Disclaimer: Be aware of scams. Please do not send any money to apply for a scholarship. You should not have to pay for free money. If it sounds too good, it probably is.

WHERE TO LOOK FOR SCHOLARSHIPS?

1).  Start at your high school website
2).  Check the future school in the financial aid office or online. They usually have $$$ for new students.
3).  See if your parents have any scholarships available through their work.

Check these websites for more options.

Visit our Scholarship page for the latest information on scholarship deadlines and College Recruiter visits. 

The Washboard is a free scholarship matching site for Washington residents and students attending college in Washington. Users create a profile and get matched with scholarships that are right for them. The site is spam-free and will never sell users' information. 

A high-quality and trusted resource, theWashboard.org is a program of the Washington Student Achievement Council. 

Scholarships.com

• Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges
• 4 year schools - Locations and Deadlines
• Community and Technical Colleges of Washington
• Washington public four-year colleges and universities 
• Independent Colleges of Washington - The association of the 10 private, liberal arts, nonprofit colleges in the state. 

• Washington Application for State Financial Aid Zoom Appointments - 03/11 & 04/08/2025
• Washington Student Achievement Council - Resources for Financial Aid, Saving Plans and Support Services

Running Start is a program that allows 11th and 12th grade students to take college courses at Washington's 34 community and technical colleges. Students earn both high school and college credits for these courses.

Running Start students and their families do not pay tuition. They are responsible for mandatory fees, books and transportation. Students receive both high school and college credit for these classes, which accelerates their progress through the education system.
In order to participate in Running Start you must:

• Have a junior or senior standing in high school
• Apply in March prior to the fall quarter you plan to attend
• Enroll in courses that are approved by your high school counselor to meet graduation requirements – does not apply for homeschool students
• Be responsible for transportation, lab fees, and books
• Take the Accuplacer test administered by the college
  
  Participating Colleges:
  ✓ Tacoma Community College - https://www.tacomacc.edu/academics-programs/college-high-school/runningstart 
  ✓ Olympic College - https://www.olympic.edu/current-students/running-start 
  ✓ Clover Park Technical College
  ✓ Bates Technical College
  ✓ Pierce College

For more information on participating in Running Start through Explorer Academy please click the link below to view our 2020/2021 Running Start presentation:

Running start presentation 2022.pptx