Funding a college education takes careful planning and often requires using a variety of financial resources. We’re here to help you determine whether you qualify for aid, assist you in applying for aid and finally, make sure you receive it.
Note: Explore financial resources in the pre-A&O modules to learn more about the cost of attendance, money management, understanding financial aid, and paying your tuition bill.
On the 3rd Friday of the quarter.
Payments must be received by Student Fiscal Services no later than the tuition due date. Mark all the important add/drop dates on your calendar. fyp.uw.edu/hgdates
Please note: Financial aid generally begins disbursing one week prior to the first day of the quarter.
Talk to a financial aid counselor to see if adjustments can be made to your financial aid and find other options for help. 206-543-6101 • finaid.uw.edu
Emergency aid is available for the unpredictable or unexpected costs that cause significant stress and impact academic success and personal well-being. uw.edu/emergencyaid
Through the Office of Student Financial Aid, students can apply for a $100 grant that goes directly on their Husky Card and can be used to purchase food at any on-campus vendor. fyp.uw.edu/hggetfood
Provides students who experience food insecurity access to shelf-stable food, fresh produce and ready-to-eat items at no cost — just bring your Husky ID. uw.edu/anyhungryhusky
On-campus hiring occurs year-round, and there are a few central websites where on-campus jobs are listed. Handshake is a great platform to find on-campus opportunities. It connects students with employers, both domestic and international, for your next incredible internship or employment opportunity. Work-study is a great way to help pay for your education while gaining invaluable experience by working part-time.
Explore the websites below and start your search early.
Husky Tip: Work on Campus: “Working on campus was great; my supervisors were very encouraging of my schoolwork and gave me the support and flexibility I needed to succeed in my academics.” — Idanis Cruz, Public Health-Global Health
Yes, if you think you need help paying for college, we strongly encourage you to apply. There is no “income cutoff” or other simple method of determining whether you will qualify for need-based financial aid. In general terms, “financial need” is defined as the difference between what it costs you to attend school and what you and your family can afford to pay.
There are three main types of financial aid, based on your eligibility: grants/scholarships, which are considered “gift aid” and do not have to be repaid; work study, which allows you to work part-time on or off campus; and loans, which you borrow now and repay after graduating or dropping below half-time enrollment.
You can use financial aid to cover expenses that are related to your education, such as tuition and fees, books/supplies, living expenses (on and off campus), transportation and other personal expenses you may incur.
That depends on how long it takes to complete your degree, your eligibility for other aid besides loans and your personal spending habits. In 2020–21, 34% of UW undergraduates had debt at graduation. These students graduated with an average cumulative loan debt of $20,793. This is below the national average of $30,000 borrowed at public schools.
Of course, loans should be your last resort for paying for school. However, we do not have enough funds to award grants to all of you, so we end up awarding some loans to help you meet your financial need. We encourage students to fully utilize grants, scholarships and employment wages before considering loans. However, if you do need to fill a financial gap, you can decide how much or how little you want to borrow in loans. You can always repay your loans early, too, without penalty.
There are multiple ways you can connect with a Student Financial Aid Counselor: Call 206-543-6101 during our phone service hours, email us at osfa@uw.edu, or visit finaid.uw.edu.
Reminder: Priority FAFSA/WASFA deadline is January 15, 2025
UW students are competitive for scholarships supporting a wide range of pursuits. Take advantage of the following resources to support your scholarship search:
Send private scholarship checks to this address. Please include your name and ID number.
University of Washington Scholarships
PO Box 24967
Seattle, WA 98124
120 Mary Gates Hall Box 352825
Seattle, WA 98195-2825
Mary Gates Hall 120
Academic Year: Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m.
Summer: Mon-Thurs 7:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m., Fri 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
Winter Break: Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Commuter and Transfer Commons (HUB 141)
Academic Year: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Breaks & Summers: Closed
Closed during University holidays.
206-543-4905 (Voice)
206-207-5564 (Text)
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First Year Programs fosters a successful undergraduate student experience through strategic programming that focuses on positive academic transitions and the development of learning communities. Through partnerships with faculty, staff, alumni, and student leaders our programs create the space for students to define how they will engage, learn, and thrive at the University of Washington.
