Grants, tuition waivers, work-study and loans are considered financial aid and all you have to do is fill out one FAFSA application to see if you qualify. Your Financial Aid award letter will indicate what type of aid you have been awarded. Use this page to discover the possibilities each type of aid requires and requests of you.
Tip: to qualify for the most available Financial Aid, file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by June 1 for the upcoming school year. The first day to file your FAFSA will be in late December, so mark your calendar!
Scholarships are also considered financial aid but require a separate application. Learn more and apply for scholarships
Federal Pell Grants are awarded to eligible undergraduate students based on the information you submit on your FAFSA. The amount of Pell Grant you may receive over your lifetime is limited by federal law to be equivalent to 6 years of Pell Grant funding.
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)FSEOG is a federal grant for high-need undergraduate students. It is generally paired with a Pell Grant, depending on availability of funds.
This is a grant awarded by Eastern Washington University to undergraduate, Washington state residents based on financial need. The award is available for qualified students up to 250 attempted credits.
Washington College Grant (WCG)The Washington College Grant (WCG) is available for up to 18 full-time quarters to undergraduates who are Washington state residents. Financial need is the primary criteria.
College Bound ScholarshipThe College Bound Scholarship program is an early commitment of state financial aid to eligible students enrolled in the program during middle school and follow the “pledge” terms listed below. who sign up in middle school and fulfill the pledge below. The program encourages students who might not consider college because of the cost.
When eligible students apply, they promise to:
Eligible students may receive the College Bound Scholarship for up to a maximum of 18 quarters, including summer session.
What is it? FREE money to help pay college costs – up to $14,000 per year. Grants are based on financial need and do not have to be repaid.
When do I apply? Complete the FAFSA/WASFA by June 1.
How do I qualify? Complete the FAFSA/WASFA demonstrating financial need. Grants are limited to undergraduate students who have not received a bachelor’s degree and some grants are available to only Washington state residents.
Law Enforcement/Firefighter Spouse and Dependents
Waivers may be granted to the spouse and/or dependent children of Washington law enforcement/firefighters who were totally and permanently disabled or who died in the line of duty. Students must be Washington resident, full time and pursuing their first undergraduate degree. To be considered, contact the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office for more details.
Veterans
Waivers may be granted to all categories of military veterans. Students must be Washington resident, full-time and pursuing their first undergraduate degree. The discount will reduce Washington resident tuition by approximately 50 percent. The waiver is limited to state-supported courses, which means it cannot be used for summer tuition, some online courses and the off-campus programs (Bellevue, Clark, etc.). To be considered, contact the Veterans Resource Center for more details.
Veteran’s Spouse and Dependents
Waivers may be granted to the spouse and dependents of qualifying veterans. Students must be Washington resident, full or part-time and pursuing their first undergraduate degree. The waiver is for all tuition types and course fees, but does not cover any mandatory fees. To be considered, contact the Veterans Resource Center for more details.
Non Resident Employee Spouse and Dependents
Waivers may be granted to the spouse and/or dependent children of new EWU employees relocating to Washington State may be eligible. Qualified students will pay the Washington resident tuition rate, for up to one year, while Washington residency is established. To be considered, contact the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office for more details.
We also provide scholarships for non-resident undergraduates. Apply for EWU Scholarships by February 1 to be considered for all opportunities.
Undergraduate Tuition Waivers for EWU Employees & DependentsEWU Employee Tuition Waiver
As authorized by RCW 28B.15.558 and EWU Policy, eligible employees may apply for a tuition fee waiver. See EWU Policy 409-04 for complete eligibility requirements and visit https://inside.ewu.edu/records-and-registration/tuition-waivers/ for next steps. Additional information is also available by contacting Records and Registration at regonline@ewu.edu.
Washington State Employee Tuition Waiver
As authorized by RCW 28B.15.558 a Washington state employee may apply for a tuition fee waiver. See EWU Policy 409-04 for complete eligibility requirements and visit https://inside.ewu.edu/records-and-registration/tuition-waivers/ for next steps. Additional information is also available by contacting Records and Registration at regonline@ewu.edu.
EWU Employee Spouse and Dependent Children Tuition Waiver
***Beginning Fall term 2024*** Waiver applications available beginning July 15.
As authorized under EWU Policy 405-01, EWU offers partial tuition waivers for the spouse and dependent children of eligible EWU employees. The dependent tuition waiver program is provided as an EWU employee benefit and is constituted as a Qualified Tuition Reduction Program under Section 117 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Up to a 50% of the operating portion of EWU tuition* may be waived for a qualifying spouse or dependent child of an eligible EWU employee (see EWU Policy 405-01 for eligibility requirements of both the EWU employee and their beneficiary). This waiver is limited to one beneficiary per term and only for the beneficiary’s first undergraduate bachelor’s degree. This waiver is not available for self-support coursework/enrollment, like summer session, online learning, study abroad, etc. Total waiver eligibility per qualifying beneficiary is limited to 12 quarters or 8 semesters within a five-year period that commence the first term the waiver is used.
For more information or to apply for this benefit, contact the Financial Aid & Scholarship Office. Complete waiver applications must be received by the Financial Aid Office no later than two weeks prior to the term start date.
*In combination with any other tuition waivers offered by EWU, the total amount of waiver available under this policy is 50% of the operating fee portion of tuition.
Graduate Service Appointments (GSA)Graduate students are eligible to apply online, on a competitive basis, for a Graduate Service Appointment (GSA). GSAs teach or support scholarly activities in exchange for discounted tuition and a stipend. Applications and award criteria can be obtained by contacting the Graduate Studies Office or your academic department.
Non-resident graduate students from the 14 western states who are admitted to the Communication Disorders, Creative Writing, Dental Hygiene, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Social Work programs may be eligible for the WICHE award. A WICHE award reduces the non-resident tuition rate to the equivalent Washington resident rate in the student’s chosen program. No service to the University is required. Applications and award criteria can be obtained by contacting your academic department.
Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship (NRTS)Graduate non-resident tuition scholarship (NRTS) waivers are available to high-achieving non-resident students nominated by their academic department or program. These awards reduce non-resident tuition to approximately 150% of the Washington resident rate. No service to the University is required. Applications and award criteria can be obtained by contacting your academic department.
Foreign Nations ReciprocityWaivers may be awarded to foreign national students who are attending EWU as a part of a formal exchange agreement and are intended to promote reciprocal placements and waivers in foreign nations for Washington residents. Students must be non-resident undergraduates or graduates. Waiver amounts vary depending on the exchange agreement. For more information, applications and award criteria, contact the Office of Global Initiatives at 509.359.2331 or global@ewu.edu.
What is it? Discounting your tuition costs, as much as $14,000 per school year for undergraduate students and $27,000 per school year for graduate students.
How do I qualify? Click the drop down options to the right for more details on each opportunity, including eligibility criteria, contacts and/or next steps.
NOTE: Tuition is made up of three components: operating fees, building fees, and the S&A fees. Under State RCW, total tuition waiver/discount, on a per-student basis, may not exceed the operating fees component for the term and/or academic year.