How the Husky Promise works
Your tuition will be covered first by your federal and state grants—like the Pell Grant or State Need Grant. If your eligibility for these programs does not cover the full cost of your tuition, the University will make up the difference with institutional grants or scholarships. Funds awarded for the Husky Promise will only cover up to your calculated financial need and can be reduced if you receive private scholarships or other privately funded resources.
The Husky Promise is limited to tuition only; however, there are additional grant and scholarship funds available to help with the other costs of education.
If you do not qualify for the Husky Promise, you may still receive grants and other types of financial aid. Please review the UW’s financial aid website for more information.
QUESTIONS
- What is the Husky Promise?
- Who qualifies for the Husky Promise?
- When does the Husky Promise begin?
- Is the Husky Promise available at all three UW campuses?
- Is the Husky Promise available to incoming freshmen and transfer students as well as current UW students?
- How do I apply?
- What does the Husky Promise cover?
- What are the requirements for renewal?
- Can I still get financial aid if I don’t qualify for the Husky Promise?
- I qualify for the Husky Promise. Can I receive more grants or scholarships to help with the rest of my expenses?
- I now receive a Pell Grant and a State Need Grant. Will I receive a full tuition scholarship on top of these funds?
- I receive scholarships not awarded by the university. Am I still eligible for the Husky Promise?
- I receive financial aid from the UW now. Do I need to do anything new under the Husky Promise program?
- I plan to attend the university as a part-time student. Do I qualify for the Husky Promise?
- Does the Husky Promise cover summer quarter tuition, too?
- Can I still receive the Husky Promise if I’m not a U.S. citizen?
- Who’s paying for this?
1. What is the Husky Promise?
We believe that students from all economic backgrounds should have the opportunity to attend the University of Washington. Finances should not be a barrier to getting an education. With the Husky Promise program the UW promises to cover the cost of tuition for students who otherwise could not afford to attend.
2. Who qualifies for the Husky Promise?
To be eligible for the Husky Promise, you must:
- Be a Washington State resident
- Be eligible for the Pell Grant or State Need Grant Programs. (Currently, the State Need Grant program funds students with family incomes at or below 65% of the state median family income.)
- Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid by the UW’s priority filing date of February 28 for the following academic year.
- Enroll full-time.
- Be pursuing a first bachelor’s degree.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress while at the University.
3. When does the Husky Promise begin?
The first awards were awarded in academic year 2007-08.
4. Is the Husky Promise available at all three UW campuses?
Yes! It is offered to students at Bothell, Seattle, and Tacoma.
5. Is the Husky Promise available to incoming freshmen and transfer students as well as current UW students?
Yes.
6. How do I apply?
Just as you would with our other aid programs:
- Complete the FAFSA.
- Submit the FAFSA so that it is dated as received by the federal processor by February 28 for the upcoming academic year.
- List the University of Washington (federal code #003798) as one of the colleges you wish to receive the results of your FAFSA.
No other financial aid application is required for the Husky Promise.
7. What does the Husky Promise cover?
- The Husky Promise guarantees that full-time tuition and standard fees will be covered by grant or scholarship support.
- The UW technology fee and student activity fees are covered under the Husky Promise.
- Individual course fees, equipment fees, and lab fees are not part of the Husky Promise, but many students receive enough financial aid to cover these as well.
International study program fees or non-standard tuition paid by Evening Degree or MEDEX students is not covered under the Husky Promise. If you are in one of these programs, check with our office for the aid available to help with your costs.
8. What are the requirements for renewal?
You must apply for financial aid each year. To remain eligible for the Husky Promise:
- Apply by the priority filing date each year
- Meet all eligibility criteria for the Pell Grant or State Need Grant.
- Enroll full-time (at least 12 credits per quarter, 36 credits per academic year)
- Continue to make satisfactory academic progress.
9. Can I still get financial aid if I don’t qualify for the Husky Promise?
Each year, the University of Washington awards more than $160 million in aid to about 50% of our undergraduates. If you don’t qualify for the Husky Promise, we still have grant, scholarship, work study, and loan funds that you may be offered to help you cover your costs. The key is to apply for aid by filing the FAFSA by our priority date of February 28 so we can consider you for our aid programs. If you miss the priority date, you will still be considered but for limited types of aid.
10. I qualify for the Husky Promise. Can I receive more grants or scholarships to help with the rest of my expenses?
Many of the students who will be served by the Husky Promise program will receive grants or scholarships beyond the cost of tuition and fees. Your financial aid award letter will list any other scholarships or grants you are eligible to receive. Most students at the UW receive awards from a combination of aid programs—loans and work study are often offered in addition to grants and scholarship funds.
11. I now receive a Pell Grant and a State Need Grant. Will I receive a full tuition scholarship on top of these funds?
The Husky Promise is a guarantee that your tuition and fees will be covered with a combination of federal, state, and institutional grant or scholarship funds. If you are already receiving more grants and scholarships than the cost of your tuition and standard fees, then your Husky Promise has been met. However, if tuition increases, you are guaranteed to see an increase in grant or scholarship funds to cover tuition and fees.
12. I receive scholarships not awarded by the university. Am I still eligible for the Husky Promise?
Funds awarded for the Husky Promise will cover only up to your documented financial need and can be reduced if you receive private scholarships or other privately funded resources that are counted in the financial aid calculation of need. The calculation of financial need is based on federal formulas and institutional rules. If your financial need is high enough, you may be able to keep all or part of your Husky Promise funding. At the University of Washington private scholarships are used to meet need and replace loans before we reduce grant or scholarship assistance.
13. I receive financial aid from the UW now. Do I need to do anything new under the Husky Promise program?
No, we will automatically consider you each year you apply by the priority filing date. Remember, you have to enroll full-time each quarter and make satisfactory academic progress at the UW to continue to be eligible for the Husky Promise.
14. I plan to attend the university as a part-time student. Do I qualify for the Husky Promise?
No. Only full-time students qualify for this program. However, depending on how much Pell Grant or State Need Grant you are eligible to receive, your pro-rated award for part-time attendance may be enough to cover the cost of tuition.
15. Does the Husky Promise cover summer quarter tuition, too?
No. Summer quarter is funded differently and is not covered under the Husky Promise. However, we do offer some grant funding for the summer. Although there is no guarantee, you may still receive enough grant funds in the summer to cover your tuition. Aid for Summer
16. Can I still receive the Husky Promise if I’m not a U.S. citizen?
To be eligible for the Husky Promise, you must meet all citizenship requirements of the federal and state aid programs. In general, this means you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. You must also be a resident of Washington State.
17. Who’s paying for this?
The additional money comes from a variety of sources: federal and state grant programs, university grant programs, and scholarships provided by private donations raised through Campaign UW: Creating Futures.