Financial Aid

When a school receives a complete application, they will use the FAFSA and additional forms (if required) to determine eligibility. The majority of institutions will have three main sources of aid. These are:

  1. Federal Funding: Federal Pell Grand, FSEOG Grant, Federal Work-Study and Federal Loan Progams
  2. State Funding: Washington State Need Grant, College Bound Scholarship, Passport Grant and State Work-Study Program
  3. Institutional Funding: Will vary by college, but normally includes a need-based grant, tuition waiver, work-study programs.

A combination of all these types of aid will be used by the school's Financial Aid Office to determine financial aid.

How do colleges determine eligibility? Each program will have eligibility requirements that will be reviewed by the Financial Aid staff at the college. However, every college is required by the Department of Education to use the calculation below as the basis of a financial aid package.

Cost of Attendance (COA) - Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) =

Expected Financial Need

  • COA differs from school to school and includes tuition, books, transportation & living expense
  • EFC number is the result of the completed FAFSA and is determined by the federal government. This number does NOT change based on the school you are attending
  • Financial Need represents the maximum a college is allowed to award in a combination of all need-based aid including federal, state, institution, grant, work-study, scholarship and/or loan

Learn more about federal funding here https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types

Learn more about state aid here http://readysetgrad.org/college/washington-state-financial-aid-programs

You can estimate the amount of federal financial aid you will receive by using a Federal Aid

Calculator at www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov. This will just be an estimate. Your actual financial aid package will be determined by each school you list on your FAFSA.