Seattle School Cleveland High School $50 Million

Microsoft and Boeing on Monday announced they’ll each give $25 million over the next five years to a new public-private scholarship program designed to help off-set large tuition increases coming to Washington’s universities and colleges.

The companies made the announcement at a bill-signing ceremony at Seattle’s Cleveland  High School, where Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a measure that allows universities to set their own tuition rates. Previously, the Legislature had the final word on tuition. Increases at UW and WSU are expected to be 16 percent annually.