Financial Aid for Students: FAFSA & WASFA

About Financial Aid Opportunities

For most students planning to attend college or a career school, financial aid is essential. Applying for financial aid is a crucial first step toward college and career training. Completing a financial aid application opens more options for the future.

Financial aid is money to help pay for college or career school. Grants, work-study, loans, and scholarships help make college or career school affordable. In Washington, there are two ways to apply for financial aid. U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens apply for federal and state aid with the FAFSA. People who can’t file the FAFSA due to immigration status can apply only for state aid with the WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid).

What is FAFSA?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is for need- and non-need-based financial aid from both the federal and state governments, as well as your college and some private scholarships.

Colleges and career schools use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to determine how much financial aid you are eligible to receive.

Application is FREE to apply & is available in English and Spanish.

Begin your application by creating an FSA ID here:

StudentAid.gov

Steps to complete before starting the Application Process for FAFSA:

Gathering Needed Documents:

  • Your parents’ SSNs if they have SSNs and you’re a dependent student
  • Tax returns
  • Records of child support received
  • Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts
  • Net worth of investments, businesses, and farms

Fill out the FAFSA form:

  • You must login with the FSA ID you created.
  • Complete all required sections of the FAFSA form.

Sign, Save & Submit:

  • Acknowledge the terms and conditions.
  • Electronically sign your section
  • Submit

Note: The FAFSA form is not considered complete until all required contributors provide their information and provide their signatures.

What information do I need to complete the FAFSA?

You’ll need your Social Security number (or an alien registration number if you’re not a U.S. citizen), your family’s tax forms, bank statements, and any income information. If your parents are helping you, they’ll need this info too. Link to FAFSA Webpage

When is the FAFSA deadline?

The FAFSA typically opens every year on October 1. The 2025/26 FAFSA form is now open. For the 2025-26 school year, students can begin applying for aid in December 2024.

Can I still apply for the 2024/2025 school year?

Yes. The FAFSA deadline for the 2024-2025 academic year is June 30, 2025. This means that students have until June 30, 2025, to file their FAFSA application for the 2024-2025 school year.

Can you make corrections to the FAFSA after submitting it?

Yes, you can. To make corrections, log into your FAFSA account using your FSA ID and correct or update your information as needed. Note that all changes for the 2045-25 FAFSA are due by Sept. 14, 2025.

If you submitted a paper FAFSA, you’ll need to resubmit a new paper FAFSA through the mail to make corrections.

Do I need to fill out the FAFSA every year?

Yes! You need to fill it out every year to keep getting help for school. Your family’s income or school costs might change, so you’ll need to update the information.

If You Need Help Filling Out the FAFSA

Use these free tools:

What is WASFA?

The Washington Application for State Financial Aid, or WASFA is for financial aid from the state and some college aid, and is for people who don’t fill out a FAFSA due to immigration status—including being undocumented—or other federal aid eligibility issues. It can also be used by others who prefer not to file the federal form.

* You can still be considered a Washington resident if you are undocumented.

Verify if you are eligible for WASFA here:

WASFA Questionnaire

Verify if WASFA Is Right for You

Complete the questionnaire to confirm if WASFA is the correct application for you:
wsac.wa.gov/WASFAelig

Step by Step to Begin the WASFA Application Process

WASFA Application Guides:

(English Guide)
|
(Spanish Guide)

Can you fill out both FAFSA and WASFA?

If you’ve completed the FAFSA, you’ve already applied for federal and state financial aid and generally don’t need to complete the WASFA unless your college requires it. Complete the WASFA if you’re undocumented or do not qualify for federal financial aid because of your immigration status.

How do you qualify for WASFA?

Eligibility requirements include:

  • Graduating from a Washington high school or obtaining a GED® (before starting college).
  • Living in Washington for three years prior to, and continuously since, earning a high school diploma or equivalent.

Do undocumented or DACA students qualify for financial aid in Washington?

Yes. They can fill out the WASFA instead of the FAFSA. Washington offers state aid for students who cannot apply for federal aid.

Resources

Hopelink is here to assist you in navigating the financial aid process and exploring opportunities. Contact us here if you have questions: FinancialEd@hopelink.org

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