Whitman Tuition Commitment Graphic
Award IconIf you live in Washington state, you may be eligible for a full tuition scholarship.

You’ve worked hard—and we want to make Whitman a reality for you.

Whitman’s dedicated to making our world-class education affordable—regardless of family income. That’s not new. What is new: We’re stepping up in challenging times to give extra financial support to students who live in Washington state.

It’s the Whitman Tuition Commitment and it means if your family earns less than $80,000 a year, Whitman will guarantee that your full tuition will be covered by scholarships and grants if you’re admitted.

Who is eligible?

It’s pretty simple. You’ll likely qualify if:

  • You live in Washington state.
  • You have a total family income of less than $80K with typical assets (including untaxed income).
How do I apply?

We’re happy to provide our talented students with generous financial aid awards, based on their unique needs. And depending on your family’s specific financial situation, it is possible that you may receive more aid than a full tuition scholarship.

We know finances can be complicated, and our Office of Financial Aid is happy to work with you during all stages of the application process to make Whitman a reality for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about Whitman’s Tuition Commitment.

You may not be eligible for the Whitman Tuition Commitment if your family has significant assets above what is typical for their income level. Our analysis will focus on the following asset categories:

  • Cash, savings and checking accounts
  • Investments
  • Equity in real estate other than primary home
  • Business net worth

We do not include retirement assets (401k, 403b, IRA, Keogh) or equity in your primary residence in our analysis. If you have questions, reach out to our Office of Financial Aid at finaid@whitman.edu.

If your family makes more than $80,000 a year and has multiple students in college, you may still be eligible for a full tuition scholarship. Please reach out to our Office of Financial Aid at finaid@whitman.edu for more information. 

We start by looking at taxable income such as wages, salaries, tips, etc., plus other sources of taxable income that are included in the parents’ Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) on the income tax return. We also look at untaxed income such as annual contributions to retirement plans, child support received, tax exempt interest income, housing/food/other living allowances received among other things.  

For need-based aid, you must reapply each year. So, you must continue to meet eligibility requirements yearly based on your CSS Profile and FAFSA results. 

Outside scholarships will not reduce your scholarships and grants unless your total amount of scholarships exceeds the cost of attendance at Whitman. However, outside scholarships may affect your eligibility for subsidized need-based aid from the federal government, like the Federal Direct Subsidized Loan and work study.

Even if we cannot guarantee your tuition will be fully covered, Whitman provides generous need-based packages to make your Whitman education as affordable as possible. Students are encouraged to apply for outside scholarships to supplement their Whitman aid package and/or to reduce need for student loans.

Even if we cannot guarantee your tuition will be covered, we still offer competitive financial aid packages to make your Whitman education as affordable as possible. Students are encouraged to apply for outside scholarships to supplement their Whitman aid package and/or to reduce need for student loans.

If your custodial parent is single, we do require the CSS Profile from your noncustodial parent; however, you may request to waive this requirement by sending the Financial Aid Office a completed waiver request form.  If your custodial parent has remarried, we do not require noncustodial information.

Whitman’s Tuition Commitment applies only to residents of Washington state. Rather than the FAFSA, undocumented students living in Washington can apply for state financial aid with the WASFA.

For our international students, Whitman provides a comprehensive financial aid program—including scholarships, grants, employment opportunities and loans—to assist in financing a college education. Be sure to complete the Whitman International Student Financial Aid Application (WISFAA).

Learn More