Washington students leaving money on the table by forgetting the FAFSA
Aspiring college students and young professionals are leaving money on the table. As much as $50 million has been forgone by Washington graduates that never filed for federal aid, according to Rep. Drew Hanson. In fact, only 41.7 percent of 12th-grade students in Washington state complete the FAFSA, the third-lowest rate in the country.
Compared to a national completion rate of 57.2 percent, that meant about 14,700 Washington students missed out on financial assistance for college or career training.
The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) and legislators are sounding the horn to encourage more students to apply.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opened on Oct. 1. Students nationwide are filing their FAFSAs to support their education or professional development. Many low- and middle-income families will discover that aid can cover a significant portion of college costs, and sometimes the full cost.
Assuming ineligibility is a common mistake
“Lots of people don’t think they are eligible — that’s a common mistake,” said Katie Tallman, director of communications for WSAC. “The Washington College Grant will cover full tuition and fees at public rates for families making up to 60 percent of the median family income, and prorated tuition and fees for families making up to 100 percent of the median family income. This year, that is $107,000 for a family of four. Many middle-income families don’t realize they could benefit.”
Washington state offers some of the most generous financial aid in the country. Aid might completely cover college for a student from a family of four with an annual income of $64,500. Middle-income families may be eligible for partial awards that make college or career training affordable.
Many students ineligible for federal aid can still receive state aid, including undocumented immigrants and people that owe repayment of federal grants.
Apprenticeship seekers can also benefit from aid as they learn and gain work experience.
Federal and state aid programs do not consider grades or extracurriculars. If a student and their family meet the criteria, the aid is theirs.
Sounding the horn
Despite broad eligibility and generous awards, many Washington families are missing out. The state’s low FAFSA completion rate prompted WSAC and several legislators to introduce new programs to solicit more applications.
WSAC’s 12th Year Campaign helps school districts organize financial aid advising events, and its Aim Higher Washington campaign helps educators motivate students of color or from marginalized groups to file their FAFSA.
WSAC established a free texting service called Otterbot in 2019 to support high school seniors enrolled in the College Bound program. The College Bound scholarship allows seventh-, eighth-, and ninth-grade students receiving free or reduced-fee lunches to commit to college early. If they graduate and remain eligible, the program covers the full cost of the tuition at public college rates.
Students signed up for Otter receive occasional reminders — or “nudges” — with important financial aid information, suggestions, and deadlines. Students may reply to the text reminders for personal help.
The legislature also passed HB 1835 in 2022, allocating funds for WSAC to conduct a statewide marketing campaign to promote state aid programs.
“If we want to fix this, we’ve got to run it like a campaign. We’ve got to run some ads,” said Rep. Drew Hanson in support of the bill. “Some of it’s going to be in high schools, and some of it’s going to be partnering with libraries. And then we’re going to prequalify people and do direct outreach to people who are receiving other state benefits.”
Navigating the process
Hannah Middlebrook, a counselor at Tumwater High School, dressed up as a crisp $100 bill to stress the value of federal aid for students. The costume is among a bevy of strategies Tumwater High School is using to encourage students to apply for aid. The school also hosted an early FAFSA completion night to give families time, encouragement, and information to file.
“We dressed up and roamed the halls during passing periods to remind students to complete the FAFSA. This is about money — their money,” said Middlebrook. “Students want that money, so they’re taking ownership and leading conversations with their families. We’re also saying that everyone should file their FAFSA. It’s not just for someone else — it’s for you.”
Even once families learn about the FAFSA, completing it is another challenge. The process is time-consuming and requires significant preparation. An inaccurate or incomplete form may yield a reduced award.
Help is available. The FAFSA comprises 103 questions and fields; a guide by Nitro College describes each one. The FAFSA also requires many documents; a guide by the Office of Federal Student Aid helps families get organized. High school counselors offer in-person assistance.
Filing a FAFSA is no small task, but experts recommend that families invest the necessary time.
“You never know what you’re missing out on unless you apply,” said Tallman. “Other scholarships and grants might require FAFSA information. Middle-income families might be eligible. Undocumented students might be eligible. Students of all ages might be eligible. You might miss out on money if you don’t finish the process.”
While there is no immediate deadline to apply, some schools do institute earlier financial aid application deadlines. Applying early maximizes a student’s aid opportunities.
“Completing the FAFSA is the single most important step in getting financial aid,” said Cara Hoag, enrollment management marketing director for Washington State University. ”Only 31 percent of students at WSU pay full tuition. Washington is fortunate to have the Washington College Grant — it is one of the most generous financial aid programs in the country and helps many low- and middle-income families receive money for college.”
“Most private colleges and many public colleges these days offer a much different price than the one you see on the website, once you account for aid,” said James Miller, associate provost and dean of admission at Seattle University. “The number-one thing that students can do for themselves is to sit down with their families and complete the FAFSA.”
Miller is also the current president of the Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling. Admission counselors engage thousands of students considering college each year. Enrollment in four-year colleges in Washington state has fallen since the pandemic — according to Miller, cost intimidation and exhaustion are both at play.
“Students are really intimidated by the sticker price, even those with a history of college-going in the family,” said Miller. “Students are also letting us know they are exhausted — they spent a year on Zoom and another whole year in transition. They feel worn out.”
Exploring more than one pathway
Many people favor work experience over a college education — apprentices can benefit from aid, too. Passed in 2019, the Workforce Education Investment Act added guaranteed funds to the Washington College Grant program to support eligible apprentices.
Apprentices benefit from paid, on-the-job work experience as they learn a trade and earn credentials. Hundreds of registered apprenticeship programs operate statewide, and many may award aid to their apprentices. This could include money for tuition, books, supplies, necessary equipment, and tools.
“Apprenticeships offer on-the-job training with related supplemental instruction. Apprentices are paid, learn the job, and can also earn college credit towards a degree,” said Peter Guzman, program manager with the state Department of Labor & Industries. “Recent legislation has helped apprentices receive financial aid on par with what students receive for college.”
Apprenticeships and career training have their own benefits. The average student loan debt of a college graduate is now nearly $30,000, and those loans carry interest. Career training programs pose less financial risk and may lead to a career faster. Apprenticeships help employers fill specialized roles with longer tenure. Many compelling careers don’t require general education and instead favor technical skills.
There is no wrong choice between college and career training. No matter the path, federal and state aid might make it smoother. Completing the FAFSA at least gives students and families an accurate measure of cost, and an even scale to weigh options.
“Any education after high school will advance you economically. You might go for a credential, a certification, or a degree — it’s not just four years of college or nothing,” said Sarah Weiss, WSAC’s director of college access initiatives. “There’s a huge array of financial aid programs that can help you — but you need to apply.”
