Paying for College

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 Citizenship Status. Determine Eligibility.

1) Create Username and Password with email. 2) File online at https://wsac.wa.gov/wasfa

FAQ's

Where can I find WSAC Privacy Information? Click here

Where can I find FAFSA Privacy Information? Click here

Where can I find more information for Mixed-Status Families?  Click here or Flowchart Click here 

What will I need to complete my financial aid application?  (Note: Class of 2026-Tax Return from 2024)  FAFSA / WASFA

For the FAFSA, am I a dependent or independent?  Click here  

Who's My Parent when I fill out the FAFSA?  Click here

How much financial aid will I receive? Click here for the WSAC Calculator.  Click here for WA College Grant Information

College Bound Program:  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:

• FAFSA Help Line: 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)

• https://studentaid.gov/help

• WASFA Help Line: 888-535-0747 Option 2 

• https://wsac.wa.gov/wasfa

Scholarships: A step by step guide.

• Step 1: Search for Scholarships:

• Schoolinks has information on local, state and national scholarships.  Students can find scholarship information by logging into Schoolinks: Mount Vernon School District Clever, clicking on College>Scholarship Matching.  You can use this tool to add specific information about yourself, however leaving eligibility criteria open and clicking the "Next" button and finally "View Matches" will allow you to view the entire database of scholarships.  Once you have navigated to the list, you will see a "District-Posted" in the upper right corner. Local scholarships are listed under this section.  For more information, view this presentation.

• 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.

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.