What is financial aid?
Financial aid is money that helps students pay for college. It comes from different places like the government, schools, or private groups. Financial aid can help cover a range of educational expenses, like tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation.
Three types:
Grants: Money you don't need to pay back, usually based on your family's income.
Scholarships: Money you get for things like good grades, sports, or other achievements. You don't need to pay this back either.
Loans: Money you borrow and need to pay back with interest. There are different types, like loans from the government or private companies.
Workstudy Programs: Programs where you work part-time to earn money for school while you're studying.
Financial Aid for Undocumented Students
Even if you are undocumented, you can still qualify for in-state tuition and financial aid!
If you meet the following requirements, then you are eligible for state residency for financial aid purposes. This means you qualify to pay in-state tuition and to apply for state financial aid through the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA).
To qualify, students must meet all of the following requirements:
Earn a high school diploma, GED, or diploma equivalent before their first term at the college determining residency.
Maintain a primary residence in Washington for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before their first term at the college determining residency.
The Washington residence must be for purposes other than college. If a student takes any courses at another Washington college during the prior 12 months, they cannot have taken more than six credits in any given term. Students exceeding that limit must prove that they have a Washington residence for non-college reasons.
Sign an affidavit saying they meet the above requirements and that one of the following is true:
They will file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States (green card) as soon as they are eligible to apply. And that they are willing to engage in activities designed to prepare them for citizenship, including citizenship or civics review courses or
They are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident.
(Information from the Washington Student Achievement Council)
WASFA
The FAFSA application typically opens up on October 1st of each year for the upcoming academic year.
The WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) is a financial aid application specifically designed for undocumented students who are unable to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) due to their immigration status. The WASFA allows undocumented students who meet certain eligibility criteria to apply for state financial aid to help cover the costs of higher education in Washington State.
Similar to the FAFSA, the WASFA collects information about a student's financial situation, household size, and other relevant factors to determine eligibility for state-funded financial aid programs, including the Washington College Grant. Undocumented students who qualify for the WASFA may also be eligible for other forms of state-based financial assistance, such as scholarships and grants.
The WASFA is administered by the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), and students can typically access the application online through the WSAC website. It's important for undocumented students to submit the WASFA by the specified deadline to be considered for financial aid for the upcoming academic year.
FAFSA
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
FAFSA is a form that students fill out to apply for financial aid for college. The information provided on the FAFSA is used by colleges and universities to determine a student's eligibility for grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs offered by the federal government, state governments, and schools themselves. The FAFSA takes into account factors like family income, assets, household size, and number of family members attending college to calculate a student's Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which helps determine their financial need. It's an important step in the college application process for students seeking financial assistance to afford higher education.
FAFSA is is for U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, and eligible non-citizens.
The FAFSA application typically opens up on October 1st of each year for the upcoming academic year.