Lawmakers look to reverse financial aid cuts for students at WA's private colleges
Starting this fall, the Washington College Grant, hailed as one of the most generous financial aid programs in the country, will decrease by nearly a third for students attending private universities.
A bill under consideration in the state Senate seeks to reverse that.
Last year, Washington lawmakers slashed funding across the board to help close the state’s multibillion-dollar budget deficit. In higher education, the state cut a portion of the Washington College Grant, the state-funded tuition assistance program for students from low to middle-income families.
For students attending public universities, the grant covers full tuition. But for students attending private universities like Gonzaga or Pacific Lutheran University, the state pays a flat amount for tuition, about $9,700 a year. After the cuts, it would be reduced to around $6,500. State funding for tuition at public universities will remain the same.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/01/22/lawmakers-look-to-reverse-financial-aid-cuts-for-students-at-was-private-colleges/