🎓 University of Washington Scholarships & Financial Aid (2025–2026)
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- Tuition, housing, and what families actually pay on average
- Automatic and competitive merit scholarships
- Need-based state and institutional grants
- Honors, departmental, and regional aid options
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Admit rates (3-yr avg): 50% WA residents • 40% non-residents
- Middle 50% GPA (Autumn 2024 admits): 3.74–3.98
- Testing: See policy below — UW reviewers do not see scores; high scores may be considered for a small number of applicants
Source: UW Admissions “By the Numbers.”
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University of Washington at a Glance
Last verified: October 15, 2025
The University of Washington (UW) is one of the nation’s top public research universities—and for in-state families, one of the best values on the West Coast. While UW isn’t known for large automatic merit, it offers selective scholarships and strong need-based programs that can significantly lower costs.
Washington residents may qualify for the Husky Promise (full tuition and standard fees covered for eligible students). Nonresidents are automatically considered for the competitive Purple & Gold Scholarship. High-achieving students can also find additional opportunities through the UW Honors Program and academic departments.
FAQ
Does UW offer automatic scholarships? Very few. Most merit is competitive or department-based; nonresidents are automatically considered for Purple & Gold with admission.
What’s the average net price? $13,485 (most recent federal College Scorecard figure). Your actual price varies by income and aid eligibility.
Does UW participate in WUE? No. UW Seattle is not a WUE school; there’s no regional OOS tuition reciprocity.
Are there full-tuition options? For eligible WA residents, Husky Promise covers full tuition and standard fees. Nonresident full-tuition awards are uncommon and highly selective.
💰 Cost of Attendance at the University of Washington (2025–2026)
UW publishes official nine-month budgets each year. The figures below reflect the latest 2025–2026 estimates for students living on or near campus in Seattle.
| Category | Washington Resident | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Mandatory Fees | $13,406 | $44,640 |
| Housing & Meals (on-campus average) | $18,405 | $18,405 |
| Estimated Total (Before Aid) | $35,738 | $66,972 |
Note: Figures above reflect UW’s official 2025–26 on-campus budget. Indirect costs used in aid packaging typically include $900 for books/supplies, $519 for transportation, and $2,508 for personal expenses.
Automatic Scholarships at UW
UW offers very few automatic scholarships. Most funding is need-based or tied to special programs. In-state students with strong financial need may qualify for the Husky Promise (full tuition for low-income Washington families). Out-of-state students are considered automatically for the Purple & Gold Scholarship—but it’s highly competitive (top 10–15% of applicants, 3.8+ GPA). No extra forms are needed for either.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Husky Promise | Full tuition (up to 12 quarters) | WA resident, Pell-eligible or low income; need-based only | No (auto from FAFSA/WASFA) | Yes | Full-need, in-state students meeting Pell/WA grant requirements | Feb 28 (FAFSA/WASFA) |
| Purple & Gold Scholarship | $4,000–$8,000/year (up to 4 years) | Out-of-state; top 10–15% by GPA (3.8+), academics, and optional test scores | No (auto with admission) | Yes | Nonresidents with straight-A records and strong involvement | Nov 15 |
No automatic merit scholarships for in-state students: Even top Washington students don’t receive automatic merit money. UW’s merit aid is focused on the Purple & Gold (nonresident) and competitive awards via Honors and departments.
Superscore Tip: UW does superscore the ACT and SAT for admission, but there’s no public policy stating that superscores are used for scholarships. If your best combined score is significantly higher, submit it for admission anyway.
FAQs About Automatic Scholarships at UW
No. All out-of-state admits are reviewed automatically; there’s no extra form, but competition is stiff (3.8+ GPA, strong rigor/service).
No. It’s based only on Washington residency and financial need (Pell/WA Grant), not on GPA or test scores at all.
No. In-state WA students do not receive automatic academic (GPA/test-based) scholarships; competitive awards may be available after enrollment.
UW superscores for admission, but scholarship policy is not published. If your superscore is much stronger, submit it to boost your file.
