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 College Grant

  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).

  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.

  As of May 2025, Washington College Grant is available for 2025-26 academic year.

• Washington State College Bound Scholarship

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

  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.

  As of May 2025, Washington College Bound Scholarship is available for 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years.

• Passport to College

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

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

• 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 Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Art and Animation
  • Bachelor of Arts in Game Design
  • Bachelor of Arts in Music and Sound Design
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Digital Audio
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Game Design

  Students will automatically be considered for this grant when they file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA). The Office of Financial Aid will contact students if they qualify to complete an 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 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.

  As of May 2025, WAVE Scholarship funding was suspended for the 2026-27 academic year.

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). Washington State Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements align with Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.

• 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.

• 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 six years (or 12 semesters) of term usage for the Washington College Grant, the Washington College Bound, or the Passport to College. Additionally, enrollment should not exceed 150% of each program’s 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.

WA State Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Starting with the 2024-25 academic year, Washington State Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements will align with Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.

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

Withdrawal and Unofficial Withdrawal

Students who officially or unofficially withdraw from classes after receiving state financial aid are not required to pay the funds back to the financial aid program(s) if they have started attendance for those classes.

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 12 semesters of Washington College Grant and Washington College Bound. Students in their second bachelor’s program are ineligible for state aid.