Washington ranks high on state-by-state analysis of need-based higher education assistance
After high school, there are several options for continuing education. From college to technical training or an apprenticeship, there are a range of possibilities.
However, many people have to decide which option they’ll choose based on financial factors. Across the country, people who can’t afford a traditional college education look to other options. Even with scholarships, relying on financial aid such as student loans can be a large burden to bear later on.
But Washington state guarantees grant funding for families making up to 100% of the median family income, meaning about half of the state population qualifies. The median family income varies by household size. For this reason, among others, Washington is gaining notability as a top state for need-based financial aid for college or career training.
The National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs (NASSGAP) conducts an annual study on state-sponsored student financial aid, in which Washington has recently stood out.
Financial aid through Washington grants
Washington fared well on the latest study, ranking first in the nation for need-based financial aid.
A statement from Gov. Jay Inslee’s office says this is because of the Washington College Grant program, which is offered to families making up to 100% of the median family income. This equates to about half of the households in the state qualifying for money for post-high school education, offering up to $11,339 in awards. It is the primary source of aid through the state.
“It’s no secret around these parts that we have the best college financial aid in the country, and we’re proud more people are taking notice,” Inslee stated in the press release.
Analysts with NASSGAP agree with this conclusion, despite noting in an email to McClatchy how difficult it can be to compare data between states. The report looks at numerous factors, including total dollar amounts and percentages, specific categories and other parameters in the annual report. Figures are often given for total dollar amounts as well as for rates adjusted for population.
In an attempt to make comparison more simple, aid-per-student average is calculated for each state. Washington has the highest at $2,008, marking the Evergreen State as the first ever to offer more than $2K per student on average.
The highest aid-per-student average has climbed over the years, but no state has ever topped $2,000 before now. The executive director of the Washington Student Achievement Council, Michael P. Meotti, told McClatchy about the factors leading to this figure in an interview.
“We were always one of the more generous states in the country, but three years ago when it became the WA College Grant, it became an entitlement. This caused a very quick jump,” Meotti said.
Eligible students weren’t entitled to funding through the previous system, the State Need Grant. A handful of changes came with the switch to the WA College Grant, including entitlement and increased eligibility.
Washington has long stood out as a top state for aid, ranking in the top ten before the WA College Grant took over. The state has broad definitions of higher education, including apprenticeships and technical schools in accepted funding uses. The Evergreen State also has no age cut-off, while many other states restrict their funding to recent high school graduates.
Comparing need-based aid by state
The latest NASSGAP study is based on the most recently available data, for the 2021-22 school year. Across the country, $14.9 billion in state funding went toward student financial aid that year, according to the study. The majority of this funding came from grants, and the majority of grants were need-based.
About a dozen states offered more than $150 million in-need based undergraduate grant aid, including Washington.
In total dollar amounts (in millions), the most grant aid came from:
- California - 2,339.788
- Texas - 1,137.130
- Florida - 960.837
- Georgia - 915.052
- New York - 767.553
- Virginia - 705.882
- New Jersey - 485.595
- Washington - 481.490
- Illinois - 468.642
- Tennessee - 437.940
When ranked by grant dollars per estimated population:
- South Carolina - 87.76
- Georgia - 83.85
- Virginia - 81.29
- Louisiana - 76.31
- Kentucky - 64.45
- Tennessee - 62.11
- Washington - 61.84
- California - 59.95
- New Mexico - 54.85
- New Jersey - 52.43
But when looking at the grant aid per undergraduate divided by full-time equivalent enrollment estimates, the metric used by NASSGAP to better compare the state data, the order changes:
- Washington - 2,008.23
- New Jersey - 1,790.39
- Virginia - 1,551.62
- California - 1,496.42
- Illinois - 1,186.63
- Texas - 1,070.53
This story was originally published February 5, 2024 at 10:02 AM with the headline "Washington ranks high on state-by-state analysis of need-based higher education assistance."