College grant/credential prg

AN ACT Relating to expanding access to the Washington college 1
grant to students enrolled in eligible postsecondary nondegree 2
credential programs; and reenacting and amending RCW 28B.92.200.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 28B.92.200 and 2024 c 323 s 1 and 2024 c 116 s 1 are 5
each reenacted and amended to read as follows: 6
(1) The Washington college grant program is created to provide a 7
statewide free college program for eligible participants and greater 8
access to postsecondary education for Washington residents. The 9
Washington college grant program is intended to increase the number 10
of high school graduates and adults that can attain a postsecondary 11
credential and provide them with the qualifications needed to compete 12
for job opportunities in Washington. 13
(2) The office shall implement and administer the Washington 14
college grant program and is authorized to establish rules necessary 15
for implementation of the program. 16
(3) The legislature shall appropriate funding for the Washington 17
college grant program. Allocations must be made on the basis of 18
estimated eligible participants enrolled in eligible institutions of 19
higher education or apprenticeship programs. All eligible students 20
Z-0462.2
HOUSE BILL 2458
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Entenman, Reeves, Ryu, Zahn, Parshley, Thai,
Doglio, Pollet, and Hill; by request of State Board for Community and
Technical Colleges
Read first time 01/14/26. Referred to Committee on Postsecondary
Education & Workforce.
p. 1 HB 2458
are entitled to a Washington college grant beginning in academic year 1
2020-21. 2
(4) The office shall award Washington college grants to all 3
eligible students beginning in academic year 2020-21.4
(5) To be eligible for the Washington college grant, students 5
must meet the following requirements: 6
(a)(i) Demonstrate financial need under RCW 28B.92.205;7
(ii) Receive one or more of the following types of public 8
assistance: 9
(A) Aged, blind, or disabled assistance benefits under chapter 10
74.62 RCW; 11
(B) Essential needs and housing support program benefits under 12
RCW 43.185C.220; or 13
(C) Pregnant women assistance program financial grants under RCW 14
74.62.030; ((or))15
(iii) Be a Washington high school student in the 10th, 11th, or 16
12th grade whose parent or legal guardian is receiving one or more of 17
the types of public assistance listed in (a)(ii) of this subsection 18
and have received a certificate confirming eligibility from the 19
office in accordance with RCW 28B.92.225; or 20
(iv) Beginning in the 2025-26 academic year, be a Washington high 21
school student in the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade who is a member of an 22
assistance unit receiving benefits under the Washington basic food 23
program in chapter 74.04 RCW or the Washington food assistance 24
program established under RCW 74.08A.120; 25
(b)(i) Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment for at least three 26
quarter credits or the equivalent semester credits at an institution 27
of higher education in Washington as defined in RCW 28B.92.030; 28
((or))29
(ii) Be enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program approved 30
under chapter 49.04 RCW; or31
(iii) Beginning in the 2027-28 academic year, be enrolled in an 32
eligible postsecondary nondegree credential program as determined by 33
the state board for community and technical colleges in consultation 34
with the student achievement council and established in rule;35
(c) Be a resident student as defined in RCW 28B.15.012(2) (a) 36
through (e); 37
(d) File an annual application for financial aid as approved by 38
the office; and 39
p. 2 HB 2458
(e) Must not have earned a baccalaureate degree or higher from a 1
postsecondary institution. 2
(6) Washington college grant eligibility may not extend beyond 3
six years or 150 percent of the published length of the program in 4
which the student is enrolled or the credit or clock-hour equivalent.5
(7) Institutional aid administrators shall determine whether a 6
student eligible for the Washington college grant in a given academic 7
year may remain eligible for the ensuing year if the student's family 8
income increases by no more than three percent. 9
(8) Qualifications for receipt and renewal include maintaining 10
satisfactory academic progress toward completion of an eligible 11
program as determined by the office and established in rule.12
(9) Should a recipient terminate his or her enrollment for any 13
reason during the academic year, the unused portion of the grant 14
shall be returned to the state educational grant fund by the 15
institution of higher education according to the institution of 16
higher education's policy for issuing refunds, except as provided in 17
RCW 28B.92.070. 18
(10) An eligible student enrolled on a part-time basis shall 19
receive a prorated portion of the Washington college grant for any 20
academic period in which he or she is enrolled on a part-time basis.21
(11) The Washington college grant is intended to be used to meet 22
the costs of postsecondary education for students with financial 23
need. The student shall be awarded all need-based financial aid for 24
which the student qualifies as determined by the institution.25
(12) Students and participating institutions of higher education 26
shall comply with all the rules adopted by the council for the 27
administration of this chapter. 28
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p. 3 HB 2458