CWU scholarships and merit aid

Where does your student land?

1. Crimson Scholarship$2,000 per year for two consecutive years ($4,000 total)AutomaticRenewable

   Published awardAcademic thresholds

   Crimson Scholarship

   $2,000 per year for two consecutive years ($4,000 total)

   Published award termsAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

   GPA

   3.0 high school cumulative GPA

   RenewableCheck the conditions

   Open award details for Crimson Scholarship

   Who qualifies

   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.

   How to keep it

   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.

   Worth knowing

   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.

2. Transfer Excellence Scholarship$2,000 per year, up to three years ($6,000 total)AutomaticRenewable

   Published awardAcademic thresholds

   Transfer Excellence Scholarship

   $2,000 per year, up to three years ($6,000 total)

   Variable or qualified amountAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

   GPA

   3.0 transfer cumulative GPA

   RenewableCheck the conditions

   Open award details for Transfer Excellence Scholarship

   Who qualifies

   Transfer student starting at CWU during the 2026-27 academic year; Ellensburg campus. No separate application — automatic from admissions data, first-come first-served.

   How to keep it

   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.

   Worth knowing

   Applies to standard CWU tuition only; reduced or canceled if tuition is paid by other sources or for non-standard charges (FlexIT, education abroad).

3. Wildcat Promise Scholarship$5,000 per year, up to four years ($20,000 total)Not automaticRenewable

   Published awardOther selection criteria

   Wildcat Promise Scholarship

   $5,000 per year, up to four years ($20,000 total)

   Variable or qualified amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

   GPA

   3.0 high school cumulative GPA

   RenewableCheck the conditions

   Open award details for Wildcat Promise Scholarship

   Who qualifies

   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.

   How to keep it

   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.

   Worth knowing

   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.