Following the Washington State Legislature’s recent decision to uphold significant cuts to state student aid programs, the University of Puget Sound has announced it will reallocate institutional funding to ensure affected students can continue their education without additional financial burden.
The move reaffirms Puget Sound’s long-standing dedication to making a world-class liberal arts education affordable and accessible to all scholars, regardless of their financial background.
The 2026 supplemental budget passed by lawmakers failed to restore funding for the Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship programs. These cuts, originally implemented in 2025 via Senate Bill 5785, specifically target students attending private, not-for-profit institutions. Despite a rise in funding for the state’s Workforce Education Investment Account and extensive advocacy from students and alumni, including Sen. T’wina Nobles ’06, MAT’07, the legislature opted to maintain the reductions.
During the 2025–26 academic year, 214 undergraduate Loggers relied on Washington State financial aid programs. Puget Sound students were scheduled to receive more than $1.76 million in combined state grants. However, with state funding projected to drop by as much as 50% for some programs by the 2027–28 academic year, the university recognized the urgent need for a safety net.
The impact of these state-wide cuts is felt most acutely by students from historically marginalized communities. According to Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW), 67% of those affected statewide are students of color and 62% are first-generation college students.
To protect its community, Puget Sound leadership confirmed that the university will offset these state shortfalls by increasing its own need-based institutional aid.
“These reductions create an inequitable and unfair barrier for Washingtonians who have chosen to attend private, nonprofit universities in the state of Washington,” President Isiaah Crawford said. “Puget Sound is committed to doing everything within our power to help students navigate these financial hurdles so they can remain focused on their studies and successfully reach graduation.”
“At a time when the value of a liberal arts education is more vital than ever, Puget Sound remains steadfast in its mission to provide a rigorous, interdisciplinary education that prepares students for lives of purpose,” Crawford added.
“By maximizing institutional resources and leveraging the generosity of donors, Puget Sound is filling the gap left by the state,” said Tim Whittum, vice president for enrollment. “This initiative ensures that the Puget Sound experience remains within reach for Washington families.”
While the university’s commitment to bridging the gap remains firm, Crawford noted that the scale of the challenge is significant. Moving forward, the university will continue to evaluate long-term strategies and partner with the ICW to advocate for the restoration of equitable student aid with the Washington state legislature.
Students with questions regarding their specific financial aid packages or how these changes may affect their accounts are encouraged to reach out to the Office of Student Financial Services at pugetsound.edu/sfs for personalized guidance and support.
