As the cost of higher education continues to rise, many students in Washington are searching for ways to make their college dreams a reality. Thankfully, there are numerous scholarships available specifically for students in the Evergreen State. These scholarships not only provide financial assistance, but also recognize academic achievement, community involvement, and other unique qualities. In this article, we have compiled a list of 16 scholarships for Washington students that can help alleviate the burden of college expenses and pave the way for a successful academic journey.
Washington Thoroughbred Foundation Scholarship – Up to $5,000
The Washington Thoroughbred Foundation Scholarship is annually awarded to a student with an interest in equine science and/or horse racing and a demonstrated financial need. Applicants must be attending a college or university in Washington state and be pursuing a career in pre-veterinary medicine with an equine emphasis, equine science, racetrack management, equine business or pasture management, or equine marketing and/or communications related to racetracks, horse farms, and other related fields. Additionally, applicants must meet a minimum 2.85 GPA requirement and come from a family with a annual household income of $75,000 or less or be financially independent from their parents.
Robert W. Thunen Memorial Scholarship – $1,000-$5,000
Offered by the San Francisco chapter of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), the Robert W. Thunen Memorial Scholarship is annually awarded to students pursuing careers in illumination. Applicants must be full-time rising juniors, seniors, or graduate students at an accredited college or university in Northern California, Nevada, Oregon, or Washington. All applicants must be studying illumination, and graduate applicants must be “undertaking a lighting-centered project as part of work towards a graduate degree.”
ExxonMobil Engineering Scholarship – $20,000 (national award paid over 4 years), $2,000 (local award)
Each year, the ExxonMobil Engineering Scholarship Program, which is administered by the League of United Latin American Citizens, awards scholarships to Hispanic high school seniors from select cities who plan to pursue careers in engineering. Applicants must be graduating high school seniors, be Hispanic, be accepted into and planning to attend a full-time program in engineering leading to a bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university in the United States, be U.S. citizens or have legal permission to work in the United States, meet a minimum GPA requirement of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, have scored 29 or higher on the ACT or 1350 or higher on the SAT, and be from one of the following cities: Oxnard, CA, San Diego, CA, Colorado Springs, CO, Miami, FL, Kansas City, MO, Albuquerque, NM, Philadelphia, PA, Bayamon, PR, Austin, TX, Corpus Christi, TX, Houston, TX, Dallas, TX, El Paso, TX, San Antonio, TX, or Vancouver, WA.
Pride Foundation Scholarship – Up to $12,000
Each year, the Pride Foundation offers scholarships to LGBTQ students who show leadership, lack a support system, demonstrate financial need, and face additional barriers to higher education. Applicants must be a resident of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington, but they may study elsewhere. Additionally, applicants must be pursuing postsecondary education at a community college, four-year public or private college or university, certificate-granting institution, vocational school, trade school, technical school, law school, medical/dental/veterinary school, or graduate school.
Stim Bullitt Civic Courage Scholarship – $5,000 (1st Place), $2,500 (Runners-up)
The Seattle Public Library Foundation offers the Stimson Bullitt Civic Courage Scholarship for high school seniors and undergraduate students who live, work, or attend school in Seattle. Applicants must be 13 year of age or older, have an active Seattle Public Library card, and be a current high school senior or undergraduate enrolled at a two- or four-year college. In order to apply, applicants must submit an essay on an individual or a group of individuals from Washington state who have demonstrated civic courage on an issue of importance to the community at great personal, political, or professional risk.
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship – Baccalaureate Scholarship – Up to $22,500
The Washington State Opportunity Scholarship is a program intended to prepare students in Washington State to fill the state’s workforce shortages in trade, health care, or STEM fields. Its Baccalaureate Scholarship is open to students pursuing their bachelor’s degrees in STEM or health care fields. Applicants must be Washington State residents, have a high school diploma or GED from a Washington State institution, demonstrate financial need, have a GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale or a passing GED score, plan to pursue an eligible science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) or health care major, and plan to attend or currently attend an accredited Washington State institution at least half-time.
American Indian Endowed Scholarship – $500 – $2000
The Washington Student Achievement Council offers American Indian Endowed Scholarships of each year to help students with financial need and ties to a Washington State American Indian community pay for higher education. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, plan to enroll full-time as an undergraduate or graduate student at a participating public or private college or university in Washington State by fall term of the application year, plan to use their education to benefit Washington’s American Indian community, and not be studying theology. Scholarships can be renewed for up to five years.
