Washington State Aid

There are several Washington-specific grants and scholarships that are available to residents of the state. Be sure to read through eligibility requirements of each grant and scholarship. Grants are considered gift aid and do not require repayment.

Types of State Aid and How to Apply

• Washington State Opportunity Grant

  DigiPen participates in the Washington State Opportunity Grant (WSOG) program. The goal of the WSOG is to help low-income adults reach the “educational tipping point” and beyond in high-wage, high-demand careers. Students who demonstrate financial need and who are entering one of the following degree programs are eligible for this grant:

  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Art and Animation

  To apply for the Washington State Opportunity Grant, visit Scholarship Manager, answer the matching question, and complete the application.

• Washington State Opportunity Scholarship

  The Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS) helps low- and middle-income Washington students earn degrees, certificates, or apprenticeships in high-demand trade, health care, or STEM fields and launch careers in Washington State. Please visit the WSOS website to apply for this scholarship, as well as to see deadlines and criteria.

• Washington College Grant

  The Washington College Grant (WCG) program helps the state’s lowest-income undergraduate students pursue degrees, hone their skills, or retrain for new careers. For the purpose of determining the grant amount, DigiPen is considered a private four-year college.

  Students will automatically be considered for this grant when they file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA).

• Washington State College Bound Scholarship

  The Washington State College Bound Scholarship (WSCBS) is an early commitment of financial aid to students from low-income families who enroll in middle school.

  Students will automatically be considered for this scholarship when they file a FAFSA or WASFA.

• Washington State Bridge Grant

  The Washington State Bridge Grant (WSBG) is available to students receiving the maximum amount of the WCG at the (0-60%) MFI level. It is not available to students who are eligible for and received WSCBS funds.

  Students will automatically be considered for this scholarship when they file a FAFSA or WASFA.

• Washington Award for Vocational Excellence Scholarship

  The Washington Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE) Scholarship is a merit-based student financial assistance scholarship program to recognize outstanding achievements of vocational or technical student. WAVE provides up to two years of grants for undergraduate study.

  Students can apply at the WAVE Scholarship website.

• Passport to College

  The Passport to College (PTC) program helps former foster youth and unaccompanied homeless youth prepare for and succeed in college.

  Students will automatically be considered for this scholarship when they file a FAFSA or WASFA.

Eligibility

Students eligible for the Washington College Grant and other state aid must meet the following criteria:

• Be a Washington state resident, for at least one year prior to starting attendance at any Washington state institution for purposes other than postsecondary education

• Provide documentation of residency verification (if dependent, one document from student, and two from parent(s); if independent: two documents from student). For required verification, please visit, call, or email the Office of Financial Aid.

• Meet State Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). The Satisfactory Academic Progress policy for Washington College Grant recipients is set forth and approved by the state of Washington and is different than DigiPen’s SAP policy.

• Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA).

• Meet the income requirements for each awarded form of state aid as outlined in the DigiPen Financial Aid Handbook.

• Enroll with a minimum of three credits as an undergraduate student in an eligible program.

• Pursue a first bachelor’s degree, a certificate, or an associate degree in any field of study excluding theology.

• Not exceed five years, and ten semesters, of Washington College Grant (eight semesters for Washington College Bound) term usage or 125% of enrolled program length.

• Not owe a repayment to another student aid program.

For more information on aid-specific eligibility, please refer to the DigiPen Financial Aid Handbook.

Award

Grant amounts vary by the type of school attended and enrollment status.

Conditions of Award

The following are the conditions students agree to upon accepting a Washington College Grant.

1. Students do not owe a refund or repayment on a Washington College Grant, a Pell Grant, or a Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant, nor are they in default on a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under the Perkins, National Direct, or Federal Family Education Loan programs. In addition, they are not in default on a loan made through a state conditional loan or a conditional scholarship program.

2. This grant is awarded to assist in meeting students’ educational expenses; should they withdraw from classes, repayment of all or a part of the grant may be required.

3. Students can choose to voluntarily make financial contributions to the Higher Education Coordinating Board in recognition of this Washington College Grant. All voluntary contributions will be used to provide financial assistance to other students.

