Tuition Waivers

Merit-Based Awards

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. To receive these awards, you must be enrolled full-time (12 or more credits) in Tri-Cities courses. To have them renewed, you must earn a minimum of 24 credits in an academic year and maintain a WSU GPA of 3.2.

  • 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 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. To receive these awards, you must be enrolled full-time (12 or more credits) in Tri-Cities courses. To have them renewed, you must earn a minimum of 24 credits in an academic year and maintain a WSU GPA of 3.2.

  • 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.

State Employee Waivers

State Employee Tuition Fee Waiver

State Employee Tuition Fee Waiver Request: Use this form to request enrollment using the state employee tuition waiver. For Fall and Spring semesters only. The form goes live at the same time as Pullman approximately 2-3 weeks before the start of each semester. For more detailed information on allowed courses and eligibility, please visit our WSU ETW Policies and Regulations page, as well as the Tuition Waivers – Fall and Spring Semesters page of the Business Policies and Procedures Manual.

Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver

Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver Request: Use this form if you are age 60 or over, a Washington state resident, and want to audit a course, in which no grade points or university credit will be earned. This tuition waiver is limited to six credits or two courses per semester in the fall and spring semesters only.

IMPORTANT! We can enroll students using these benefits starting on the first day of instruction. Since students can’t access Canvas until they are enrolled, we encourage them to contact instructors directly for course material and/or Zoom links.

View awards terms and conditions here.