Commit to College in Middle School

The College Bound Scholarship is a state-funded program administered by the Washington Student Achievement Council. It is an early commitment of state financial aid to eligible students who sign up in middle school and fulfill the College Bound pledge.

The College Bound Pledge

College Bound students promise to:

• Graduate from a Washington State high school or home school with a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher.
• Have no felony convictions.
• Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WAFSA) as soon after October 1 as possible during senior year of high school.

Financial Aid for Eligible Washington Schools

College Bound combines with other state financial aid to cover average tuition (at public college rates), some fees, and a small book allowance.

Students can earn an approved certificate or degree at more than 60 eligible schools in Washington, including:

• Public two-year colleges
• Public four-year colleges
• Private two-year colleges
• Private four-year colleges
• Technical colleges
• Private career schools

Student Eligibility

Seventh or eighth-grade students are eligible for the College Bound Scholarship if they meet one of the following requirements:

1. The student’s family meets the income requirements; or
2. The student is in foster care or a dependent of the state; or
3. The student’s family receives basic food or TANF benefits.

Apply Online

Eligible seventh and eighth-grade students may apply for the College Bound Scholarship online by June 30 at the end of their eighth-grade year.

Ongoing Support

Students who complete the College Bound application and receive a certificate will continue to receive reminders of important information and updates from program staff.

High school students and their families may sign-up for the College Bound listserv to receive short and informative messages. Reading these emails is the best way to stay on-track to receive the scholarship.

Receive the College Scholarship

To receive their scholarship, College Bound students must fulfill the pledge and:

• Apply for the FAFSA or WASFA every year while in college, and be income eligible. Colleges use information from the FAFSA and WASFA to determine income eligibility.
• Be accepted to an eligible college and begin attending within one year of high school graduation.
• Meet program state residency requirements.

College Bound covers up to four years within five years of high school graduation. 

Learn More

For more information about the College Bound program and about other financial aid options in Washington:

• Visit the Ready Set Grad website.
• Email collegebound@wsac.wa.gov.
• Call (888) 535-0747, option 1.