How to Apply for Financial Aid
Investing in your future is important, and WSU Tri-Cities is here to help you with applying for financial aid. We offer a variety of awards and resources, and encourage every student to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) to get the most out of the aid available. Learn more about the financial aid application process using the tips below!
003800
WSU FAFSA Code
January 31
Tri-Cities Scholarship Deadline
January 31
FAFSA/WASFA Deadline
Know the Types of Aid
Federal, state, and local financial aid can be awarded to students in several forms, including those that do not require to be repaid and those that do require repayment. Undocumented students are not eligible for federal student aid, but state funding is available for qualifying students.
Estimate Your Aid
Estimating your financial aid is simple with the WSU Net Price Calculator. Check out the approximate amounts and types of financial aid (including loans and grants) that you may qualify for at WSU Tri-Cities.
Explore Scholarships
WSu Tri-Cities students can receive scholarships from WSU and the local community. Awards range from several hundred dollars to full coverage of tuition and expenses, and in most circumstances, you can receive more than one scholarship at the same time.
FAFSA + WASFA Changes
In 2024, the Department of Education streamlined the FAFSA/WASFA application process to make it more user-friendly. Some of the key changes included:
- Fewer questions to answer
- Fewer overall requirements
- Tax information retrieved through a direct data exchange with the IRS
Send Your FAFSA or WASFA Application
FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Any student, regardless of income, who wants to be considered for federal, state, and school financial aid programs should apply. This includes grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans. After completing the application, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) via email (if you provide an email address). Please review this report for any processing problems.
WASFA is the Washington Application for State Financial Aid. This state financial aid application is specifically for students who are not eligible to complete the FAFSA due to immigration status, defaulted federal loans, or other issues with federal aid.
The priority deadline for both applications is January 31 in order to qualify for institutional aid. All students should still apply for financial aid after the priority deadline in order to qualify for federal and state aid.
The 2025-2026 FAFSA will open on December 1, 2024.
FAFSA for Graduate Students
Graduate students may have slightly different options for financial aid and funding opportunities. FAFSA is different for graduate students, and includes dependency status, grant availability based on education level, and income and asset considerations. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to answer questions regarding differences between undergraduate and graduate financial aid and navigating changes in aid.
Applying for Financial Aid FAQs
What documents do I need to complete the FAFSA?
You will need the following information or documents to fill out the FAFSA form:
- Your parents’ SSNs if you’re a dependent student
- Tax returns
- Records of child support received
- Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts
- Net worth of investments, businesses, and farms
More information about filling out the FAFSA form can be found on the Federal Student Aid website.
When will I hear back about aid packages?
When we have determiend how much aid you qualify for, we will send you a financial aid offer (generally by email) detailing all of the financial aid we can offer you.
Contact Our Financial Aid Team
The WSU Tri-Cities Office of Student Financial Services is invested in your learning experiences and is available to provide you with resources and information regarding the financial aid application process. Contact the team with any questions.
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