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Scholarships
Top Washington scholarships for you
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Scholarships for Washington
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The Scholarships360 $10,000 "No Essay" Scholarship
Due: 8/31/25
No essay
$10,000
Hazel Baird Lease Scholarship
No essay
No min. GPA Required
No Transcripts Required
$1,050
The Hazel Baird Lease Scholarship shall be awarded to a sophomore, junior, or senior collegian member of the Fraternity who will pursue an undergraduate degree in speech therapy or speech communication during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded or a senior collegian or alumna member of the Fraternity who will pursue a graduate degree in speech therapy or speech communication during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded. Should no applicants meet the first criteria, the scholarship shall be awarded to a collegian or alumna member of the Fraternity with a permanent address in the greater Seattle, Washington area who will pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded. Should no applicants meet the first and second criteria, the scholarship shall be awarded to a collegian or alumna member of the Fraternity who will pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded. Applicants must be initiated members, college and alumni, of Kappa Alpha Theta in good standing with the Fraternity. New members may apply but should be initiated by the application deadline. A recommendation from a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and a recommendation from an academic or professional reference are required. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation for more information.
Jane Brokaw Gallup Scholarship
No essay
No min. GPA Required
No Transcripts Required
$1,100
The Jane Brokaw Gallup Scholarship shall be awarded to a senior collegian or alumna member of the Fraternity with a permanent address in the greater Seattle, Washington area who will pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded. Should no applicants meet the first criteria, the scholarship shall be awarded to a senior collegian or an alumna member of the Fraternity who will pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded. A recommendation from a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and a recommendation from an academic or professional reference are required. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation for more information.
Edith Whitney-Spokane Alumnae Chapter Scholarship
No essay
No min. GPA Required
No Transcripts Required
$1,500
The scholarship shall be awarded to a sophomore, junior, or senior collegian member of Alpha Nu-University of Montana, Alpha Sigma-Washington State University, Beta Theta-University of Idaho, or Delta Delta-Whitman College who will pursue an undergraduate degree during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded. Should no applicants meet the first criteria, the scholarship shall be awarded to a freshman collegian member of the same fraternities in the same colleges and universities as the first criteria who will pursue an undergraduate degree during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded, or a senior collegian or an alumna member of the same fraternities in the same colleges and universities as the first criteria who will pursue a graduate degree during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded. Should no applicants meet the first and second criteria, the scholarship shall be awarded to any collegian or alumna member of the Fraternity with a permanent address in the greater Spokane, Washington area who will pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded. Should no applicants meet the first to third criteria, the scholarship shall be awarded to any collegian or alumna member of the Fraternity who will pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded. A recommendation from a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and a recommendation from an academic or professional reference are required. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation for more information.
Washington College Grant
Due: 8/31/25
No essay
No Recommendations Required
No min. GPA Required
No Transcripts Required
Varies
The Washington College Grant gives eligible people more money for more types of education like certificate programs, job training, apprenticeships, or college. To apply, applicants must complete a state or federal financial aid application. The amount that the recipients receive depends on family size, income, and the cost of your school or program. Applicants must be recent high school graduates or working-age adults, low- to middle-income families and individuals, and people who plan to attend an approved certificate program, job training, apprenticeship, or college, part-time, or full-time. Undocumented students, and others who choose to, can apply for state aid with the WASFA.
Portland State University Washington Border Discount Scholarship
Due: 8/1/25
No essay
No Recommendations Required
No min. GPA Required
Varies
The Portland State University Washington Border Discount Scholarship is open to Washington resident students who live in the neighboring counties of Oregon. The following are the approved border counties: Asotin, Benton, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Garfield, Klickitat, Pacific, Skamania, Wahkiakum, and Walla Walla. Incoming students will be notified via email if they are eligible for WBD. Initial awarding is based on information and documentation provided by the student in the admission process. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Washington Occupational Therapy Association Endowed Scholarship
Due: 9/30/25
No min. GPA Required
No Transcripts Required
Varies
The Washington Occupational Therapy Association Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to at least one occupational therapy student and one occupational therapy assistant student annually who are enrolled in entry-level OT programs, and are members of the Washington Occupational Therapy Association. Applicants will need three total references: an academic reference, a character reference, and a reference from their OT Program Director. The academic reference should be from a current faculty member or faculty advisor who can speak about the applicant's academic ability. The character reference should be someone who can speak to the applicant's character. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the American Occupational Therapy Foundation for more information.
