Financial resources
Emergency Aid
Emergency aid is available for unpredictable or unexpected costs that cause significant stress and impact academic success and personal well-being.
Financial Aid Food Security Grant
Through the Office of Student Financial Aid, students can apply for a $100 grant that goes directly on their Husky Card and can be used to purchase food at any on-campus vendor.
Financial Aid Office
Talk to a financial aid counselor to see if adjustments can be made to your financial aid and find other options for help. 206-543-6101
Food Pantry
Provides students who experience food insecurity access to shelf-stable food, fresh produce and ready-to-eat items at no cost — just bring your Husky ID.
Do you need a job?
Explore these resources to start your job search early:
Handshake is the UW’s online job and internship database. Any Husky can schedule career coaching appointments, RSVP for events and career fairs and search for internships, part-time and full-time jobs, from your computer or mobile device.
Work Study is a great way to help pay for your education while gaining invaluable experience by working part-time. To be eligible, you must demonstrate financial need and complete the FAFSA by the priority filing date.
The Career & Internship Center offers one-on-one career coaching, resume and interview help, career fairs and workshops on everything from LinkedIn to job searching. You can even access free career exploration tools, take a professional headshot or borrow interview-ready attire through the Husky Career Closet.
Housing & Food Services employs thousands of students every year in a wide variety of services, and enables students to develop skills in on-campus roles.
UW Libraries Students who work at the Libraries come from a wide range of academic interests and degrees, and enjoy unique learning and career opportunities as a UW Libraries Student Employee.
Scholarships
UW students are competitive for scholarships supporting a wide range of pursuits. Take advantage of the following resources to support your scholarship search:
- Office of Student Financial Aid scholarship information: Provides information and resources for need and merit based scholarships.
- Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards: Supports students in identifying and applying competitively for scholarships that advance their goals.
- Mary Gates Endowment for Students: Scholarships to help students become independent learners and community leaders.
- Reserve Officer Training Corps: Merit-based scholarships that cover full tuition, a book allowance and a monthly stipend.
Send private scholarship checks to this address. Please include your name and ID number.
University of Washington Scholarships
PO Box 24967
Seattle, WA 98124
When is tuition due?
On the 3rd Friday of the quarter.
- Autumn 2026: Oct 16
- Winter 2027: Jan 22
- Spring 2027: Apr 16
Payments must be received by Student Fiscal Services no later than the tuition due date. Mark all the important add/drop dates on your calendar.
Please note: Financial aid generally begins disbursing one week prior to the first day of the quarter.
Commonly asked questions about financial aid
Should I apply for financial aid?
Yes, if you think you need help paying for college, we strongly encourage you to apply. There is no “income cutoff” or other simple method of determining whether you will qualify for need-based financial aid. In general terms, “financial need” is defined as the difference between what it costs you to attend school and what you and your family can afford to pay.
What are the various types of financial aid?
There are three main types of financial aid based on your eligibility: grants/scholarships, which are considered “gift aid” and do not have to be repaid; work study, which allows you to work part-time on or off campus; and loans, which you borrow now and repay after graduating or dropping below half-time enrollment.
What costs can I use financial aid for during my enrollment at the UW?
You can use financial aid to cover expenses that are related to your education, such as tuition and fees, books/supplies, living expenses (on and off campus), transportation and other personal expenses you may incur.
How much will I need to borrow?
That depends on how long it takes to complete your degree, your eligibility for other aid besides loans and your personal spending habits. In 2024-25, 27% of UW undergraduates had debt at graduation. These students graduated with an average cumulative loan debt of $21,207. This is below the national average of $28,000 borrowed at public universities.
Why do I need loans? Can’t I just use other forms of aid?
Of course, loans should be your last resort for paying for school. However, we do not have enough funds to award grants to all Huskies, so we end up awarding some loans to help you meet your financial need. We encourage students to fully utilize grants, scholarships and employment wages before considering loans. However, if you do need to fill a financial gap, you can decide how much or how little you want to borrow in loans. You can always repay your loans early, too, without penalty.
Who can I talk to about my financial aid options?
There are multiple ways you can connect with a Student Financial Aid Counselor:
- Call 206-543-6101 Monday–Friday, any time between 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Email the Office of Student Financial Aid at osfa@uw.edu
- Visit the Student Financial Aid website
Reminder: Next year’s priority FAFSA/WASFA deadline is February 28, 2027.
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