Financial Aid
College Financial Aid
What is College Financial Aid?
Financial aid is money to help pay for college. It can include grants, work study, and loans to help cover college expenses.
- Grants: Gift aid usually based on financial need and in most cases do not need to be repaid.
- Scholarships: Money awarded to students based on academic or other achievements to help pay for education expenses.
- Loans: Money that can be borrowed for educational expenses and is repaid over time (with interest added in most cases)
- Work Study: A financial aid program (federal or state) that allows a student to work on-campus or with approved off campus employers to earn money to pay for college expenses.
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 1st. Improvements are coming to financial aid applications this year. Due to these changes, the 2024-25 FAFSA and WASFA will become available in December 2023.
- 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.