TheWashBoard.org  is a free, student-centered, online clearinghouse for Washington students seeking college scholarships. This user-friendly site allows students to search and apply for scholarship opportunities that are specific to their academic interests, college, university, or other criteria. Students can easily see what criteria are required and apply for only those scholarships that are a good fit.  Scholarships are available year-round, so students should keep their profile up to date and log in periodically to see if there are new matches. Financial aid and scholarship wizard - US Department of Education financial aid and scholarship wizard. SallieMae - Scholarship Search - College Answer features over 600,000 scholarships, grants, tuition waivers, internships, and fellowships. College Board Scholarship Search - Locate scholarship and other information that matches your educational level, talents, and background.

A state scholarship program for residents who enrolled in the program in middle school and have met all conditions. Eligible  student must meet State Need Grant requirements at below the 65% MFI level and meet program enrollment/usage requirements. The scholarship covers tuition (at comparable public colleges), some fees, and a small book allowance. Note: Foster youth in grades 7 through 12, up to age 21, who have not graduated from high school, are automatically enrolled. They are considered to have a complete application for the College Bound Scholarship via a data exchange between the Washington Student Achievement Council and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS) offers two scholarship programs for Washington state residents pursuing a credential towards a high-demand career in Washington state. Our Baccalaureate Scholarship is for Scholars pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a STEM or health care field. The Career and Technical Scholarship (CTS) is for Scholars pursuing a degree or certificate in a high-demand trade, STEM or health care field such as welding, manufacturing or information technology. (Information available in English and Spanish.)

Since its inception in 1977, the YVC Foundation has provided student scholarships and supported the college. The Foundation board is made up of alumni, business, civic, and professional leaders. The YVC Foundation administers and awards scholarship funds from several different donors. A complete list of Scholarships & Awards is available online. Applications for the YVC Foundation scholarships are available each year beginning the first day of winter quarter and are due the second week of March. The application can be found online.  The Foundation staff will match recipients to the appropriate scholarship(s). Scholarships are presented at the annual awards ceremony held in June. To learn more about the YVC Foundation or to become a donor, contact the Foundation Office at 509.574.4645.

The 2022-23 academic year was the final year Beyond DREAMing Scholarships were awarded. DREAMer (undocumented) students are now eligible to apply for YVC Foundation Scholarships. For more information: 509.574.4701 / mvasquez@yvcc.edu

Downtown Yakima Rotary has been awarding scholarships to local high school students for over 50 years. While it is possible to go back and calculate the amount of money awarded (well in excess of a million dollars), the incalculable amount is the investment in our local students. The Rotary scholarships are the shining star of the club. No other single part of the club has had such as lasting impact on our community like their scholarships. Academic Scholarships Yakima Rotary provides the opportunity for local graduating high school students from Davis, East Valley, Eisenhower, Highland, LaSalle, Naches Valley, Selah, Riverside Christian, and West Valley high schools, along with homeschooled students within their districts and Running Start students to apply for fifteen Academic Scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each. The scholarship to be used as at a post-high school institution beginning the fall after graduation is based upon academic performance; citizenship in the school and community environment; a personal essay; and letters of recommendation. Applications for the Academic Scholarship are normally available in February. Vocational Scholarships Yakima Rotary provides Vocational Scholarship opportunities for high school students and those attending YV-Tech, Stanton Academy, Yakima On-Line, and older students who are currently or will be attending Perry Technical Institute, Heritage University, and YVC. Recipients must be enrolled or planning to enroll at a post-high school vocational institution, a 2-year terminal vocational program, or an applied baccalaureate program at a community college within one year of the scholarship award. Completion of the program must result in a degree or certification. Criteria are based upon the quality of the applicants training plans, the student’s commitment to the plan, financial need, and progress toward their goals. Applications are normally available in January or February.

In December 2008, Mollie Davis passed away leaving an educational bequest of $20 million dollars to fund two and four-year scholarships to benefit residents of Yakima County.  The Yakima Rotary Trust was named the administrator of the scholarship program. The funds are managed by the Yakima Valley Community Foundation. The Mollie Davis Scholarship program awards up to $7,500 a year and up to $30,000 overall toward a Bachelor’s Degree. In addition, we award up to $3,500 a year toward an associate’s degree. The application period begins 12/1 and closes 2/22 each year.

