Washington CPA Foundation Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants

Overview

The Washington CPA Foundation awarded more than $670,000 in scholarships to accounting students for the 2026–2027 school year and is accepting opportunities for the 2027–2028 cycle. These awards support students attending accredited colleges and universities in Washington who are pursuing the CPA designation. Scholarships are intended to reduce financial barriers so recipients can focus on academic and professional development. Awards are paid directly to the recipient’s institution and are applied toward tuition.

Description: Competitive, merit-based scholarships for accounting students in Washington who demonstrate commitment to becoming a CPA and active involvement on campus or in the community.

• Over $670,000 awarded for 2026–2027
• Open to students at accredited Washington institutions
• Funds are applied directly to tuition by the college or university

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants should be entering their junior year or higher in the fall of 2026; fifth-year students, master's candidates, and community college transfers are encouraged to apply. Current high school seniors and first-year college students are directed to separate $2,000 Associate Scholarships. Applicants must plan to become a CPA and may not already be a licensed CPA. A minimum 2.5 GPA (or equivalent) in both the accounting major and overall is required, and demonstrated involvement through work, internships, leadership, or volunteerism is expected.

Eligibility: Entering junior year or higher (or eligible alternate categories), attending an accredited Washington college or university, minimum 2.5 GPA, intent to pursue CPA licensure, and not currently licensed as a CPA.

• Junior-level standing or higher (includes masters and transfers)
• Must attend an accredited Washington institution
• Minimum 2.5 GPA in major and overall
• Licensed CPAs are not eligible

Application Materials

Applicants must submit a current resume, transcripts from all colleges attended, one letter of recommendation on company or university letterhead, a completed GPA calculator worksheet, and three essays of 500 words or less addressing specified prompts. Recommendation letters must come from a faculty member, employer, mentor, or licensed CPA and must be submitted through the online application portal. The GPA worksheet is available for download from the Foundation’s site, and applicants are encouraged to consult available guidance on completing it. Essays should describe the applicant’s plans, motivations for pursuing accounting and the CPA, and experiences demonstrating resilience.

Application Requirements: Resume, official or unofficial transcripts, one letter of recommendation, downloadable GPA worksheet, and three 500-word essays responding to the Foundation’s prompts.

• Resume with work, internships, volunteer, and leadership experience
• Transcripts from current and prior institutions
• One letter of recommendation submitted online
• Three essays (≤500 words each) addressing investment, career path, and resilience

Award Details and Payment

Scholarship amounts vary by academic level: $5,000 awards for juniors, seniors, and fifth-year students, and awards up to $10,000 for master’s students. All scholarships are restricted to tuition and will be paid directly to the college or university listed by the recipient. The Foundation will not release funds directly to recipients; students are responsible for confirming institutional rules and payment eligibility with their school. Recipients should verify that their institution can apply the funds for the intended quarter or semester.

Award Value: $5,000 for undergraduate-level finalists (juniors, seniors, fifth-year) and up to $10,000 for master’s students; funds payable to the institution for tuition only.

• $5,000 awards for juniors, seniors, and fifth-year students
• Up to $10,000 available for master’s students
• Payments applied to tuition and made to the institution

Selection Process and Timeline

Scholarships are awarded at the discretion of the Washington CPA Foundation Scholarship Committee based on merit and demonstrated passion for the accounting profession. Awards are made without regard to age, gender, race, creed, religion, ethnic or national origin, or sexual orientation. Applicants will be notified of decisions at the beginning of April 2026, and scholarship payments will be processed to institutions at the end of July 2026. Students who have applied or received awards in previous years are welcome to reapply.

Application Timeline: Notification of awards occurs in early April 2026, with scholarship payments issued to institutions at the end of July 2026.

• Award decisions communicated in early April 2026
• Payments issued to colleges/universities in late July 2026
• Selection based on merit and commitment to the profession
• Previous applicants and recipients may apply again