Washington State Department of Education HECB Financial Aid for College

Washington State Department of Education HECB

Washington does not have a separate state college loan program.

The state's guarantor for federal student loans is the Northwest Education Loan Association (NELA).

Washington provides no added benefits to students who take out these loans.

Washington State Department of Education College Grants and Scholarships

State Need Grant Program

This is the main need-based Washington grant. Your FAFSA is your free grant application for the program. Check your Washington FAFSA deadline.

• awards up to $6,876
• can only be used for a first degree (certificate, associates or bachelor's)
• minimum 3 credits in an approved course of study (not theology)
• cannot be used for more than 5 years or 125% of program requirements
• must be a Washington resident

Awards will be given to students whose family income is equal to or less than 70% of the median income for the state of Washington. For a single person that is $28,500. For a family of 10, it is $78,500. (Every child in the family that is attending college counts as 2 family members instead of one.)

College Bound Scholarship

This is a need-based program for students who sign a pledge before they leave 8th grade.

• awards the amount of tuition + $500 for books for a public 2 or 4 year school in Washington, that is not already covered by other financial aid
• can be used at any Washington public community and technical college, a public four year school, an approved, accredited independent college or university, or a private (for profit) career school (but only the amount of a public school education will be given)
• eligibility is determined by an income scale ranging from $27,000 for a family of 2, up to $68,500 for a family of 8 or one of these:
• eligible for a free or reduced lunch
• foster youth
• receive TANF benefits
• pledge to graduate from high school or home school with a GPA of 2.0 or higher; good citizenship, crime-free; submit a FAFSA; apply to an eligible school

American Indian Endowed Scholarship

This program is intended to help needy students who have significant ties to a Native American community.

• awards from $500 to $2000 (not to exceed COA minus other financial aid)
• can be used at any Washington public community and technical college, a public four year school, an approved, accredited independent college or university, or a private (for profit) career school
• must be a Washington resident, enrolled full-time at an approved institution, demonstrate financial need and not be pursuing a degree in theology
• scholarships can be received for up to 5 years
• free grant applications

GET Ready for Math and Science Conditional Scholarship

This scholarship/grant program is both need-based and merit-based. If the conditions of the scholarship are not met, it turns into a loan (repayable at the federal interest rates)

• awards up to $7,512 per year (equivalent to undergraduate tuition and fees at the University of Washington)
• can be used at any Washington public community and technical college, a public four year school, an approved, accredited independent college or university, or a private (for profit) career school
• eligibility includes:
• Washington residency
• income at or below 125% of the state median ($66,025 for a family of two, up to $131,078 for a family of seven)
• a score of 4 or greater on the WASL or above the 95th percentile on the SAT or ACT math section
• enrolling in a bachelor's degree program in math or science
• work for 3 years in the state of Washington in a math or science profession after graduation
• 4 year scholarship
• free grant applications

Passport for Foster Youth Promise Program

This is a grant which only applies to those students who have been in foster care.

• awards up to $6900 per year
• can be used at any Washington public community and technical college, a public four year school, an approved, accredited independent college or university, or a private (for profit) career school
• must have spent at least one year in foster care after your 16th birthday
• can only be used by students who are registered at least halftime by their 21st birthday, who have not yet earned a bachelor's and who are not pursuing a degree in theology
• apply for free grants

Washington Scholars

This is a merit-based scholarship which is given to the top three high school seniors in each of the state's 49 legislative districts. (Students nominated by high-school principals.)

• award is up to $6840 (If used at a private school, the school must 100% of the award for any money to be received.)
• can be used at any Washington public community and technical college, a public four year school, an approved, accredited independent college or university, or a private (for profit) career school
• awards can be used for 8 semesters (not for a degree in theology)
• must maintain a 3.3 GPA in college

Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE)

This is a merit-based scholarship, given to three high school seniors in each of the state's 49 legislative districts, who demonstrate outstanding achievement in vocational/technical education. (Students nominated by high-school principals.)

• awards up to $7,600
• can be used at any Washington public community and technical college, a public four year school, an approved, accredited independent college or university, or a private (for profit) career school
• must graduate with at least 360 hrs. in an approved vocational program or have one year completed at a community or technical college vocational program
• grants can be used for 2 years

Other Washington State Department of Education Financial Aid for College

1. Jobs must be related to the student's field of study.
2. Employers must pay the same wages that non-student employees receive for the same type of work.

Students, whose FAFSA shows financial need, will automatically be considered for Washington's work-study program. Students earn between $2000 and $5000 per year.

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming

and pay only 150% of the state's resident tuition. Graduate students pay the same in-state tuition rate.

There are also two conditional loan programs run by the Washington State Department of Education for students who wish to study optometry or osteopathy. Loans can be received for four years and forgiven for working in the state at the rate of one loan for each year of employment (minimum 3 year commitment).

1. The Future Teachers Conditional Scholarship and Loan Repayment Program

   - awards up to $3,720 per semester

   - available for part-time enrollment

   - repaid by working in the state as a certificated classroom teacher in Washington K-12 public schools (at the rate of two years for each loan year)

   * The Governor's proposed 2011 budget cuts all funding for this program for the 2010-2011 school year.

2. Health Professional Loan Repayment and Scholarship Programs

   - loan repayment for these licensed health professionals:

   • Physician
   • Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner
   • Nurse
   • Midwife
   • Pharmacist
   • Dentist
   • Dental Hygienist

   - must work at an approved site for at least three years

   - awards up to $25,000 per year for loan repayment for 3 years

   - 4th and 5th years at $35,000 per year

   - Apply for college loan repayment program

   Health Professional Scholarship program

   - financial aid for students training to become health professionals (see above list of approved professions)

   - award varies according to program and school

   - must sign a 3 year commitment to work in your profession in the state of Washington

   - no residency requirement

   - if promissory terms are not fulfilled- scholarship must be repaid
   
   
   

   The Washington State Department of Education oversees a mix of need-based and merit-based programs which help to lower the average cost of college education in Washington.
   
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