Dear Families and Students of the Class of 2026,
You and your child should complete and submit either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA). Both applications open October 1. You should complete this step as soon as possible.
REMINDER: File the FAFSA (https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa) if your child is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Students who do not meet these eligibility requirements should file the WASFA (https://wsac.wa.gov/wasfa).
Students will be required to report income and tax information from an earlier tax year. For example, on the 2025-26 FAFSA/WASFA, students—and their parent(s), as appropriate—will report their 2024 income and tax information. Because you will have already done your taxes by the time you fill out your FAFSA, you may be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT) to automatically import your tax information into your FAFSA. See more information at: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/resources/parents
Filing early is holding your child’s place in line for financial aid. The sooner you get in line, the likelier it is that you’ll be awarded aid. Filing early – before your taxes are complete – helps ensure that your child has access to as much financial aid funds as is possible.
Students need to file for financial aid every year they are in college. The 12th Year Campaign is a state-administered program that holds free, regional events to help students and families complete financial aid applications. The workshops begin in October and November at numerous locations across Washington State. Students receive step-by-step instructions for successfully completing and submitting their FAFSA or WASFA.