Competitive Scholarships at UW
These scholarships are not guaranteed; you must apply or be nominated. They often require essays, high achievement, or extracurricular leadership. Many are managed by departments or the Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Family Foundation Honors Scholarship | $12,000/year (up to 3 years) | WA community college transfer, admitted to UW Seattle | Yes | Yes (up to graduation/max 3 years) | High-achieving, low-income transfers with leadership | July 1 |
| Martin Achievement Scholarship | $5,000 (final CC year) + $12,000/year (UW, up to 3) | WA CC students with a year left before UW transfer | Yes | Yes (for CC and UW portion) | CC students with leadership/service, Pell eligible | Apr 4 |
| Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS) | Up to $22,500 | WA resident, 2.75+ GPA, income <125% median, STEM/healthcare major | Yes | Yes (5 years undergrad max) | First-gen, underrepresented, or need-eligible STEM majors | Feb |
| Departmental/College Awards | $500–$5,000 | Open to current students/majors, sometimes new admits | Yes (college or program) | Usually (annual) | Top applicants in departments with essay, GPA, or faculty nomination | Varies (Jan–March) |
| Pride Foundation Scholarship | $1,000–$12,000 | LGBTQ+ students from PNW, leadership or service | Yes (external app) | No (one time) | LGBTQ+ applicants active in community/leadership | Jan |
FAQ: Competitive Scholarships at UW
For departmental and national awards, it’s often a faculty or academic advisor, especially for upperclass students. For foundation/pride/outside grants, students usually self-nominate via direct applications.
Sometimes. Departmental and WSOS aid usually stack with need-based grants, but others (like some Foundation or large outside awards) may change your total aid. UW’s Financial Aid office tells students if a new award will cause a change.
Yes! Many Huskies piece together departmental, transfer, competitive, and outside/private scholarships. Just keep an eye on application cycles and avoid conflicts in required essays.
These are college- or major-based grants/awards, often for continuing students, but occasionally available to new admits. Most require an essay, application, or demonstration of achievement beyond GPA.
Honors College at UW
UW’s Interdisciplinary Honors Program offers small classes, priority registration, and access to research and faculty mentorship—plus Honors-specific housing in Terry Hall. Admission is selective (most winners have a 3.8–4.0 GPA and excellent essays), but UW is looking for curiosity and strong writing, not just perfect test scores.
While there is no automatic scholarship just for joining Honors, the college offers exclusive upperclass, research, and project awards. Many are applied for after your first year, and Honors students are often favored for faculty-nominated and travel awards.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honors Undergraduate Scholar Award | Full resident tuition waiver (4 years) | Incoming WA residents, first-year Honors; strong academics, service, and interest in interdisciplinary learning | No (auto via Honors app) | Yes (4 years) | Top-resume WA applicants accepted to Honors | Nov 15 |
| Bordeaux Scholarship | $3,000 | Rising junior; all Honors tracks; academic merit | Yes (sophomore year) | No (one time) | Active Honors students with strong GPAs | April |
| Gerberding Scholarship | $3,600 | Rising senior; service/distinction in Honors | Yes | No (one time) | Seniors active in Honors service and events | April |
| Friedman-Hechter Endowed Scholarship | $1,200 | Honors student; for academic-related international travel | Yes | No | Traveling Honors students with need/global project | Rolling |
| Mary Gates Achievement Scholarship | $12,000 | Rising sophomore; Interdisciplinary Honors | Yes | No | Sophomores with achievement, leadership, and Honors participation | Jan |
Typical recipient: Most Honors award winners maintain a 3.6+ GPA, participate actively in the Honors community, and take advantage of faculty mentorship or research opportunities.
Honors scholarships are not “guaranteed”—but being in the program gives early access to campus leadership, research funding, and study abroad travel grants. Honors students should check internal deadlines yearly.
FAQs About the Honors College at UW
It’s more rigorous and focused on small discussion classes and independent research, not simply more homework.
No—there’s no automatic award, but internal scholarships, research, and travel money are widely available to active participants.
Yes—Honors Living Learning Community (Terry Hall). Space is limited; apply soon after admission.
Typically a 3.8–4.0 GPA and strong writing, but passion and engagement weigh heavily in admissions.
Apply at the same time as general UW admissions; submit the Honors supplement with your main application.