Get Financial Aid Help!
According to FAFSA, Improvements are coming to financial aid applications this year. Due to these changes, the 2024-25 FAFSA and WASFA will become available in December 2023.
Applications usually open October 1st and hopefully will again in future years.
The 12th Year Campaign can help you file a FAFSA or WASFA financial aid application. Join one of the virtual events listed below to learn more and get help.
What is Financial Aid?
For most college students, financial aid makes their higher education possible. There are several different kinds of financial aid.
FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Federal student aid includes federal grants, work study and loans. Completing and submitting the FAFSA is free and easier than ever, and it gives you access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for college or career school. This should be your first step in creating your financial plan for your post-secondary schooling or training. Many colleges use your FAFSA information to determine your eligibility for state and school aid, and need your application turned in before they know what they can give you.
WASFA
The Washington Application for State Financial Aid. The WASFA should be filled out instead of the FAFSA for undocumented individuals and other select applicants. Find out if you qualify and complete the form through the WASFA website. The purpose of this form is to provide eligibility information to colleges and universities in Washington that offer the Washington College Grant and the College Bound Scholarship. The campuses listed by the student are not permitted to use the information in the form for other purposes or share the data with other parties.
For students who are immigrants, are undocumented, or have DACA find helpful information HERE.
What You Need to Know About the FAFSA & WASFA
For Seniors who are graduating in 2024, this will be the year that both FAFSA and WASFA will open in December, as they are working on improvements. In future years, as in former years, it will open again October 1st.
When the application is open, apply as early as possible, because schools only have a certain amount of money to offer and the schools need to see your financial package before they can offer you money.
- Juniors can start gathering documents and information during the summer. It is never too early.
- If you fill out the FAFSA, you will automatically be considered for state aid as well.
- You do NOT need to be accepted into a school to submit your FAFSA. Just add every school that you are interested in to your application.
- Be sure to use an email that you can check and use after graduation, because you will not have access to your school email then.
After You Apply
Once you have submitted your FAFSA or WASFA application, the website will send your financial aid package to each of the schools you have listed. Those schools will then create an award letter (Each college has their own notification process, so you may need to ask).
Resources
- Financial Aid Padlet: A step-by-step guide to applying for aid, with links to other resources. Provided by the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC)
- Apply for Financial Aid: WSAC's financial aid website
- Otter Bot: A free testing service designed to help Washington high school seniors navigate financial aid for college and career education. Students can access Otterbot via text message 24 hours a day, seven days a week by texting “Hi Otter” to (360)928-7281.
- Financial Aid Appeal Request Template: From SwiftStudent. Find a free and safe template to appeal aid offers.