Your Financial Aid Experience at UW?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Washington
1

So I’m from Ohio. UW is my dream school, but my parents told me I can’t attend unless I get a free ride (which is valid, I think). I’m curious how likely it is that I’ll get a generous financial aid package from UW. (I think I know the answer, but I’m hopeful I’ll hear the opposite.) Do they favor OOS students? Are they more merit based, or more need based? If it helps, I have a 30 ACT and a 3.7ish GPA unweighted.

2

You should confirm with the financial aid office, but I believe the main form of aid provided to incoming OOS students is the Purple and Gold Scholarship. It is a nice four-year merit scholarship, but it does not amount to a free/full ride. https://admit.washington.edu/Paying/PurpleGold

There are additional merit scholarships for returning students that do not have residency restrictions, but again, these would not cover your cost of attendance.

Admission is more competitive for OOS students.

Good luck!

3

Good to know - Thank you! @UWfromCA

4

Try not to live in fantasyland when highly desirable OOS colleges come into play. Run a Net Price Calculator. Free ride is a fantasy most places. But a highly desirable OOS college is not happening, not even full tuition. OOS students are valued for their full paying ability.

5

I would still apply - you never know with UW. They have some surprising scholarships that aren’t necessarily widely advertised. I was surprised with an actual full-ride, but then again, I am in-state (not sure if my specific scholarship is for out of state as well). From hearing from my friends, they are pretty generous with financial aid, but it’s hard to say how that would affect you not knowing your financial situation. You can always apply for private scholarships as well. Hopefully you can convince your parents UW is worth it, I definitely think it is!
Oh also, admission is not more competitive for OOS, if anything it is less competitive because more in-state students want to come to UW.

6

^ I have not seen the final admission figures for Fall 2015, but the preliminary information published in the Seattle Times a few months ago indicated that there were 36,814 applicants: 11,228 in-state applicants (~ 66% acceptance rate), 16,663 OOS applicants (~ 51% acceptance rate), and 8,923 international applicants (~ 39% acceptance rate).