<p>UW would be a financial safety only for an Harward-admitted applicant( or something like that) who qualifies for Mary Gates Scholarship( full ride if memory serves) , but they DO have smaller merit scholarships for in-state students. They were also quiet fair to us last year. We have to pay our EFC, S has a Stafford loan and a scholarship which covers the rest. Housing deposit is refundable, if you change your mind before the deadline. As for not being admitted into engineering right away…S’s roommate came in as a pre-aeronautics major. 2 quarters later he changed his mind and doesn’t want to be in engineering anymore. Luckily, the pre-reqs he took during these 2 quarters allow him to pursue any number of things. 
There are of course a few people admitted into competitive majors right away, but they seem to be supremely qualified. WSU usually gives more money than UW, but S wouldn’t even apply( we live in Pullman, H teaches at WSU, S has taken Running Start classes there for 2 years) . :)</p>