4. The offer of a Washington College Grant is subject to and conditioned upon the availability of funds. The Higher Education Coordinating Board and the institution through which this grant is awarded reserve the right to withdraw, reduce, or modify the grant due to funding limitations or due to changes in circumstances which affect students’ eligibility for the grant.

5. Students are not pursuing a degree in theology.

To be eligible for state financial aid, state regulations require students to make satisfactory progress in an eligible degree or certificate program. Students must be meeting Washington state financial aid SAP in all semesters that state aid was received. If a student is not meeting federal SAP regulations, it will also impact state aid eligibility.

If students do not meet the state requirements, they will be placed on financial aid warning or have their financial aid terminated. If placed on warning, students must make satisfactory progress in their next two semesters of enrollment or their state financial aid eligibility will be terminated.

General Policy Requirements

GPA

All students are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 of higher.

Minimum Credits Completed

To establish and maintain eligibility for financial aid, students must pass a minimum number of credits each semester and a minimum number of credits for the academic year. Generally, students must pass all credits they are enrolled in (12 credit minimum for full-time students) for each semester or they will be placed on Washington state financial aid SAP or have their state aid eligibility terminated.

Grades of I (incomplete), AU (audit), W (withdrawal), D, F (failure), FN (failure for never attending), and FS (failure for stopping attendance) do not count as completed credits.

a) Semester: Students are expected to complete all credits for which they enroll. Credit completion progress will be reviewed each semester and status will be determined according to the chart above. (Two consecutive warning semesters will result in termination of state aid.)

b) Annual: The annual requirement is based on the student’s enrollment and state aid received. Generally, a student who attempts full-time enrollment for two semesters each year must pass at least 24 credits by the end of spring semester.

All credits attempted, including credits attempted before the student applied for or received financial aid, are monitored at the end of each academic year or before financial aid is awarded for the academic year.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Probation Status and Warning

Students who do not meet the State Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements outlined above will be put on their first warning status and receive a written warning that they must improve their academic performance in order to maintain state financial aid eligibility. Students on warning status for unsatisfactory academic progress must make satisfactory progress within their next two semesters of enrollment. Students must be enrolled in at least 3 credits to receive state aid and must complete all credits for which they receive financial aid with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Cancellation-Termination

Students who have two consecutive warning semesters, or who fail to complete the minimum number of credits for which they have registered (see Completion of Credits table, above), will have their state financial aid eligibility terminated. Students who lose eligibility must reinstate their eligibility using one of the two options described below.

Reinstatement of Eligibility

When state aid has been canceled due to unsatisfactory academic progress, students may use one of the following options to reinstate eligibility in their next semester of enrollment.

1. Students can re-establish their financial aid eligibility after successfully enrolling in and completing (without receiving state aid) at least 3 credits. Students must complete all credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.

2. Students may appeal the cancellation of their financial aid by indicating in writing to the Office of Financial Aid (a) reasons why they did not achieve academic standards, (b) reasons why their aid eligibility should not be terminated or should be reinstated, and (c) include a plan for how they will improve their academic performance in future semesters. Students should include appropriate documentation (letters from physicians or instructors, etc.) to support the statements in an appeal. Each appeal will be considered as precedent. Financial aid cannot be reinstated for a prior semester.

Transfer Students

Credits from prior schools that are accepted and applied towards a degree at DigiPen Institute of Technology will be counted in the total maximum time frame limits of eligibility for aid at DigiPen Institute of Technology. Until an official Transfer Credit Evaluation is completed by the Registrar, all prior credits will be assumed to be transferable.

For more details on state aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), please refer to the Washington State SAP Policy section in the DigiPen Course Catalog.

Withdrawal and Unofficial Withdrawal

Students who officially or unofficially withdraw from classes after receiving state financial aid may be required to pay the funds back to the financial aid program(s). Unpaid amounts due will be referred to our Business office for collection. Students are ineligible for further financial aid until the previous funds are repaid.

Additional Information

Second Degree Program

Students are eligible to receive state aid for multiple associate degrees as well as their first bachelor’s degree. Quarters of Eligibility Remaining (QER) will still apply to all associate programs as well as a first bachelor’s program. Students can receive a maximum of 10 semesters of Washington College Grant and eight semesters of Washington College Bound. Students in their second bachelor’s program are ineligible for state aid.