By Aisha Mahmoud

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It’s go-time for students who want to tap into the free money well for education. Governor Bob Ferguson paid a visit to Renton High School on Monday to sign an executive order launching the “Washington Completes FAFSA” campaign, aimed at pushing students to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). According to a statement from the Governor’s Office, the FAFSA forms serve as the key to unlock financial aid for college, apprenticeships, and post-high school training. The thing is, students and their parents have got to complete it first, which has been a stumbling block in the past for Washingtonians, finding themselves in the bottom five states for FAFSA completion.

Waving the banner of opportunity, Governor Ferguson assured the crowd, “I want every eligible student to take advantage of this money for college, apprenticeships and other education or training.” Despite being ranked, the richest in financial assistance, too many students are leaving money on the table simply because they aren’t completing the paperwork. This new campaign isn’t just about forms and deadlines; it’s about giving young Washington residents a financial kickstart. The Washington Student Achievement Council’s (WSAC) deputy executive director, Isaac Kwakye, emphasized the transformative power of financial aid – when low-income families get this support, the students often out-earn their parents within three years of graduation.

Money matters, especially when it’s about education. For those drowning in the how-will-I-pay-for-this sea of college expenses, filing the FAFSA opens up federal grants, scholarships, and loans. But it’s not just Uncle Sam’s wallet that’s open – Washington state has its own resources, like the Washington College Grant, famously known as the WA Grant. If you’re living in a household earning below 60 percent of the median income, then state colleges won’t cost you a dime in tuition and fees. Even families pulling in $66,000 or less for a family of three can send their kid to a public university without paying tuition or fees.

They’ve got an alternative for those who fall through the federal aid cracks. The Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) is there for students unable to snag federal dollars but who are still in the running for the WA Grant. Plus, even higher-income families can scrape together some assistance for private institutions. That’s the message being amplified with the new executive order and the advisory board it creates. Joined by students and school officials, the board, supported by WSAC, will be setting goals to get those FAFSA completion rates up and better track progress. With the forms for the 2026-2027 school year opening by October 1, there’s no time to waste.

Getting real about the financial aid game is on WSAC’s radar too, offering plenty of info on the wide spectrum of assistance available to Washington students. It’s about empowering potential students to leverage the financial doors that are already unlocked; they just need to walk through them. To learn more about Washington’s financial aid options, check out WSAC’s website for the full scoop.