Washington Award for Vocational Excellence
Attention WAVE awardees:
Your scholarship is managed by the Washington Student Achievement Council, a separate state agency. Please contact WSAC at 1.888.535.0747, extension 8, or by email at wave@wsac.wa.gov, for more information.
Learn more.
Overview
What is the Washington Award for Vocational Excellence?
WAVE is a merit scholarship that honors the achievements of Washington’s top career and technical education students.
In 2025, there were 145 winners from each of the Washington’s 49 legislative districts.
Program suspended
Future WAVE scholarships are suspended due to state budget challenges. The 2025 scholarships will continue to be funded. There will be no application window for new students in 2026.
How much does the WAVE scholarship pay?
Many factors determine awards, including available funding and where students go to school. At a minimum, students will receive about $3,900 per year, for two years, or $7,800 total. The amount of funding may be less than the full award, if an awardee’s institution charges less in tuition and fees. WAVE winners have up to three years to begin using the award. WAVE awards are based on legislative funding and the total number of awarded grants. Financial aid rules may also apply.
Historical funding and awardees
The WAVE scholarship was relaunched in 2022 after it was paused during the Great Recession. Details for 2022-25 follow.
| WAVE Cohort | Scholarship Appropriation | Total WAVE awardees | Student award, one year | Student award, two years (total) |
| 2022 | $1.138 million | 78 | $11,700 | $23,400 |
| 2023 | $1.138 million | 108 | $5,200 | $10,400 |
| 2024 | $1.638 million | 121 | $6,768 | $13,536 |
| 2025 | $1.138 million | 145 | $3,900 | $7,800 |
Other Resources:
- Eligible community and technical colleges
- Eligible licensed private career schools where WAVE awards may be used
- Washington colleges and universities where WAVE awards may be used
- Look up your Legislative District (PDF)
Questions? Contact our team at wave.award@wtb.wa.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is WAVE?
WAVE is a merit scholarship that recognizes the achievements of Washington career and technical education (CTE) students who demonstrate excellence in career-connected coursework. It celebrates the value of real-world, hands-on learning in Washington.
Who is eligible?
Graduating high school seniors and community and technical college students. These students must focus on career and technical education and be Washington residents. See eligibility definitions above.
How was it created?
The Legislature established the WAVE scholarship in 1984. The program was paused in the Great Recession for 12 years, and reinstated by the Legislature in 2022.
How many scholarships are there?
There are up to 147 scholarships from 49 legislative districts each year.
When is the deadline?
The 2025 application deadline was March 17. The appliation portal is now closed. The program is suspended indefinitely.
What can WAVE be used for?
The award covers most undergraduate expenses at a Washington public or private college or university, or licensed private career school in this state. The amount of funding WAVE award winners receive may be less than the full award, if their institution charges less in tuition and fees.
When can I use it?
The student has up to three years to begin using the award.
2025 WAVE Awardees
A complete list of 2025 WAVE scholarship winners is located here!
News release: Workforce Board awards $1.1 million in career-focused scholarships
2025 WAVE Flyer
WAVE on TVW
WAVE awardees share their stories with the Workforce Board.
WAVE in the News
Find your pathway with Career Bridge
CareerBridge.wa.gov is an award-winning website created and managed by the Workforce Board, featuring more than 6,500 Washington education programs all in one place. CareerBridge includes detailed program costs and schedules, what graduates earn, how to pay for school and which fields are expanding in the coming years. Learn more!