File your FAFSA. For those who do, Washington’s nation-leading student aid brightens futures.
What are your ambitions beyond high school? Do you have a dream school in mind? Is there a career that seems like your calling? For tens of thousands of students across the state, the Washington College Grant (WA Grant) is helping those dreams come true.
The WA Grant is not just for extremely low-income families; about half of Washington families are eligible. It’s not just for college; it covers career training and apprenticeships, too. It helps more people than federal student aid; students from undocumented families can benefit. It’s not just for tuition; the WA Grant stacks with scholarships to help cover books, housing, and other costs.
The WA Grant is the most generous student financial aid program in the nation, and it changes lives for the better. But many families miss out by not completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
On Tuesday in Vancouver, Wash., Gov. Jay Inslee touted the program and urged families to complete the FAFSA. He also encouraged students to bear with the process despite this year’s hurdles. The federal government’s implementation of a new FAFSA system has introduced long delays.
“The WA Grant is a big deal to graduating seniors,” said Inslee. “Whether they choose college or career-connected training, we’re giving them a boost.
“But FAFSA delays this year have put students in a bind — they don’t know how much money to expect as they make big life decisions. The good news is that the WA Grant is an entitlement. If you’re eligible, you’ll receive aid. But it’s crucial that families complete the FAFSA.”
Financial aid helps students pursue bright careers
Inslee proposed the WA Grant and his administration designed it as the nation’s most flexible, generous, and equitable student aid program in the country. At the time the governor signed it into law in 2019, the grant was lauded as “a sustainable, recession-proof funding model that empowers our next generation” by Microsoft President Brad Smith.
Now the program is helping thousands of students start their professional journeys. Some students are going to college. Others attend classes part-time. Many select a community or technical college. And some prefer more direct, hands-on career training. The WA Grant is helping them all.
Local community and technical college students are diving into promising careers. At Renton Technical College, automotive repair students can complete an elective course to certify as Rivian repair technicians and go right to work fixing EVs. The famous Enology & Viticulture program at Walla Walla Community College teaches the science of winemaking — an $8 billion industry in Washington state. Graduates of Big Bend Community College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program are working on electric aircraft taking off in Moses Lake.
Biology students at Washington State University are pioneering pollinator research and getting close to grizzly bears. The WSU Tri-Cities Clean Energy Institute is advancing hydrogen propulsion and nuclear fusion and other promising technology. The University of Washington is soon to open a behavioral health training hospital to innovate psychiatric care and substance use disorder treatment. They’re also pioneering sustainable timber and building design.
And registered apprenticeships and other career-connected learning options are guiding students to great careers in construction, health care, information technology, maritime, and more. At the Airbus Robotics facility in Mukilteo, for example, Gov. Jay Inslee met several young apprentices learning the ropes of high-tech aerospace manufacturing.
Advanced education is increasingly necessary to compete in the American economy. Seventy percent of available jobs require study or training after high school, according to the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC). That ratio will increase to 72 percent by 2031. Automation and artificial intelligence are more likely to displace workers without advanced education.
Families miss out by forgetting the FAFSA
Washington families are leaving money on the table. Just 52.8 percent of 12th-grade students completed their FAFSA in 2023, the fourth-lowest rate in the nation. This is a slight improvement 2022’s rate of 41.7 percent. That compares to a national average of 57.5 percent. Over an estimated graduating class size of 83,411 students this year, it means that nearly 3,950 more families than average might be missing out.
The Education Research and Data Center reports that 40 percent of students received need-based financial aid in their first year of postsecondary education, but about half of families are eligible. That’s a significant gap.
By not completing the FAFSA, families might lose a substantial amount of money each year. The average annual federal Pell Grant award to Washington families who completed the FAFSA was $5,122. In total, Washington’s graduating class of 2023 left $65 million in Pell Grant dollars untouched.
To receive aid, families must complete the FAFSA. Only those ineligible for federal aid (due to immigration status, for example) use a different form. That form is called the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA).
WSAC’s financial aid calculator estimates how much money you can expect to receive. If you’re eligible and you file your FAFSA, you receive your aid. The WA Grant is an entitlement. Other state models, including Washington’s before the WA Grant was enacted, budget a limited sum towards student aid, leaving eligible families with nothing once funds run out.
The federal government recently overhauled the FAFSA process, making it shorter and easier to complete. Most applicants report it takes under one hour to finish. The deadline to apply for aid for the 2024–25 school year isn’t until June 2025, so students may apply even after classes start.
To improve lagging FAFSA numbers, the 12th Year Campaign co-run by Washington’s 34 colleges is working with high school seniors and their families to boost completion rates. High schools and counselors are spending time one-on-one with students to highlight available aid. College admissions offices are also emphasizing the point to prospective students. And the newest version of the FAFSA is simpler and faster to complete than ever.
Think you’re ineligible? Think again.
Students from middle-income families are often surprised to find out they are eligible — benefits aren’t exclusive to low-income households. Nearly half of all Washington families are eligible.
Likewise, students with immigration status concerns are often surprised to find they are eligible. While undocumented residents are excluded from federal benefits, Washington’s generous student aid programs can still help.
Some colleges post priority consideration dates or application deadlines. Even if you’ve missed those deadlines, WSAC recommends applying for financial aid anyway. You may still be eligible, and you might still get in.
Many students don’t believe that a four-year college is the right fit for them. That’s fine — state programs can also help students afford two-year programs, career training, and apprenticeships. If you aspire to reach a profession, the WA Grant can help you get there.
Even if you think you’re ineligible for aid, think twice. If you don’t complete your FAFSA, you might miss out on a lot of money.
Don’t let recent FAFSA fumbles deter you
The FAFSA has been in the limelight this year, and many students have likely heard about the program’s fits and starts. Don’t be discouraged.
The federal government introduced a new FAFSA form this year that has simplified the process to apply for aid. By and large, the new form is much quicker and easier to complete.
But there have been some widely-reported technical issues with the form. An ongoing problem has delayed the release of applicants’ information by the federal government to schools. As a result, students are finding out later than normal how much money they’ll get.
The good news in Washington is that WA Grant is guaranteed to eligible people in participating programs. Students will get the aid they are due, but they might have to be a little more patient this year as they wait for their award letters.