WWIN Star Scholar – Up to $5,000 per year (for 4 years)
The Washington Women In Need (WWIN) Star Scholar program is open to women in Washington state pursuing a post-secondary degree. Each applicant must identify as a woman, have lived in Washington state for the past year, be 18 years of age or older by September 1, be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or current DACA recipient, have submitted the FAFSA or WASFA and have received a Student Aid Report, be enrolled at or admitted into a college or university approved by the Washington College Grant, be working towards an associate’s degree, certificate, technical degree, or first bachelor’s degree, demonstrate financial need, and meet a minimum GPA requirement of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
AISES Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Foundation Scholarship – $2,500 per year for up to 4 years
The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) offers various scholarships to students who are studying in a STEM field and identify as American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders, and Indigenous peoples of Canada. The AISES Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Foundation Scholarship is open to American Indian high school seniors who reside in one of the 23 states serviced by the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Pacific Corporation and its affiliated companies. Applicants must have a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher. Eligible states include Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, Arkansas, Louisiana, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
Goldman Sachs MBA Fellowship – $35,000 + Summer Associate salary
Global financial institution Goldman Sachs offers a fellowship for students pursuing an MBA. In order to qualify, applicants must be Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, or women. The fellowship is not a traditional scholarship program. Winning applicants are offered a paid Summer Associate position at Goldman Sachs, as well as an additional $35,000 award. Upon successful completion of the summer internship and acceptance of a full-time offer post-graduation, Fellowship recipients are awarded an additional $40,000. The funds do not have to be used toward academics, but for students who need extra funds to pay for their degree, these awards can go a long way and can lead to a full-time position at a leading financial institution upon completion of their MBA. Applicants must: be a first-year MBA student; be Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, or a woman; have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and live in New York City, Washington DC, West Palm Beach (Florida), Seattle, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Philadelphia, Miami, and Los Angeles
Truman D. Picard Scholarship – $2,500
Sponsored by the Intertribal Timber Council, Truman D. Picard Scholarships are annual awards that go to Native American and Alaska Native undergraduate students, graduate students, and graduating high school seniors who are pursuing higher education in natural resources. Applicants must be enrolled in a federally recognized tribe.
Wendy Jackson Hall Memorial Scholarship – $15,000 (disbursed over 2 years)
The Wendy Jackson Hall Memorial Scholarship was created to help visual artists from Washington State afford higher education. After 15 years, the scholarship committee has decided to close the scholarship.
Edmund F. Maxwell Foundation Scholarship – Up to $5,000 per year (renewable for up to 4 years)
The Edmund F. Maxwell Foundation Scholarship is a financial need-based scholarship for high school seniors in Western Washington who are pursuing higher education at a private college or university in the state. Applicants must seek a four-year degree at an accredited private institution, have attended the last two years of high school and lived in a location west of the Cascade Mountains, and demonstrate financial need.
Sub Pop Loser Scholarship – Up to $7,500
Offered by Sub Pop Records, the Sub Pop Loser Scholarship is annually awarded to three high school seniors who are “art-enthused misfits from the Northwest.” Applicants must be graduating seniors and residents of Oregon or Washington who are on track to full-time enrollment at an accredited university or college.
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship – Career and Technical Scholarship – Up to $1,500 each quarter
The Washington State Opportunity Scholarship is a program intended to prepare students in Washington State to fill the state’s workforce shortages in trade, health care, or STEM fields. Its Career and Technical Scholarship awards up to $1,500 each quarter to fund a high-demand associate degree, certificate, or apprenticeship from one of Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges. This scholarship can be used toward nearly 1,000 trade, health care or STEM programs across Washington state. Applicants must be Washington State residents, meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) defined and determined by each college, and plan to in at least six credits during the fall, winter and spring terms.
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship – Graduate Scholarship – Up to $25,000
The Washington State Opportunity Scholarship is a program intended to prepare students in Washington State to fill the state’s workforce shortages in trade, health care, or STEM fields. Its Graduate Scholarship is open to Nurse Practitioner students from one of Washington’s six graduate nursing schools. The scholarship can be used toward four primary care and behavioral health-focused DNP or MSN program tracks. Applicants must be Washington State residents, and pursue a full-time program.
In conclusion, the journey to finding the perfect scholarship doesn’t have to be daunting. Whether you’re just beginning your search or looking to expand your options, our comprehensive scholarship directory offers a wide range of opportunities catering to diverse academic interests and backgrounds. For a more personalized approach, consider leveraging the power of TUN AI, our innovative tool designed to match you with scholarships uniquely suited to your profile. Start exploring today and take a step closer to securing the financial support you need for your educational journey.