students who have demonstrated a financial need. There’s no universal number or set income level that tells you if you qualify. How each scholarship defines what financial need means varies. The federal government as well as specific organizations, corporations, and colleges/universities/schools offer need-based scholarships.
Merit scholarships
Merit scholarships are for students who have shown high academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievement over their high school careers. Not all schools/colleges offer merit-aid—highly selective schools typically don’t. The process for applying for merit scholarships varies. For merit scholarships offered through colleges and universities, you generally don’t have to do anything other than complete the application to the school itself. For some schools, you need to submit the FAFSA® to be eligible.
Career-specific grants or scholarships
These are awarded to students who know they want a career in a specific industry. Maybe they know they want to be a teacher, a nurse, or an engineer. To be eligible for grants, students must submit the FAFSA®. To find career-specific scholarships, try searching for your major and “association.”
Community or nonprofit scholarships
Nonprofit and community organizations often receive funding from donors to create scholarship programs for students who need them.
Tips for successful scholarship applications
- Pull together everything you need for the application including transcripts, so you can submit a complete scholarship application.
- You may need a recommendation letter or letters for a scholarship. Ask a teacher, employer, or someone else who knows you to write one for you—and be sure to give them enough time to do it.
- If you’re writing a scholarship essay, follow the prompt, answer the essay question completely, and write from your experience. A few well-written essays that you can reuse for different scholarship applications can really pay off.
- Highlight your strengths and achievements in your application.
- Talk about your financial need and what you would use the scholarship money for if you won. How would it help?
- Have to interview for a scholarship? Dress to impress in a professional outfit. And do your research! Look into how/why the scholarship was created. Try to bring up why it’s meaningful to you. Also, don’t forget to send a thank-you note afterwards.
- Keep track of all the deadlines for the scholarships you’re applying to. If you miss one, they may not extend the due date.
- Apply for scholarships year after year, all through college. As you continue your studies, gain more experience, and try new extracurricular activities in college, you might be eligible for more scholarships you weren’t originally qualified for.
Here are more tips that can help you understand all there is to know about scholarships and up your chances of winning.
Frequently asked questions
These tips can help as you get ready to apply for Washington scholarships.
When are scholarship application deadlines?
There’s no standard deadline for scholarship applications. Each scholarship has its own deadline, so be sure to keep track of dates and make sure you don’t miss any deadlines of scholarships that you want to apply to.
Do you need to know which college you’re attending?
You don’t need to know which college you’re going to attend before applying for most scholarships. However, once you’re awarded scholarships, some of them may ask for eligibility verification—which can include proof of college enrollment.
Is there a limit on how many scholarships you can apply for?
Absolutely not, so apply for as many as you can to increase your chances of winning free money. Want to find more types of scholarships? There are so many, check them out!
Pro tip: Apply for scholarships each year you’re in college.
Does every scholarship application require an essay?
Not every scholarship will ask you to submit an essay—different scholarships have different requirements. If you’re applying for a scholarship with an essay and need help writing yours, get tips for writing scholarship essays.
Need more money for college?
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More resources to explore
Tips for writing scholarship essays
Get tips for writing scholarship essays. Learn what makes a good scholarship essay.
Find scholarship resources
Explore our scholarship resources, articles, and guide to get all the tips and tricks to help pay for college.
Fill out the FAFSA®
Learn when and how to apply for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to maximize your chances of getting federal student financial aid. Get tips now.
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