The WashU Pledge is a bold financial aid program that provides a free undergraduate education to incoming, full-time Missouri and southern Illinois students who come from a family with $75,000 or less in annual income.
Common questions
Who is eligible for the WashU Pledge?
First-year, full-time undergraduate students admitted to WashU:
- Reside in or attend high school in Missouri or are home-schooled in Missouri or
- Reside in or attend high school in one of 53 defined counties in Illinois or are home-schooled in one of these Illinois counties
- Come from a family with $75,000 or less in annual income
- Are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA, or undocumented
Part-time students or students who are earning a degree from the School of Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS) are not eligible.
What does the Pledge include?
- The WashU Pledge includes scholarships and grants covering the cost of tuition, fees, housing, and food (based on a modern/double room and the Platinum meal plan for on-campus students and the cost of a modern/double room and Silver meal plan for off-campus students), guaranteed for all four years
- A change in meal plan selection may result in a change of financial aid. Reach out to your financial aid advisor before changing your meal plan to discuss how this will impact you.
- These students will also be eligible for our First-Year Startup and Technology Grants
How can I apply for the WashU Pledge?
- Apply for admission and be admitted as a first-time, full-time undergraduate student to WashU
- Apply for financial aid
Will I have to pay anything back to the university?
No—once awarded, students will not have to pay back any of the scholarships or grants included in the Pledge.