Freshmen & Transfer Students

The Passport to College Promise Scholarship program helps students who have been in foster care, or who are unaccompanied homeless youth, prepare for and succeed in college. Through Passport, students receive a scholarship that assists with the cost of attending college (tuition, fees, books, housing, transportation, and some personal expenses), specialized support services from college staff, and priority consideration for the Washington College Grant and State Work Study programs.

The College Bound Scholarship provides hope and incentive for students and families who otherwise might not consider college as an option because of its cost.

The amount of the scholarship will be based on tuition rates at Washington public colleges and universities and will cover the amount of tuition and fees (plus $500 for books) not covered by other state financial aid awards.

Lower-income 7th and 8th grade students who sign a pledge by June 30 of their 8th grade year are eligible. Students promise to graduate from high school, demonstrate good citizenship, and seek admission to a college or university. Family income will be re-checked and college admission confirmed after the student graduates from high school.

Students demonstrating outstanding academic achievement in high school and desire to pursue a degree in the Woodring College of Education are invited to participate in enriched first-year activities to make connections with faculty and academic opportunities in Education. Recipients are identified through admission application materials; no separate application is necessary.

One scholarship is offered to an entering freshman from Mark Morris or R.A. Long High School who plans a career in public education. Recipients are identified through admission application materials; no separate application is necessary.

Scholarships are awarded for incoming Fall Quarter students only.  The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program allows select non-resident students the opportunity to attend a participating university at a reduced tuition rate. Typically, the WUE program reduces non-resident tuition to 150% of the in-state rate for up to four years of study. The WUE will be calculated each year based on the annual in-state tuition rate. For the 2024-2025 academic year, the WUE award at Western is valued at over $15,000, which will significantly reduce tuition costs.

The WUE is our most prestigious non-resident scholarship and is highly competitive. Selection for this scholarship is based on information provided in the application for admission, including unweighted cumulative grade point average (GPA); minimum eligibility for the WUE is set at an unweighted GPA of 3.50.

First-year applicants who are residents of Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), the Federated States of Micronesia (FM), Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Marshall Islands, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Republic of Palau, South Dakota, Utah, or Wyoming may be considered for the WUE at Western. A select group of our incoming first-year students from participating states are granted this tuition waiver based on their academic performance. Unlike many universities participating in the WUE program, we do not limit or restrict the majors students can pursue while enrolled at Western.

May require additional essay. The Multicultural Achievement Program (MAP) Scholarship ranges from $2,000-$3,000 for up to four years. It is for incoming first-year and transfer students whose applications demonstrate an ongoing commitment to access, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Interested students are encouraged to use their application essay to describe any activities they have been involved in related to diversity, multiculturalism or support of any historically underrepresented community. In the essay, students should explain how they will actively contribute to a diverse campus community at Western. Alternatively, to be considered, students may also email a separate MAP scholarship essay to admissions.counselors@wwu.edu. Priority is given to residents of Washington state who submit their application for admission by the January 31 deadline for the fall term. More information about the MAP scholarship is available at https://admissions.wwu.edu/scholarships.

The Bill Reed African American Scholarship is a renewable annual award based on merit and need. The scholarship provides support exclusively for African American undergraduate students who have been admitted to Western.

Requires and additional essay within your application for admission. The Multicultural Achievement Program (MAP) Scholarshipis for incoming first-year and transfer students whose applications demonstrate an ongoing commitment to access, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

To be considered for the MAP Scholarship, submit an essay within the application for admission. You will be asked to describe your involvement in any activities related to diversity, multiculturalism or support of any historically underrepresented community. You should also explain how you will actively contribute to the diverse campus community at Western. Alternatively, you can email a separate MAP Scholarship to admissions.counselors@wwu.edu.

For this scholarship, we prioritize Washington State residents who have submitted their application for admission by the deadline.

Western Washington University offers a variety of competitive, merit-based scholarships for new and continuing international students, up to $10,000 per year. Availability and amounts for scholarships are subject to change, so please visit the International Students Scholarship page for updated information.