Scholarship Opportunities for Seniors

There are plenty of ways for seniors to earn money for college. You just need to know where to look. Here’s some important information families need to prepare for life after high school. Here are a few available opportunities for Seattle Public Schools students:

The Feb. 14 deadline for the Seattle Promise Scholarship is fast approaching. To complete your Promise application, first submit your scholarship application, then apply to North Seattle College, South Seattle College, or Seattle Central College. Remember to list one of the three Seattle Colleges on your FAFSA or WASFA. The scholarship increases access to college for students, particularly those from underrepresented groups. It’s open to all SPS graduates regardless of GPA, income, ability, or country of birth.

Free tuition is just the beginning. See how the Seattle Promise scholarship works.

Questions about the Seattle Promise scholarship can be sent to Promise@SeattleColleges.edu, or you can reach out to a Seattle Promise Outreach Specialist.

The Washington State Opportunity Scholarship offers two scholarships available to current Seattle Public Schools students and alumni who meet income requirements, determined by completing FAFSA or WASFA. There are tons of funding available for 12th graders interested in STEM and health care and in associate degree programs/apprenticeship.

The Baccalaureate Scholarship is for students who intend to earn their bachelor’s degree in STEM or health care, including those who plan to start at a two-year or community college and transfer to a four-year college, up to $22,500. There is no citizenship requirement for this scholarship. The deadline for scholarship submission and FAFSA/WASFA submission is Feb. 26. Learn more and apply.

The Career and Technical Scholarship is for students who intend to earn a certificate, apprenticeship, or associate degree in STEM, health care, and the trades. This scholarship provides up to $1,500 per quarter to over 1,000 eligible programs. Funding can be used to support the cost of living outside of tuition, such as transportation, food, and housing. This application opens three times per year and provides funding quarterly. The next CTS application will open in March 2025 for the fall 2025-26 quarter.

The Stim Bullitt Civic Courage Scholarship, sponsored by The Seattle Public Library Foundation, is now open for submissions through March 15. This scholarship engages students asking them to write a 1,500-word essay about an individual or group of individuals in Washington state who have demonstrated civic courage on an issue of importance to the community at great personal, political, or professional risk. It is open to individuals who live, work, or attend school in Seattle and are applying to attend a post-secondary educational institution.

The first-place winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship; two second place winners will receive scholarships for $2,500 scholarships. Winning essays will be added to the permanent collection in the Hugh and Jane Ferguson Seattle Room at The Seattle Public Library. Full contest details.

Students and families can visit Naviance and WashBoard to browse more local and national scholarships.

Information on Financial Aid

The 2025-26 financial aid applications have been simplified. For seniors interested in college, completing an application for federal financial aid (FAFSA) or Washington state financial aid (WASFA) is one of the first steps to receiving aid. If you plan to attend a college in Washington, completing your FAFSA or WASFA will automatically put you into consideration for the Washington College Grant. Washington College Grant provides gap funding for income-eligible families. Learn more about this opportunity here.

Complete an application for the FAFSA or WASFA as early as possible. Applications must be submitted by April 30. It’s also a good idea to have a parent or guardian with you to help you answer questions and gather the documents you will need.