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Washington is among 10 states receiving funding to simplify college admissions and make them more student-centered.

The Washington Student Achievement Council plans to use the grant to streamline state financial aid, timelines, and admissions steps.

Rathi Sudhakara, associate director on the council's Strategy and Partnerships team, said the state has many programs that support access to higher education, but they all have their own platforms to apply, and it's easy for students to miss opportunities.

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"Students in Washington will now have access to a platform that will really act as a digital bridge between high school and post-secondary education," she said. "Students will get information about their own financial aid, eligibility, as well as admissions."

Sudhakara said the council wants 70% of Washingtonians to have some kind of post-high school credential, up from about 60% now. She said this is the second grant the council has received from Lumina Foundation’s Great Admissions Redesign initiative. The first funded a broad survey of students, parents, counselors, and admissions staff to identify what was needed to improve the admissions process.

Sudhakara said many students who want to pursue higher education are not getting the support they need, especially students of color and first-generation immigrants. She hopes that having all the information in one place will help, and said hitting the goal will take time.

"Truly partnering with students and the community and teachers, etc., is what we've realized makes a whole lot of difference in building trust in the longevity of any solutions," she said.

Sudhakara said many students don’t know that anyone in Washington can pursue community college, or that the state offers many opportunities for financial aid, including the Washington College Grant. She added that low-income students may be able to go to college tuition-free. 

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.