University of Washington, Bothell Presidential Scholar
Due: 11/15/25
No Recommendations Required
No min. GPA Required
No Transcripts Required
$10,000
The University of Washington, Bothell Presidential Scholar is available to selected Washington residents who show exceptional leadership, community engagement, and promise. It is renewable for up to four years. Washington residents are considered automatically with their application to the UW.
Governors' Scholarship for Foster Youth Program
Due: 11/30/25
No essay
$4,000
The Washington State Governors' Scholarship for Foster Youth is a scholarship program that helps young people from foster care continue their education and earn a college degree. Proceeds from the Governors' Cup, an annual golf tournament, provide funding for new scholars each year who are planning to enroll in a college or university. Selected students can access the annual scholarship for up to five years to complete undergraduate studies. To be considered for the Washington State Governors' Scholarship, students must have a high school diploma or equivalent by June 2025; plan to enroll by Fall 2025 at an eligible college or university; have resided in Washington state for at least one year prior to enrolling in college; and apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the free Washington Application for State Financial Aid. Applicants must also meet one of the following criteria (either currently or until age 18): (1) Placed by a Washington state court order in any of the following living situations: Foster Care, Guardianship or Dependency Guardianship (non-relatives, relatives, residential/group care); (2) Placed in federally-recognized care (a private nonprofit agency in Washington state), classified as an unaccompanied minor and rendered legal permanent residency in the United States; or (3) Placed under a dependency tribal court order outside of your home. The application opens on October 1, 2024 and is due on November 30, 2024. Supporting documents are due December 7, 2024. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
Leadership 1000 Scholarship
Due: 11/30/25
No essay
$5,000
The Leadership 1000 Scholarship awards funding to certain high school seniors attending eligible high schools or students enrolled in CSF's College Services who are enrolled or planning to enroll in a Washington state college or university. Students must be a high school senior at one of the eligible high schools and on track to graduate by June 2025; or have graduated from a high school and enrolled in CSF College Services (includes all former CSF Achievers) attending an eligible Washington state college or university as a freshman, sophomore or junior in Fall 2025. Applicants must also have resided in Washington state for at least one year prior to enrolling in college; file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or the free Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA); and have a family income that doesn't exceed the program's requirement. International students, students on foreign exchange or visas and out-of-state residents are not eligible. The application opens on October 1, 2024, and is due on November 30, 2024. Supporting documents are due December 7, 2024. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.
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What are Washington scholarships?
Washington scholarships are financial aid for college created specifically for students living in Washington or looking to go to school in Washington. Washington scholarships can help students attain higher education opportunities that otherwise may be out of reach due to financial reasons. All scholarships are free money for college that you don’t have to pay back.
Eligibility requirements for Washington scholarships
Before you apply for Washington scholarships, make sure you check the eligibility requirements. To qualify for Washington scholarships, you’ll most likely need to prove you’re a resident or you’re attending school in that state. Some other common eligibility requirements may include your GPA, community service, citizenship, plan to attend an accredited program, leadership potential, and submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Scholarship eligibility requirements vary, so don’t assume you won’t qualify. Check them out!
Are Washington scholarships worth my time?
Some scholarships are quick and easy to apply for. Others require time and effort. Typically, fewer students apply to scholarships that require work which means you could have better odds of winning.
Pro tip: Don’t skip over Washington scholarships with smaller award amounts ($). There’s typically less competition for them—and they add up!
How do I find Washington scholarships?
There are many resources to help you find Washington scholarships.
