Students programming on laptops in a classroom.

Computer Science Scholarships

Voiland CollegeSchool of Electrical Engineering & Computer ScienceGivingComputer Science Scholarships

With WSU education now at $33,876 per year*, many students depend on scholarships for their success at college. And although the number of computer science majors are growing at WSU, current computer science scholarship funding falls considerably short of the need.

*Estimated total for in-house tuition, fees, housing & food, books & supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous living expenses. Read about tuition expenses.

Donors: key to student success

Donors, usually alumni of the program, create nearly all scholarship funds at WSU and all universities.

Scholarships are the best way to recruit, retain, and ensure the success of our students. Yet few computer science discipline-specific scholarships have been established for the growing computer science student population.

While many high-achieving students are offered scholarships at multiple institutions, WSU has limited – and annually fluctuating – scholarship funds to share among its qualified students.

Mary Ellen Martinsen.

Scholarship goals

The School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science aims to:

  1. Award scholarships of $2,500 (on average) to every computer science student who applies for aid and holds a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  2. Increase scholarship funds to $375,000 annually through outright gifts, grants, and endowed funds.
$2,500 Average scholarship
150 # of students applying with GPA 3.0+
$125,000 Estimated funds available in 2023
$375,000 Total annual need

Student impact

I cannot thank you enough for this scholarship that will help me fund my college degree! This scholarship will help me fund my education allowing me to focus more on my passion and worry less about finances. I feel very grateful and supported knowing someone is on my side to help me fulfill my goals!

Sarah Absher

Your generosity will directly enable me to continue my computer science education at Washington State University. This scholarship provides financial security allowing me to focus all of my effort on continuing to keep my 4.0 GPA. I cannot overstate how significant it is for me to be able to pay for college without worrying about paying bills or putting food on the table.

Josh Maloy

Your award will help to alleviate the financial stress that comes with college. With less financial burden I will have more time to focus on my education and pursue a job after graduation. I hope to someday be in a financial position to give back to the program that guided my education just as you are doing for me.

Drayer Sivertsen

Give online

Your gift will help ensure success for students in computer science majors at Washington State University.

Suggested amounts to give:

Credit Club: $607

Cover the cost of one credit for a deserving student, or give a donation of multiple credits!

Scholarship Circle: $2,625

Give a student one (average) scholarship award.

Named Scholarship: $50,500

Create a named scholarship and receive personal letters from your scholarship recipients. Can be established with a pledge of $5,250/year for 5 years.
Donate online

Other ways to give

The Washington State University Foundation offers many ways you can support computer science students.

  • Gift and estate planning – By including the college in your estate or financial plans, you will make a lasting difference and provide opportunities to future generations.
  • Endowed gifts – Endowments are a particularly powerful investment in the college’s future because they deliver a dependable, perpetual source of funding.
  • Matching gifts – Many employers will match their employees’ donations. Some employers will even match the gifts of retired employees, spouses, parents, and even contributions from their board of directors.
  • Stock and securities – Gifts of marketable stocks or securities shares that have appreciated can have an immediate impact on the college while creating a favorable income tax deduction for you based on the assets’ current value.
  • IRA charitable rollover – A tax-saving way to help the college with a gift from your IRA.

Questions?