What is College Financial Aid?

College Financial Aid

What is College Financial Aid?

Financial aid is money to help pay for college or career training. Its purpose is to make education more affordable by covering costs like tuition, books, and fees.

Grants: Free money that does not need to be repaid (Federal Pell Grant, State Grants)
Scholarships: Free money that is given to students based on merit and /or specific skills (WSOS, Seattle Foundation, College Bound, WA Grant)
Loans: Borrowed money that you will need to pay back with interest (Federal Direct Subsidized, Private Loans)
Work Study: Students work part-time jobs on or off campus to earn money for educational expenses. These students qualify through their financial need and work flexible schedules around their classes.

How do I apply for Financial Aid?

Completing the FAFSA or WASFA is the first step in accessing college financial aid. The FAFSA and WASFA open every year on October 1.

The FAFSA is the application that citizens and eligible non-citizens (e.g. permanent resident/green card, conditional permanent resident, refugee) complete to access financial aid. It is free and can be filed on the FAFSA website.
The WASFA is the application undocumented non-citizens complete to access financial aid. It is free and can be filed on the WASFA website.
Some colleges and universities will require additional financial aid forms to access aid. One of the most common forms is the CSS Profile.

How can I get help with completing financial aid forms?

Seattle Public Schools
Financial aid filing events to assist students and parents/guardians with completing financial aid forms will be offered. Hale students and families check the Daily Bulletin or Friday Message for any upcoming events.
Additionally, schools will be providing financial aid advising day lessons to seniors throughout October and November.

Financial Aid Resources

As of November 12, 2025