Financial Aid
Students can begin completing the FAFSA beginning October 1 of the senior year. This allows families to use "Prior Prior" year tax information which will allow you to use completed and filed tax returns. All College Bound Scholarship families must complete the FAFSA by published priority deadlines at each college.
In order to submit the FAFSA, both the student and one guardian will need a FSA ID which serves as an electronic signature. Click here to get your FSA ID.
You are encouraged to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. The shift to Prior Prior year tax information does not guarantee a financial aid award letter earlier, but it will be a more informed aid package. Please note that some colleges and universities require a completed FAFSA prior to awarding merit awards/scholarships. Many colleges and universities have 'Priority' financial aid deadlines which allow a student to be considered for the most amount of assistance. Please note that the goal of the college is to provide as much support to as many students as possible.
If you do have specific financial aid questions, we do encourage you to contact either a person at one of the schools your student is applying to or simply one of the financial aid offices at a local community or four-year college. They are all so happy to answer questions and provide assistance, even if your student isn’t applying to that school.
ECC Financial Aid Office: 425.640.1457
UW – Seattle Financial Aid Office: 206.543.6101
UW – Bothell Financial Aid Office: 425.352.5240
Seattle Pacific University Financial Aid Office: 206.281.2061
Seattle University Financial Aid Office: 206.220.8020
Required and Supplemental Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA - The website to access the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA is used at all two-year and four-year colleges and universities. All students seeking financial aid will complete this form.
WASFA - The Washington Application for State Financial Aid. The WASFA is for students who are not eligible to apply for federal financial aid due to immigration status. Students must meet program requirements. CSS Profile - A supplement to the FAFSA, the CSS Profile is required by only select colleges and universities to make a more informed financial aid offer. A list of participating colleges and universities and other programs can be found here.
Washington State Financial Aid Resources
Washington Student Achievement Council - WSAC provides students and families with support to access higher education.
Washington College Bound Scholarship - Middle school students in grades 7 & 8 who meet income eligibility requirements are encouraged to enroll in the College Bound Scholarship program. Students in foster care grades 7 - 12 are automatically enrolled in this program.
Once enrolled, students are expected to maintain a 2.0 GPA throughout high school, have no felony convictions and apply for financial aid by completing the FAFSA or WASFA in the senior year.
The College Bound Scholarship is combined with other state aid to cover tuition (at comparable public university tuition rates), some fees and a small book allowance. The CBS scholarship may also be combined with federal student aid and will vary by individual student.
TheWashBoard - A free scholarship search for Washington students.
Western Undergraduate Exchange - Colleges and universities in 16 Western states offer tuition at a cost of 150% of in-state tuition which can be a tremendous savings over the typical cost of out of state tuition. Please note not all colleges in these states are in the WUE program and each participating institution will determine which programs or majors qualify.
National Financial Aid Resources
Financial Aid Resources for Homeless Youth - Frequently asked financial aid questions for youth experiencing homelessness.
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators: Great resources for parents and students regarding eligibility, completing forms and other considerations.
Department of Education Financial Aid - Provides valuable information regarding financial aid estimates, sources of financial aid and loan repayment programs.