The Washington College Grant provides guaranteed college funding to all eligible residents of Washington state, including low- and middle-income students. The first step toward getting funding through the grant is to complete a federal or state financial aid application, the FAFSA or WASFA.
The grant guarantees that you’ll get the full Washington College Grant award that you qualify for, eliminating wait lists and letting you start college any quarter with your full financial aid award.
Click here to login to the Student Financial Aid Portal.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How and when do I submit the FAFSA?
Submit the FAFSA as soon as possible starting October 1* for the following year. Include PC, school code 003786, in your list of schools. Need help? View the How to Fill Out the FAFSA video or contact the Financial Aid office in the D Building (Student Services).
*The 2024-25 FAFSA was made available in December 2023.
*The 2025-26 FAFSA was made available in December 2024.
Should I fill out the FAFSA or WASFA?
Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) if you are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. The FAFSA is used to evaluate eligibility for both Federal and State aid.
Complete the WASFA (Washington Application for State Aid) if you are not eligible to complete the FAFSA but are a Washington state resident.
How much grant money will I qualify for?
As your income goes up, the award amounts go down. A family of four making $64,500 or less will receive a full financial-aid award that covers the full cost of tuition plus state-mandated fees. A middle-income family of four making up to about $107,000 will get some level of aid (i.e. a partial award). See the estimate award chart for details.
Do I need to pay back the Washington College Grant?
No. Grant funding is “free money” that does not need to be paid back; the exception to this is if you drop all of your classes for the quarter after having received aid, or do not complete any of your classes for which you received aid.
Can I use the Washington College Grant only at PC?
No. The Washington College Grant preserves all the flexible ways financial aid can be used in Washington State so you can pursue the path that fits you best—whether it means a certificate, two-year degree, four-year degree, or an apprenticeship.
What happened to the Washington State Need Grant?
The Washington College Grant replaces the State Need Grant under a bill passed by the Legislature during the 2019 legislative session (HB 2158).
Is this grant different than the State Need Grant?
The Washington College Grant provides guaranteed funding to everyone who qualifies, while the State Need Grant had limited funding that left a significant gap of underserved students. Additionally, the Washington College Grant expands funding to middle-income families, or those making up to 100% of the median family income, while the State Need Grant capped at 70%.
What if I'm eligible for a certain public benefit program such as HEN or ABD or PWA?
If you are eligible for any of the programs listed below and are a WA State resident, you can receive the maximum WA College Grant award amount without submitting a financial aid application.
- Housing and Essential Needs (HEN)
- Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD)
- Pregnant Women Assistance (PWA)
You must still meet all other eligibility requirements for financial aid, such as have a high school diploma or GED, be in an eligible program of study, and make Satisfactory Academic Progress. Please contact the Financial Aid Office (financialaid@pencol.edu) and provide a copy of the documents showing that you are eligible for one of these DSHS programs. We strongly recommend that you complete the FAFSA (or WASFA, if applicable) so you don't miss out on other funding opportunities which you may be eligible for through the application process.
If your eligibility for one of these DSHS programs expires/ends and you've already received the WA College Grant, you will remain eligible for WA College Grant funding for one year. Similarly, if you qualify for and receive the WA College Grant under one of these programs, and then you fill out a financial aid application and your eligibility changes based on your household income, you will still receive the maximum WA College Grant award amount for that year.