Washington CPA Foundation Accounting Scholarships Opening Soon
Offered by Washington CPA Foundation (Washington Society of CPAs)
About This Scholarship
The Washington CPA Foundation, the charitable affiliate of the Washington Society of CPAs, runs one of the largest state-level accounting scholarship pools in the country — it distributed more than $670,000 in scholarships for the 2026-2027 year. The program has two tiers: $5,000 to $10,000 scholarships for students entering their junior year or higher (including fifth-year and master's students) at accredited Washington institutions, and $2,000 Associate Scholarships for high school seniors and community college students who are interested in accounting.
The academic bar is deliberately accessible — a 2.5 GPA minimum in accounting courses and overall — because the foundation weighs motivation and story heavily. Applicants for the main scholarships must be planning to become CPAs (already-licensed CPAs are ineligible) and show community involvement or employment alongside their studies. The application asks for unofficial transcripts, a resume, a reference, and three essays of 500 words or less covering career motivation, what the scholarship would mean, and resilience.
For the current cycle, the main scholarship application opens October 6, 2026 and closes February 16, 2027, while the Associate Scholarship application opens October 13, 2026 and runs until April 13, 2027. Awards are one-year scholarships, but students who applied or won in previous years are welcome to apply again.
Eligibility
- Main scholarships ($5,000-$10,000): entering junior year or higher, including fifth-year and master's students, at an accredited Washington college or university
- Associate scholarships ($2,000): high school seniors and community college students interested in accounting
- Planning to become a CPA (licensed CPAs are not eligible)
- Minimum 2.5 GPA in accounting courses and overall
- Community involvement or employment
How To Apply
- Apply through the links on the Washington CPA Foundation's scholarship page. The main scholarship application opens October 6, 2026 and is due February 16, 2027; the Associate Scholarship opens October 13, 2026 and is due April 13, 2027. You will need unofficial transcripts, a resume, the email of a CPA, mentor, professor, or supervisor for a reference, and three essays of 500 words or less.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I win?
Juniors, seniors, fifth-year, and master's students compete for $5,000 to $10,000 scholarships, while high school seniors and community college students can win $2,000 Associate Scholarships. The foundation awarded over $670,000 in total for 2026-2027.
What GPA do I need?
A minimum 2.5 GPA both overall and in accounting courses. The foundation deliberately keeps the academic bar accessible and puts significant weight on the three short essays and your involvement outside the classroom.
Can I apply if I won before?
Yes. The foundation explicitly welcomes repeat applications from students who applied for or received a scholarship in previous years, as long as they still meet the eligibility requirements.