Financial Aid
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Download information regarding the WA College Grant.
What is the FAFSA?
To apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants, work-study, and loans, you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). 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.
In addition, many states and colleges use your FAFSA information to determine your eligibility for state and school aid, and some private financial aid providers may use your FAFSA information to determine whether you qualify for their aid.
Five things you can do while you wait for the 2024-25 FAFSA!
Normally, the FAFSA is released on Oct. 1 for the following academic year, but this year, due to changes aimed at simplifying financial aid, the 2024-25 FAFSA won’t be available until December. That means that anyone who plans to apply for financial aid for the 2024-25 academic year has some extra time on their hands.
So, what should you do?
1) Create your FSA ID at StudentAid.gov.
2) Gather the information you will need to complete the FAFSA.
3) Research colleges.
4) Apply for admission to college.
5) Research and apply for scholarships.
Otterbot is a free texting service created to support high school seniors who have signed up for the College Bound Scholarship. Otter sends financial aid info and reminders to College Bound seniors. Students can access Otterbot via text message 24 hours a day, seven days a week by texting "Hi Otter" to 360-928-7281.
FSA ID - What is it?
The FSA ID is a username and password combination you use to log in to U.S. Department of Education (ED) online systems. The FSA ID is your legal signature and shouldn’t be created or used by anyone other than you—not even your parent, your child, a school official, or a loan company representative. You’ll use your FSA ID every year you fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form and for the lifetime of your federal student loans.
Download a full informational publication regarding the FSA ID HERE (English/Spanish).
WA Application for State Financial Aid (WAFSA)
The Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) is for people who don’t file a federal FAFSA application. People who complete a WASFA are applying for state aid.
For a full presentation of the WAFSA Application process, CLICK HERE.