It’s Time to Apply for Financial Aid for the 2025-26 Academic Year!

Posted on: Jan, 24, 2025

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Are you planning to attend college in the 2025-26 academic year? If so, it’s time to get started on your financial aid applications! The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now open, and applying early can make all the difference in obtaining the funds you need to achieve your goals.

Why You Should Apply Early

The FAFSA deadline for the 2025-26 academic year is June 30, 2025, but if you’re a student in Washington State, you should aim to submit your application well before then. It is in your best interest to complete your application as early as possible! Applying early ensures that you are considered for the maximum amount of aid available. Some programs have limited funding that is awarded to students on a first come, first served basis.

By applying early, you’ll also have more time to address any issues that may come up, such as information verification or submission of any additional documentation that may be needed. Starting now means less stress for you later!

Explore Washington’s Financial Aid Programs

Washington State is known for offering some of the most generous financial aid options in the country. One of the programs that stands out is the Washington College Grant (WA Grant), which provides support to low- and middle-income students.

The WA Grant covers full tuition costs for students from families with lower incomes and offers partial grants to families with moderate incomes. As an example of what you could qualify for based on household income, a family of four earning $64,500 or less per year could receive a full tuition grant.

Even families with higher incomes could qualify for partial assistance, making higher education more accessible to many of Washington’s residents.

To explore how much aid you might be eligible for, check out: Washington College Grant page.

FAFSA or WASFA: Which One is Right for You?

Students in Washington can apply for financial aid through either the FAFSA or the WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid), depending on their residency and citizenship status. The FAFSA is for U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens, and the WASFA is designed for Washington residents who are undocumented or otherwise ineligible for federal financial aid.

Both FAFSA and WASFA are pathways for Washington State residents to apply for the WA Grant and other financial aid. WA Grant gives eligible people more money for more types of education like certificate programs, job training, apprenticeships, or college.

You should only complete one application, the FAFSA or the WASFA:

  • 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. Most people should complete the FAFSA to get the most money available.
  • 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. Learn more about what it takes on the Student Residency web page.

If you’re unsure which application you should complete, resources like the Washington Student Achievement Council’s guide can help with determining eligibility and will guide you through each step of the process.

*A note on privacy: Students and families are asked to provide personal information when applying for financial aid. It’s a necessary part of the process, but it’s natural to have concerns about privacy. Anyone uncomfortable with submitting a federal FAFSA form can use the WASFA to apply only for state aid; however, they will miss out on any federal aid they could be eligible for. Whether applying with FAFSA or WASFA, students and families should read any available privacy statements to understand where their data is going and how it is used.

Key Points About FAFSA and WASFA

  • FAFSA is available for anyone who has a Social Security Number (SSN) and qualifies for federal aid. Situations where a student would not qualify for federal aid include not having an SSN, defaulting on student loans, or owing back grant money. FAFSA gives access to both federal and state aid.
  • WASFA is for students who do not qualify for federal aid for any of the above reasons, including no SSN, defaulted loans, or owed grant money. This application provides access only to Washington State aid.

The most important difference between the two applications is how contributors, such as parents, access the forms. Everyone contributing to the FAFSA form (students and parents) needs their own account to access the application. For the WASFA, the form can only be completed through the student’s account. When inviting a contributor (usually a parent), students should ensure that the information entered on the invitation page matches exactly the information the parent uses for their account. This is case-sensitive, and especially necessary for students whose parents do not have an SSN. If the parent does not have an SSN, they will be asked for their permanent address, which must match across the invitation and the parent’s account.