Scholarships

WSU Tri-Cities Scholarship Information

At WSU Tri-Cities, we want to make your academic journey as affordable as possible. Scholarships are a great way to help pay for tuition and help you reach your goals. Awards can be based on major, GPA, financial need, and other criteria outside of academic performance. There’s nothing to lose and a lot to gain. Apply today!

WSU Tri-Cities scholarship recipient and donor standing in front of a crimson and white Coug backdrop. The student is holding a scholarship certificate.

700+

Scholarships Available Through the WSU System

75%

Of Students Receive Aid Each Year

$275,000

Awarded in Scholarships Annually at WSU Tri-Cities

Scholarship Finder

As a WSU student, you have thousands of scholarships available just for you! With the Scholarship Finder tool, you can easily search for scholarships that you qualify for.

Try Scholarship Finder

Award Opportunities at WSU Tri-Cities

WSU General Scholarship Application

Apply and fill out the WSU General Scholarship Application every year before the January 31 deadline.

Departmental Scholarships

The University’s academic colleges and departments offer scholarships to students who are majoring or taking classes in the following subject areas:

Washington Resident Merit-Based Awards

New first-year and transfer students will be automatically considered for these awards if they apply for admission by the deadlines listed below.

Tri-Cities First-Year Academic Distinction Award – Resident first-year students with a minimum of 3.75 unweighted GPA are automatically awarded $4,000 per year, for a total of $16,000 over four years. To be considered, apply by March 31.
Tri-Cities First-Year Academic Excellence Award – Resident first-year students with a minimum of 3.33 – 3.74 GPA are automatically awarded $3,000 per year, for a total of $12,000 over four years. To be considered, apply by March 31.
Tri-Cities First-Year Academic Success Award – Resident first-year students with a minimum of 3.0 – 3.29 GPA are automatically awarded $2,000 per year for a total of $8,000 over four years. To be considered, apply by the priority deadline of March 31.
Tri-Cities Transfer Cougar Award – Resident transfer students with a minimum of 3.5 unweighted GPA and at least 27 semester (40 quarter) credits are automatically awarded $2,000 per year, for a total of $4,000 over two years. To be considered, apply by July 15.

Non-Resident Merit-Based Awards

New first-year and transfer students will be automatically considered for these awards if they apply for admission by the deadlines listed below.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) / Cougar Award – Awarded to first-year students with a cumulative high school GPA between 3.0 and 3.69 and transfer students meeting transfer credit requirements with a cumulative GPA between 3.0 and 3.69 – $12,000 per year for up to four years. To be considered, apply by the first-year (March 31) or transfer (July 15) priority deadline.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) / Distinguished Cougar Award – Awarded to first-year students with a cumulative unweighted high school GPA between 3.7 and 4.0 and transfer students meeting transfer credit requirements with a cumulative college GPA between 3.7 and 4.0 – $15,000 per year for up to four years. To be considered, apply by the first-year (March 31) or transfer (July 15) priority deadline.
Residents from bordering Oregon counties may qualify for in-state tuition rates. The I-82 Advantage program is for students who reside in Umatilla County and are enrolled in more than nine credits. The Border Bill is for students in neighboring counties enrolled in fewer than nine credits.

Meet Scholarship Winner Sarai Lopez

Receiving a scholarship has had such a positive impact on my academic and personal life. I feel motivated to keep on striving to achieve academic excellence and become a better person through the process. I feel proud of what I have accomplished.

Local Scholarship Listings & More

WSU wants students to have access to scholarships, including from external organizations. Due to the vast number of scholarship opportunities available, students are encouraged to utilize external search engines or lists, such as those listed below, to access scholarships for students based on a wide number of factors, including study areas and personal characteristics.