College Bound Scholarship
College Bound Scholarship
The College Bound Scholarship is a Washington State program that helps students afford college. Eligible students were signed up in Middle School. Eligibility is based on income.
The basics of the College Bound Scholarship:
- Students were signed up in middle school;
- If students meet the pledge and the family income still meets requirements, the student remains eligible;
- Filling out the FAFSA or WASFA financial aid application senior year is the way to activate the scholarship;
- Funds can be used at more than 65 colleges in Washington State;
- The Scholarship covers the average cost of tuition, but not room & board.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the College Bound Pledge?
As a part of the College Bound sign-up process, students pledge to do the following:
- Graduate from a Washington State high school or homeschool program with a cumulative 2.0 GPA if they plan to attend a four-year public or private college directly after high school.*
- Get accepted to and go to one of the over 65 participating colleges, universities, or programs within one year of graduating high school.
- Have no felony convictions.
- Complete a financial aid application form, the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or the WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) beginning their senior year and meet income requirements.
*Beginning fall of 2023, there are no GPA requirements for students who plan to attend a community college or technical school.
For details on each of these and other elements of College Bound eligibility, see the materials in the library to the right.
What are the income requirements?
The chart below is current as of November 2023. If a family's income has increased beyond what is below, the student will no longer be eligible for the scholarship. There may be other financial aid available, however, so definitely fill out the FAFSA or WASFA no matter what your income is currently.
Source of income chart: Washington College Bound Program
Do I have to enroll in college right after I graduate from high school to receive the scholarship?
No. However, you must enroll and earn college credit(s) no later than one academic year following high school graduation. For example, if you graduate in June 2024, you must start college within a year after graduation. You could take a gap semester or term, but plan to start college in the winter or spring after graduation. Be sure you meet all the college’s deadlines for class registration and financial aid to complete enrollment.
Can I use this scholarship out of state?
No. This is a Washington State program and only colleges within the state participate.
Which Financial Aid application should I file?
File the FAFSA if you are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the most common category of eligible non-citizen is that of permanent resident (someone with a “green card”), but there are other categories as well.
Some of our students file the WASFA due to citizenship or immigration status. Find more information at wsac.wa.gov/wasfa.
When do I need to file the FAFSA or WASFA?
The FAFSA and WASFA will open October 1 of every year except for the Shorewood Class of 2024. For this class only, it will open by December 31.
If you plan to attend college in the 2024-2025 academic year, you should complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA or WASFA as soon as possible after it opens and should follow the specific financial aid deadlines of the colleges you are applying to. Applying soon after the FAFSA / WASFA open will ensure that you will receive the maximum award you are eligible for. Your college may have additional forms they require for financial aid.
How much is the scholarship award?
The College Bound Scholarship will combine with other state financial aid to cover tuition (at comparable public colleges), some fees, and a small book allowance. Thus, the specific amount will vary based on the college and the types of state financial aid that the student is eligible for. However, the College Bound Scholarship commitment is that the costs mentioned above will be covered. Additional financial aid for college expenses beyond tuition will likely be offered. This additional aid may be in the form of federal grants, work study, scholarships, and loans. Students will receive their scholarship through their college or university as part of their financial aid award.
College Bound Website: wsac.wa.gov/college-bound
Not sure if you are on the College Bound Scholarship?
Talk to your counselor or Ms. Stephens in the Career Center. If you are in the program, you and/ or your parent have probably received mailings or emails with the logo pictured above.
College Bound Info
All of these can be found wsac.wa.gov/college-bound, the official site of the College Bound Program.
College Bound FAQs covers the income requirements, what the scholarship covers, and much more.
La beca College Bound Preguntas Frecuentes Cubre los requisitos de ingresos, lo que cubre la beca y mucho más.
How to Access College Bound details student, school, and College Bound tasks to access the scholarship.
Cómo acceder a College Bound detalla las tareas de los estudiantes, la escuela y College Bound para acceder a la beca.
Additional Scholarships for College Bound Students
A few colleges in Washington have "completion" scholarships that will cover even more of your costs than the College Bound Scholarship itself. We strongly recommend that students on the College Bound Scholarship apply to at least one, and preferably 2 or more of these colleges. Information below is current as of November 2023.
Students interested in the following scholarships should apply to the colleges according to their application deadlines and must meet all of the general stated College Bound Scholarship conditions, including filing the FAFSA or WASFA (only one, according to your status) according to college financial aid deadlines.
Families should know that many private colleges not listed here--including Gonzaga University--have a reputation for being very generous and the cost may end up being less (in some cases, much less) than in-state public colleges.
PLU 253 College Bound Full Tuition Scholarship
Must have a 3.3+ weighted cumulative GPA. Students who qualify will be awarded full tuition for their four years at PLU through a combination of federal, state, PLU grants and scholarships, and the College Bound Scholarship.
Seattle University Bound Scholarship
Students have a 3.5+ cumulative unweighted GPA. SU Bound provides financial aid to cover full, demonstrated need for four years for incoming first-year students. The aid will be in different forms and from a variety of sources, such as federal, state, and Seattle University—combined with the College Bound scholarship.
Seattle Pacific Falcon Bound Full Tuition Scholarship
To be eligible for this full tuition scholarship (covered by federal, state, and SPU grant and scholarship aid), students must have at least a 3.0 GPA.
The Whitworth Bound Promise covers 100 percent of Whitworth tuition (using federal, state and university funds). Students must have a 3.0+ cumulative, weighted high school GPA.