Financial Aid
Washington State University Merit Scholarships and Financial Aid
Washington State University gave merit aid averaging $5,300 to 1,312 first-year students who had no financial need, about 78% of the freshmen without need.
Merit aid
Scholarships Washington State University gave to first-year students who had no financial need.
Average merit award
$5,300
Freshmen who got one
1,312
of 4,261 in the class
Share of those without need
78%
who received merit aid
Need-based aid
For first-year students the college found to have financial need.
Average need-based grant
$16,069
Average percent of need met
62.4%
Freshmen with need
60%
2,569 students
The average total aid package, which can include loans and work-study, was $17,188.
How to read these numbers
- Merit aid is awarded for grades, scores, or talent. Need-based aid is awarded for family finances. A student can receive both.
- The merit figures count only students with no financial need, so they show what a family that will not qualify for need-based aid can expect.
- A grant does not have to be repaid. A package can include loans, which do.
Frequently asked questions
Does Washington State University give merit scholarships?
Washington State University gave merit aid averaging $5,300 to 1,312 first-year students who had no financial need, about 78% of the freshmen without need.
How much is the average merit scholarship at Washington State University?
$5,300 for first-year students without financial need, according to Washington State University's 2025-26 Common Data Set. That is an average across everyone who got an award, so individual offers run higher and lower.
Does Washington State University meet full financial need?
Washington State University reports meeting 62.4% of need on average for first-year students who were awarded need-based aid. A figure under 100% means the average student was left with a gap to cover.
What share of Washington State University freshmen have financial need?
2,569 of 4,261 first-time, full-time freshmen, or 60%, were found to have financial need.
Source: Washington State University’s own Common Data Set 2025-26, Section H, for first-time, full-time freshmen. Last checked 2026-10-08. These are averages for one entering class, and some colleges report the prior year’s class in this section. Your own offer depends on your family’s finances and your application.
