1. Seattle Colleges home page
  2. Financial Aid
  3. Apply for Aid
  4. FAFSA or WASFA

FAFSA or WASFA

DRAFT page.

Washington students can choose between two different financial aid application forms. Students should decide which application is right for them and submit only one application. Do not submit both FAFSA and WASFA! Doing so can complicate and delay your financial aid process.

What is FAFSA?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (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 the money available.

  • Federal application overseen by US Department of Education
  • Used to evaluate your eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid
  • A U.S. citizen or national; A citizen of the Freely Associated States: the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republics of Palau and the Marshall Islands; or a U.S. permanent resident or other eligible noncitizen
  • Most people should complete the FAFSA to get the most the money available.

Submit a FAFSA

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 cannot or choose not to fill out a FAFSA.

  • State-based application overseen by the Washington Student Achievement Council
  • Used to evaluate your eligibility for state and institutional financial aid
  • Best option for students who aren’t eligible for federal aid, or prefer not to submit a FAFSA, including undocumented students and students repaying federal loans
  • Open to Washington state residents

Submit a WASFA

Choosing Between FAFSA and WASFA

If you are unsure which application to submit, you can use the WASFA Eligibility Questionnaire to help you decide.

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. 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.

Get help with FAFSA or WASFA

You can get one-on-one help filling out your financial aid application in two ways:

  1. Attend a virtual FAFSA/WASFA workshop online via Zoom.
  2. Make an appointment with a Funding Navigator.