Passport to College Pathway

Supporting You on Your College Journey

The Passport to Careers program is a publicly-funded scholarship and support program that helps Washington students—specifically those who have been in various types of foster care or who have experienced unaccompanied homelessness—prepare for careers.  Help includes money to put toward the costs of earning a college certificate or degree or job training through a pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship program. Help also includes experts to help answer your questions and navigate your pathway.

If you are eligible, you have the choice of two postsecondary pathways: one leads to a college degree or certificate, and one leads to an apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship program.

Find Your Passport campus Support Team

What does the Passport to College Pathway include?

  • Passport to College Promise Scholarship for up to six years (award amount varies)
  • Support services established at 47 colleges and universities to help eligible students persist and complete their degree or certificate
  • Priority consideration for the Washington College Grant and Washington State Work Study programs
  • Additional emergency funding assistance through the Passport Scholar Persistence Fund

Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible for Passport to College if you:

  • Experienced state, federal or tribal foster care in Washington after the age of 13, or unaccompanied homelessness during the prior academic year or later
  • Are enrolled at least half-time in an eligible college or registered pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship program by your 21st birthday
  • Maintain Washington residency
  • Are working toward a certificate, associate or first bachelor’s degree
  • Are not pursuing a degree or certificate in theology or related fields
  • Continue to make satisfactory academic progress, as defined by the college you attend

Apply for Financial Aid

After deciding on your path and applying to your college or apprenticeship program, you must also apply for financial aid to pay for expenses. The college or apprenticeship program cannot give you funds without an application. You must apply for financial aid every year you are in school or want to receive Passport to Careers funds for apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs.

learn more about your financial aid options

Resources

Looking for more tools and resources? Browse our Resource Library for forms and templates, research, webinars, and more.