Scholarship resources
- The financial aid office at a college or career school
- Organizations (such as professional associations) related to your field of interest
- Federal agencies
- Free scholarship search tools like Scholly Scholarships
- Local libraries, businesses, or associations
Your high school guidance office is a great place to start when looking for local scholarships. You could also try doing a search for your city’s name and “community foundation,” or the county you live in and “foundation.”

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Hot tip! Smaller scholarships may have less competition, increasing your odds of winning.
What types of scholarships are available for students?
Need-based scholarships
These are scholarships for students who have demonstrated a financial need. There’s no universal number or set income level that tells you if you qualify. How each scholarship defines what financial need means varies. The federal government as well as specific organizations, corporations, and colleges/universities/schools offer need-based scholarships.
Merit scholarships
Merit scholarships are for students who have shown high academic, athletic, or extracurricular achievement over their high school careers. Not all schools/colleges offer merit-aid—highly selective schools typically don’t. The process for applying for merit scholarships varies. For merit scholarships offered through colleges and universities, you generally don’t have to do anything other than complete the application to the school itself. For some schools, you need to submit the FAFSA® to be eligible.
Career-specific grants or scholarships
These are awarded to students who know they want a career in a specific industry. Maybe they know they want to be a teacher, a nurse, or an engineer. To be eligible for grants, students must submit the FAFSA®. To find career-specific scholarships, try searching for your major and “association.”
Community or nonprofit scholarships
Nonprofit and community organizations often receive funding from donors to create scholarship programs for students who need them.
Tips for successful scholarship applications
- Pull together everything you need for the application including transcripts, so you can submit a complete scholarship application.
- You may need a recommendation letter or letters for a scholarship. Ask a teacher, employer, or someone else who knows you to write one for you—and be sure to give them enough time to do it.
- If you’re writing a scholarship essay, follow the prompt, answer the essay question completely, and write from your experience. A few well-written essays that you can reuse for different scholarship applications can really pay off.
- Highlight your strengths and achievements in your application.
- Talk about your financial need and what you would use the scholarship money for if you won. How would it help?
- Have to interview for a scholarship? Dress to impress in a professional outfit. And do your research! Look into how/why the scholarship was created. Try to bring up why it’s meaningful to you. Also, don’t forget to send a thank-you note afterwards.
- Keep track of all the deadlines for the scholarships you’re applying to. If you miss one, they may not extend the due date.
- Apply for scholarships year after year, all through college. As you continue your studies, gain more experience, and try new extracurricular activities in college, you might be eligible for more scholarships you weren’t originally qualified for.
Here are more tips that can help you understand all there is to know about scholarships and up your chances of winning.
Frequently asked questions
These tips can help as you get ready to apply for Washington scholarships.
When are scholarship application deadlines?
There’s no standard deadline for scholarship applications. Each scholarship has its own deadline, so be sure to keep track of dates and make sure you don’t miss any deadlines of scholarships that you want to apply to.
Do you need to know which college you’re attending?
You don’t need to know which college you’re going to attend before applying for most scholarships. However, once you’re awarded scholarships, some of them may ask for eligibility verification—which can include proof of college enrollment.
Is there a limit on how many scholarships you can apply for?
Absolutely not, so apply for as many as you can to increase your chances of winning free money. Want to find more types of scholarships? There are so many, check them out!
Pro tip: Apply for scholarships each year you’re in college.
Does every scholarship application require an essay?
Not every scholarship will ask you to submit an essay—different scholarships have different requirements. If you’re applying for a scholarship with an essay and need help writing yours, get tips for writing scholarship essays.
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More resources to explore

Tips for writing scholarship essays
Get tips for writing scholarship essays. Learn what makes a good scholarship essay.

Find scholarship resources
Explore our scholarship resources, articles, and guide to get all the tips and tricks to help pay for college.

Fill out the FAFSA®
Learn when and how to apply for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to maximize your chances of getting federal student financial aid. Get tips now.
*No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Ends 12/31/2025.
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