University of Washington Purple and Gold Scholarship

About this scholarship

The University of Washington Purple and Gold Scholarship is a four-year merit award for U.S. students who are not Washington residents and enroll at the Seattle campus. U.S. citizens, permanent residents, refugees, and undocumented U.S. residents may be considered. The award amount varies by student, so the historical $500 figure in the directory is not a reliable current value. There is no separate scholarship application. Students receive automatic consideration by submitting a complete first-year University of Washington Common Application, including the UW writing section, by November 15. The university’s first-year application opens in August, and admission decisions and possible Purple and Gold offers are released in March. Recipients must remain classified as nonresidents and may not become eligible for Washington resident tuition during the four-year award period. They must confirm autumn enrollment by the date in the offer, generally May 1; enroll in at least 12 credits per quarter for three academic-year quarters; and maintain good academic standing. The award applies only at the Seattle campus, cannot be deferred, and is unavailable to students admitted through the UW Academy. International students are not eligible because the scholarship is reserved for qualifying U.S. statuses.

Eligibility

• Apply as a first-year student to the University of Washington Seattle campus
• Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, refugee, or undocumented U.S. resident
• Be classified as a nonresident of Washington state for tuition purposes
• Submit the complete Common Application and UW writing section by November 15, 2026
• Confirm the intent to enroll by the deadline stated in the admission offer
• Enroll in at least 12 credits per quarter for three quarters of each academic year
• Maintain good academic standing and nonresident status for renewal
• Not be an international student or a student admitted through the UW Academy