WashingtonPassport to Careers students qualify under college grant income rules
Beginning in the 2026–27 academic year, students eligible for Passport to Careers meet Washington college grant income rules but must satisfy the grant's other requirements.
What it does
Students eligible for Passport to Careers meet Washington college grant income rules beginning in the 2026–27 academic year. They must still meet the grant's other eligibility requirements.
Passport to Careers money goes into the state financial aid account and can carry over between budget periods. Spending must follow the purposes and conditions attached to that money.
Passport to Careers measures financial need using attendance costs minus the federal student aid index, a number calculated under U.S. Department of Education rules.
Argument forStudents eligible for Passport to Careers could face fewer steps to meet college grant income rules, while still meeting other requirements.
Argument againstUsing Passport to Careers eligibility instead of a separate income test could make grant eligibility less closely reflect each student's finances.
More detail
Students eligible for Passport to Careers meet the Washington college grant's income eligibility requirement. This covers students eligible for Passport to Careers who enroll or are accepted for at least three quarter credits or equivalent semester credits at an eligible Washington college, or enroll in an approved registered apprenticeship. Students must meet Washington residency rules, apply for financial aid each year, and have no bachelor's degree or higher. Students must make satisfactory academic progress. Grant eligibility cannot extend beyond six years or 150 percent of their program's published length. This route to meeting the grant's income rules applies beginning in the 2026–27 academic year.
The state Office of Student Financial Assistance deposits Passport to Careers money in the state financial aid account. This covers money received for Passport to Careers, alongside other listed state student aid programs. The account holds money the legislature sets aside and private contributions. Spending must follow the money's designated purpose and funding conditions. During the 2025–2027 state budget period, the legislature may direct a transfer from this account to the state's general fund. Money in the account does not expire at the end of the budget period for which it was set aside.
Passport to Careers measures financial need by subtracting a student's federal student aid index from attendance costs. This definition applies to Passport to Careers. Attendance costs include tuition, living costs, and transportation. The student aid index follows the calculation method prescribed by the U.S. Department of Education. Reasonable additional expenses count when the student's school financial aid administrator approves them.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 14Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 14Chapter 44, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 14Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 9Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 5Speaker signed.Passed House
- Mar 4President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 3Third reading, passed; yeas, 92; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 5.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#28). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 3Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 2Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 25Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 24PEW - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 24Executive action taken in the House Committee on Postsecondary Education & Workforce at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 18Public hearing in the House Committee on Postsecondary Education & Workforce at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 17First reading, referred to Postsecondary Education & Workforce.Minor
- Feb 13Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#12). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 12Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 9Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 9WM - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 9Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 3Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM.
- Jan 23Referred to Ways & Means.Minor
- Jan 22And refer to Ways & Means.Minor
- Jan 22HEWD - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Jan 22Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 19Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 12First reading, referred to Higher Education & Workforce Development.Minor
- Jan 5Prefiled for introduction.Introduced
Education