The University of Washington ranks among
the world's leading universities, and rightly so.
Our high-achieving students, top-rated programs,
award-winning faculty and groundbreaking research
are the primary ingredients of an elite institution of
higher learning.
Yet the UW never has been and
never will be elitist. It's just not in our DNA. The
University of Washington has a long-standing
commitment to access and opportunity. Our students
come from all walks of life and all socio-economic
backgrounds, but they have one thing in common - the desire for a world-class education.
For too many of our state's students, college seems
far beyond their financial reach. Though they are
academically qualified, many talented high school
students in Washington state do not attend college
because they believe they cannot afford the tuition.
That's why we've created the Husky Promise, a
guarantee to the citizens of Washington that those
who come from low- and lower-middle-income
families can gain a world-class education at any of
our three campuses - Seattle, Tacoma or Bothell - and not pay a penny from their own pockets for their
tuition and fees. The Husky Promise is a natural
extension of what we hold dear as a public
institution - educational opportunities for everyone,
regardless of their economic status. It is our way of
ensuring that the UW remains broadly accessible to
all who live in Washington state.
Our message to the children of our state is that it
does not take a certain income level to get into the
University of Washington; it takes commitment,
brainpower and a willingness to work hard. And if
they can do that, we will make sure that they leave
the UW with an outstanding education and zero
tuition debt.
That's our promise.
Mark A. Emmert ('75)
President