The starting point
CWU's automatic merit scholarships require no separate application but are limited to Washington students: a $4,000 Crimson award for freshmen, a $6,000 Transfer Excellence award, and a $20,000 need-plus-merit Wildcat Promise for students from specific WA counties. DRAFT.
More than one award path. Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.
Awards to discuss
The 3 awards in this school's research. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.
Crimson Scholarship
$2,000 per year for two consecutive years ($4,000 total) · Published award terms
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
GPA: 3.0 high school cumulative GPA
Eligibility: First time as a college student (not including Running Start or College in the High School); WA high school graduate; starting quarter Fall 2026; confirm admission by May 1, 2026. No separate application — awarded automatically from admissions data on a first-come, first-served basis.
Renewal: Two consecutive years. Renew with a 2.75 CWU cumulative GPA; enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits per quarter; live in campus housing both years. Not available summer quarter.
Other terms: Applies to standard CWU tuition only — if tuition is paid by other sources, or there are non-standard charges (e.g., FlexIT program, education abroad), the award may be reduced or canceled.
https://www.cwu.edu/admissions-aid/financial-aid-scholarships/scholarships/merit-based-scholarships.php
Transfer Excellence Scholarship
$2,000 per year, up to three years ($6,000 total) · Variable or qualified amount
Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.
GPA: 3.0 transfer cumulative GPA
Eligibility: Transfer student starting at CWU during the 2026-27 academic year; Ellensburg campus. No separate application — automatic from admissions data, first-come first-served.
Renewal: Up to three years. Renew with a 2.75 CWU cumulative GPA; enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits per quarter; Ellensburg campus. Not available summer quarter.
Other terms: Applies to standard CWU tuition only; reduced or canceled if tuition is paid by other sources or for non-standard charges (FlexIT, education abroad).
https://www.cwu.edu/admissions-aid/financial-aid-scholarships/scholarships/merit-based-scholarships.php
Wildcat Promise Scholarship
$5,000 per year, up to four years ($20,000 total) · Variable or qualified amount
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
GPA: 3.0 high school cumulative GPA
Eligibility: First-time-in-college student; 'Full Need' as determined by FAFSA or WASFA (SAI between -1500 and 0); WA resident of specific counties (Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman) or cities (Grandview, Granger, Mabton, Sunnyside, Toppenish, White Swan, Zillah); starting Fall 2026; confirm admission by May 1, 2026; housing contract by Sept 1, 2026.
Renewal: Up to four years. Renew with a 2.75 CWU GPA; enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits per quarter; live in a residence hall for the first two years and on-campus housing for the remaining two years; housing contract on file by Sept 1, 2026.
Other terms: Need-plus-merit-plus-geography award (requires the FAFSA/WASFA and a Full-Need SAI between -1500 and 0). No separate scholarship application, but requires the financial-aid filing and on-campus residency.
https://www.cwu.edu/admissions-aid/financial-aid-scholarships/scholarships/merit-based-scholarships.php
