WA Grant income limits are higher than most families expect. For 2026-27, a family of four earning $83,500 or less gets a full Washington College Grant, and the same family can earn up to $139,500 and still get a partial award. The full award is $13,203 at the University of Washington, $12,700 at Washington State and $5,095 at community and technical colleges. Grades, sports and activities don't count; only income, family size and where you enroll.
All figures are from the Washington Student Achievement Council's (WSAC) 2026-27 WA Grant tables. Income is based on 2024 tax information.
Table 1: Income limits by family size (2026-27)
Find your family size, then the first column with an amount at or above your income.
| Family size | A: Full award (100%) | B: 60% | C: 50% | D: 24.5% | E: 10% (income cap) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $43,500 | $47,000 | $50,500 | $54,500 | $72,500 |
| 2 | $57,000 | $61,500 | $66,500 | $71,000 | $94,500 |
| 3 | $70,000 | $76,000 | $82,000 | $88,000 | $117,000 |
| 4 | $83,500 | $90,500 | $97,500 | $104,500 | $139,500 |
| 5 | $97,000 | $105,000 | $113,000 | $121,000 | $161,500 |
| 6 | $110,500 | $119,500 | $128,500 | $138,000 | $184,000 |
Source: WSAC, Table 1: Eligibility by Family Size & Income, 2026-27. WSAC publishes a complete chart for family sizes up to 20.
Table 2: Maximum annual award by college type (2026-27)
| College or program | A (full) | B (60%) | C (50%) | D (24.5%) | E (10%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington | $13,203 | $7,992 | $6,602 | $3,235 | $1,320 |
| Washington State University | $12,700 | $7,620 | $6,350 | $3,111 | $1,270 |
| Western Washington University | $8,804 | $5,282 | $4,402 | $2,157 | $880 |
| The Evergreen State College | $8,640 | $5,184 | $4,320 | $2,117 | $864 |
| Central Washington University | $8,615 | $5,169 | $4,307 | $2,111 | $861 |
| Eastern Washington University | $8,035 | $4,821 | $4,018 | $1,969 | $804 |
| CTC applied baccalaureate programs | $8,134 | $4,881 | $4,067 | $1,993 | $813 |
| Private four-year nonprofit | $6,476 | $3,885 | $3,238 | $1,587 | $648 |
| Community and technical colleges | $5,095 | $3,057 | $2,548 | $1,248 | $510 |
| WGU Washington | $4,150 | $2,490 | $2,075 | $1,017 | $415 |
| Private two-year nonprofit; Northwest Indian College | $3,694 | $2,216 | $1,847 | $905 | $369 |
| WSAC-approved apprenticeships | $2,548 | $1,529 | $1,274 | $624 | $255 |
| Private for-profit (two- or four-year) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Source: WSAC, Table 2: Maximum Annual Grant Amount by Income Level & Institution, 2026-27. Maximums for full-time students.
How to read your award
- Find your column in Table 1 from your family size and 2024 income.
- Find that column in Table 2 for your college.
- That's your approximate maximum. Your college sets the final award after you file the FAFSA or WASFA; part-time students get less.
Example: a family of four earning $95,000 falls in column C (50%) and could get up to $6,602 at UW or $2,548 at a community college.
What changed: WSAC notes that the $500 Bridge Grants offered from 2021-22 through 2024-25 are no longer available because of state budget reductions.
What this means for you
- Don't assume you earn too much. A family of four can earn up to $139,500 and still qualify.
- File the FAFSA or WASFA and list your Washington colleges; that's the whole application.
- Compare the same income level across colleges. The WA Grant is largest at UW and WSU, where tuition is highest.
- From a lower-income family? See whether you're enrolled in College Bound.