Paying for College
Paying for College: Grants, work-study, loans, and scholarships help make college or career school affordable.
Financial Aid: To qualify for financial aid, including grants, loans and work-study you need to apply for Financial Aid. Financial Aid Applications are changing for the Class of 2024. Financial Aid Applications Open 12/31!
Financial Aid Application
In Washington, there are two different applications for financial aid, but you only need to file one.
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. 1) Create FSA ID. 2) File online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) Not eligible to file the FAFSA due to immigration status. 1) Create Username and Password with email. 2) File online at https://wsac.wa.gov/wasfa
Colleges have their own aid forms and deadlines, too. Check with your financial aid office to stay on-track.
Click here to learn what you need to file the FAFSA.
Click here to learn what you need to file the WASFA.
Cost-saving tip: Applying to schools at which you’re near the top of the applicant pool academically may qualify you for more grants or scholarships from the college (usually, these do not have to be repaid). Applying to schools at which you’re in the lower half of the applicant pool academically may mean that the school will offer you more loans, which have to be repaid, with interest.
College Bound Scholarship: Did you take the College Bound Pledge in middle school? Click here to learn more.
Award Letter: If you listed a school on your FAFSA or WASFA and have been offered admission by that school, the financial aid office at the school will send you an aid offer (often electronically). The offer includes the types and amounts of financial aid you may receive from federal, state, private, and school sources. This combination of aid is your financial aid package. Need help understanding your Award Letter? Click here to learn more.
Other Resources:
Scholarships: Scholarships are often merit based and/or a combination of merit and need based. There are numerous scholarships available.
Scholarships: A step by step guide.
Step 1: Search for Scholarships:
Naviance has information on local, state and national scholarships. This data base will be updated often, so check back regularly for new and exciting scholarship opportunities. You will find local scholarships by going to Naviance and looking at "Scholarship Search. This was formerly the MVHS Scholarship Bulletin.
Colleges and University: Information about the scholarship process for the WA State 4-Yr Public Universities as well as Skagit Valley College. Make sure to familiarize yourself with your colleges scholarship process and due dates!
Scholarship Search Engines: Use these search engines to match you with scholarships offered from the federal and state government, large corporations, local businesses, professional organizations, universities and individuals. Note: You should never have to pay to apply for a scholarship or disclose any bank information.
2: Understand the Application Requirements: Review the Scholarship Application-including essays, letters of recommendation, transcript, resume, etc
Step 3: Pay attention to Deadlines and Submit on time!
Step 4: Don't forget to write a thank you note for scholarships that you receive. Click here to learn more.
WUE: Washington Undergraduate Exchange
Consider the Washington Undergraduate Exchange: WUE (pronounced “woo-wee”) Coordinated by WICHE. WUE is a regional tuition-reciprocity agreement that enables students from WICHE states to enroll in more than 150 participating two- and four-year public institutions at 150 percent of the enrolling institution’s resident tuition. Visit www.wiche.edu/wue to learn more about the program and admission process.