Horatio Alger National Career & Technical Scholarship Program The Career & Technical Scholarship Program is funded through the Horatio Alger Endowment Fund and the generosity of Association Chairman Emeritus and Endowment Fund President Walter Scott, Jr.  Scholarships are awarded to students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their lives who wish to pursue a career or technical education at an accredited non-profit post-secondary institution in the United States. The scholarship award is up to $2500.

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is a highly selective scholarship for the nation’s top community college students seeking to complete their bachelor’s degrees at four-year colleges or universities. Each Cooke Scholar has access to generous financial support for two to three years, college planning support, ongoing advising, and the opportunity to connect with the thriving community of fellow scholars.

MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund) The MALDEF Scholarship Resource Guide is a free, informative resource guide for students, parents, and educators with an extensive list of scholarships, including many that do not inquire about immigration status.

YVC’s Basic Food, Employment, and Training (BFET) provides services to Basic Food (Food Stamp) recipients in Washington State. Services may include establishing or maintaining eligibility for Basic Food while in school, child care subsidy, job search training, and other support services.

• Eligibility for a childcare subsidy (Working Connections Child Care) through the DSHS
• Eligibility to receive Basic Food Benefits (Food Stamps) while enrolled in college
• Tuition assistance
• Financial assistance with other college-related expenses (e.g., school supplies and books)
• Personal career assessment and planning
• Case management and employment plans
• Job search assistance and employment retention services

Eligibility Requirements:

• Receiving or eligible to receive Basic Food benefits (SNAP)
• Household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty rate
• Must not be receiving TANF
• Must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident
• Pursue an approved professional/technical or transfer program (BAS programs are not eligible)
• GED, HS 21+, ABE, and ESL programs may also be considered if necessary to achieve an employment goal

*Please Note: Enrollment in BFET is based on eligibility and availability of funds. Students must reapply each quarter. 

Program Eligibility Criteria:

• Currently employed in a childcare program that participates in Early Achievers (Washington’s Quality Rating and Improvement System)
  • must have been working a minimum of 10 hours per week (or 40 hours per month) for at least 3 months
• A Washington State resident
• Studying with the intent of earning an Early Childhood Education certificate or AA degree.

Students who qualify for WorkFirst Financial Aid may be eligible for:

• Assistance with tuition and books
• Student Support

Opportunity Grant provides assistance with tuition, fees, and books to low-income students who are enrolled in specific, high-demand career pathway programs at YVC. The approved programs at YVC include:

• I-Best (Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training) programs: Agriculture, Business Technology, Early Childhood Education, and Nursing Assistant Certificate.
• Additional eligible programs include Allied Health, Nursing AAS, Business Technology, and Early Childhood Education.

Priority funding goes to students who are enrolled in one of the I-BEST programs. Must be a Washington State resident to qualify.

WorkFirst programs are federally funded and are designed to support students who are TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) recipients. Students who qualify for WorkFirst Financial Aid may be eligible for:

• Assistance with tuition, books and fees (pending the availability of funds)
• Childcare assistance through Working Connections/Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
• Educational advising and personal support

Program Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be currently receiving TANF and meeting all participation requirements
• Students must be enrolled in a Workforce Education program through YVC
• Must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above and meet YVC's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy
• Must have a referral to YVC for training from your case manager at DSHS
• Eligible students may attend full time or part-time classes

Worker Retraining provides assistance to individuals who are receiving Washington State Unemployment Insurance benefits or have lost their job due to economic changes and need to change careers in order to re-enter the workforce. YVC’s Worker Retraining offers training for a wide range of professional-technical certificates and degrees within the Workforce Education Division. Eligible Worker Retraining students may receive tuition assistance and/or funds to cover the cost of books for one quarter at YVC. Eligibility Requirements:

• Currently receiving Washington State Unemployment Benefits
• Have exhausted your Washington State Unemployment Benefits within the past 48 months
• Is employed in an occupation identified as “not in demand” (declining) on the region’s Demand-Decline List; and/or
• The individual has not reached the “tipping point,” which is defined as one year of college credits (45 credits) plus any certificate or degree related to their college course work; and/or
• In order to remain employed, the individual needs to obtain new skills (Individual must meet two of the three eligibility requirements to qualify)
• Have been determined to be a “Dislocated Worker” by WorkSource
• Have been self-employed within the past 48 months, operating your own business, and are now unemployed due to economic downturn
• Are an unemployed veteran who has been honorably discharged from the US Armed Services within the past 24 months

* Please note: Funding for qualified Worker Retraining students is contingent upon availability of Worker Retraining funds. All applications are reviewed and processed on a case by case basis.