The FAFSA and WASFA applications are NOW OPEN!!!

• 2026-2027 FAFSA Application
• 2026-2027 WASFA Application
• FAFSA Tools

The FAFSA has had several big changes, including:

• The new FAFSA® form will be shorter (fewer questions)
  • What is the FAFSA® form? The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA® form, is used by colleges and career schools to determine how much financial aid you're eligible to receive, which could include grants, scholarships, work-study funds, and loans.
• The language on the FAFSA® is more closely aligned with the language on income tax returns
• The SAI (Student Aid Index) replaces the EFC (Expected Family Contribution), and contains new formulas for calculating eligibility. In particular: 
• Eligibility for the Pell Grant is expanded to families earning 225% of the poverty line (so about $67,500 for a family of four)
• For divorced parents, families will need to report the higher-earning parent (previously, they reported the parent that the child resided with more often)

The Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) is for people who choose not to file a federal FAFSA application.