Support undergraduate scholarships, graduate student education, and our exceptional student experience.

When you participate in the Make Way initiative, you help ensure all students feel at home at WashU and have every opportunity to shine.

Undergraduate scholarships

I want to share my story so that others can realize their dreams are actually attainable.

Trent Clark
Make way for Trent, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, Class of 2026
Make way for Jenna, School of Medicine, Class of 2026

At WashU, mentorship, kindness, compassion: It’s all part of our education.

Jenna Bennett

I’ll keep these experiences with me for the rest of my life.

Drake Shafer
Make way for Drake, Olin Business School, Class of 2023

our History of student support

2008

“No loan” policy for families with incomes of $60,000 or less

Commit to meeting demonstrated financial need 100%

2009

Strategic plan identifies the need for $1.8B endowment for scholarships

Opening Doors to the Future: The Scholarship Initiative for Washington University launches with a goal of $150M in five years. The goal was reached in three.

2012

“No loan” policy increases to include families with incomes up to $75,000

Commit to admitting more Pell Grant-eligible students

2018

Leading Together: The Campaign for Washington University raises $591M for scholarships

Pell Grant-eligible WashU students increase from 5% to 17%

2019

WashU Pledge provides free tuition for full-time Missouri and southern Illinois students who are Pell Grant-eligible

2021

Gateway to Success, a historic $1 billion investment in student financial aid, allows WashU to adopt a need-blind undergraduate admissions policy

2022

Make Way: Our Student Initiative launches October 6 to increase support for all talented students seeking a WashU education and provide them with a transformative student experience

2023

WashU’s new No-loan Financial Aid policy replaces federal loans for undergraduate students with scholarships and university grants, ensuring all admitted undergraduate students can obtain a WashU education without going into debt

Sometimes the biggest change can come from the simplest act.

Latest Make Way news