Paying for College

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Colleges and career schools use the FAFSA form to determine how much financial aid you're eligible to receive, which could include grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans. You must apply for aid every year.

Submit a free FAFsA application

Get help with your FAFSA

Community Partner, Graduate Tacoma is ready to help students and families understand and complete the FAFSA. 

Connect with Graduate Tacoma

Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA)

You should complete the WASFA if you are undocumented or do not qualify for federal financial aid because of your immigration status. The WASFA can also be used in limited circumstances by other select applicants who cannot or choose not to file a FAFSA.

Submit a free WASFA application

Get help with your WASFA

Community Partner, Graduate Tacoma is ready to help students and families understand and complete the WAFSA. 

Connect with Graduate Tacoma

In Washington, there are two different applications for financial aid, but you only need to file one. If the student is a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, you should complete the FAFSA. If you're not eligible to complete the FAFSA, you may be eligible to complete the WASFA.

• Your social security number or alien registration or permanent resident card
• Your driver license number or state ID
• Last year's family income tax returns
• Untaxed income records
• Current bank statements for you and your family
• Business and investment records for you and your family

Helpful videos: 

FAFSA FAQs video series walks you through the process and answers common questions. 

Financial Aid 101 understanding the financial aid application process

Financial Aid 201 understanding verification, appeals and award letters.

Graduate Tacoma provides FAFSA & WASFA financial aid guidance and resources. Students and families can find easy-to-follow guides on the Graduate Tacoma website. Additionally, throughout the year Graduate Tacoma hosts in-person events where students can get individual support and guidance for FAFSA and WASFA.

Graduate Tacoma Financial Aid Website

Federal Pell Grant 

Determined by rules set by Congress, the Federal Pell Grant maximum award for 2019—2020 award year was not been set, but previously was $5,730 (2015). The Pell Grant is an entitlement program, which means that all students who are eligible will receive a grant award. Typically to be “Pell Eligible,” your EFC must be $3,000 or less. The amount of the grant will be determined by the student need and cost of attendance at a particular school. 

Washington State Need Grant Money 

This program assists needy and disadvantaged Washington state residents in pursuing post-secondary education in one of Washington’s schools. Students must be at least half-time undergraduates majoring in some academic discipline other than theology. Grant awards vary. You will be considered for the State Need Grant after completing the FAFSA. 

Student loans, unlike grants, work-study and scholarships, must be repaid with interest once you graduate or leave college. An important difference between loans is whether they are subsidized or unsubsidized, which refers to what happens to the interest that accumulates, or accrues, between the time you take out a loan and when you stop attending college. 

Simply stated, the interest on a subsidized loan is paid for by the federal government and does not need to be paid back by the student or family, while the interest on an unsubsidized loan is either rolled into the amount borrowed, that is, the principle of the loan, or paid by the student or family while the student attends college. Students with greater financial need are more likely to get subsidized loans than are those with less need. 

• Federal Perkins loans are made available to students through participating colleges at the undergraduate, graduate and professional level. Students must demonstrate financial need and this type of subsidized loan is paid back to the institution the student attends. 
• Stafford loans are made available to students pursuing an undergraduate, graduate or professional degree. There are two types of Stafford Loans, subsidized and unsubsidized. 
• PLUS loans are loans that parents can take out to help pay for the cost of their dependent children’s undergraduate education. PLUS Loans maximum amounts are determined by the student’s cost of attendance minus other aid received. The borrower pays all interest. 
• The U.S. Department of Education has summarized the types of loans available to college student in the Federal Student Loan Programs Fact Sheet. 

Scholarships aren't just for the top students or best athletes. There are many different types of awards available to all kinds of students. Check with your high school counseling or career center, your parents' places of work, free scholarship searches online and organizations you, your parents or other relatives may belong to. Look under every rock for that extra financial help- many scholarships end up leaving money on the table because not enough students apply!

Learn more and find scholarships

This is a program which allows a student to obtain a job as part of the financial aid package. Work study jobs will pay at least minimum wage and are funded with either federal or state money. Wages earned through the work study program do not figure in to student income for the following year’s financial aid analysis, but may be subject to income taxes.