Half of families in Washington can get free money for college or training

High school seniors in Washington can now apply for financial aid for the 2026-27 academic year, with both the FAFSA and WASFA open for applications. Governor Bob Ferguson highlighted the state's generosity in financial assistance, encouraging all eligible students to fill out the forms. The Washington College Grant provides significant support, allowing nearly half of families to qualify for free state aid, with the income cutoff for a family of four set to increase from $131,000. This grant supports individuals pursuing certificates, degrees, and registered apprenticeship programs, including undocumented students. Despite the availability of aid, only about half of high school seniors filed a FAFSA in recent years, prompting concerns about accessibility.

To address this issue, Ferguson signed an executive order to launch the Washington Completes FAFSA campaign, aimed at increasing financial aid applications. The campaign will be supported by an advisory board from the Washington Student Achievement Council. Interested individuals can learn more and apply for aid at WAgrant. org.