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Grants are federal, state and institutional funds awarded on the basis of need, which do not have to be repaid. Most grant programs are from limited annual allocations and offer priority is determined by financial need.
Grants are offered under the assumption of full-time enrollment (undergraduates/professionals 12 credits, graduates 10 credits). Grants may be available at part-time enrollment, however, each quarter a student plans to attend part-time, they must email the financial aid office to review eligibility and adjust amounts for the part-time enrollment level.
Below are the most common types of grants that are offered at the University of Washington Tacoma for eligible students.
Federal Pell Grants
Federal Pell Grants are awarded to eligible undergraduate students. This is the largest federal student grant program. Eligibility is determined by the U.S. Department of Education. Your annual award amount is based on your Student Aid Index (SAI) printed on your FAFSA Submission Summary, which can be found in your Federal Student Aid portal, where you filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The lifetime limit of the Federal Pell Grant is set by federal law to be the equivalent of 6 years (or 600%) of funding.
Federal Supplemental Grants
Federal Supplemental Grants are priority aid for undergraduates whom are eligible for Pell Grant, with low family contributions.
Washington College Grants
Washington College Grants (WCG), which come from state government revenue, are offered to undergraduate Washington residents with financial need who meet the eligibility requirements. Eligibility is determined using a methodology established by the state and administered by the Washington State Achievement Council (WSAC). Please visit WSAC’s web page for information on program rules and eligibility formulas. Please note, that in addition to satisfactory academic progress rules, students can receive no more than 18 full-time quarters of WCG in their lifetime.
Undergraduate Institutional Grants: Tuition Exemption & University Grant
Undergraduate Tuition Exemption (UTE) and Undergraduate University Grant (UUG) are for Washington resident undergraduate students in state-funded programs. These grants are not available to students in fee-based programs.
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program
Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program provides federal grants for students who teach as a full-time teacher in a high-need field in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students. If the teaching requirement is not fulfilled, this grant converts to an unsubsidized loan you must repay. If you are in a major that leads directly to an initial teaching certificate and are interested in this program, please visit the Teach Grant site to review the details of this program.
Graduate Institutional Grants: Tuition Exemption & University Grant
Graduate Tuition Exemption (GTE) and Graduate University Grant (GUG) programs are for graduate students in state-funded programs (these grants are not available to students in fee-based programs).
