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Passport to College

Program Eligibility

Students who have experienced the foster care system, or have been an unaccompanied homeless youth, may qualify for the Passport to College (PTC) program. Each pathway for eligibility has specific requirements that must be met to qualify. There are also a few "shared" requirements that students must meet regardless of which path they qualify through. If you have any questions after reviewing, we always recommend connecting with a PTC team member for guidance.

For a student to qualify for Passport to College through the former foster youth pathway, they must have:

  • Been in foster care for at least 1 day
  • Been in foster care during or after the age of 13
  • Been in state, federal, or tribal foster care

Most students who meet this criteria are certified into the program by WSAC directly.

For a student to qualify for Passport to College through the unaccompanied homeless youth pathway, they must: 

  • Be verified as experiencing homelessness on or after July 1 off the prior academic year, or
  • Be verified as experiencing homelessness during the current year
  • Be below the age of 22

For this pathway, students will be identified based on their FAFSA/WASFA or can also self-identify. Once identified, the PTC team works with student to verify experience and certify them into the program. Verification of this experience can take several forms, such as:

  • A McKinney-Vento letter from high school liaison
  • Letter from a director of an emergency or transitional shelter, or a similar program serving individuals experiencing homelessness
  • Confirmation letter from a director of a Federal TRIO or GEAR UP program

If no verification documents are available, the Financial Aid office will work with students on a case-by-case basis on what other documents can be used for confirmation.

Regardless of which pathway a student may qualify through, they must also:

  • Be a Washington resident (in-state)
  • Enroll in college before their 22nd birthday
  • Be working toward earning their first bachelor's degree, or an associate's degree
  • Not be pursuing a degree in theology

Eligibility requirements are determined by WSAC and may change. 

Scholarship Eligibility

Students in the Passport to College program may be eligible to receive the Passport to College Promise Scholarship. To qualify for the scholarship, students must meet the following criteria each quarter:

  • Be enrolled at least half-time (6+ credits)
  • Be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements

If a student fails to meet these criteria, they will not be eligible to receive the scholarship that quarter.