WASHINGTON – Local area high school students and their families will soon have a new, free resource for help with their college financial aid applications.
Financial aid outreach specialists will provide information and support in completing both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA). These specialists meet with students in the high schools through scheduled appointments and other activities.
Five community colleges, including Walla Walla Community College (WWCC), received funding for this pilot project through Washington House Bill 1835. The state bill directs Washington’s State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) to generate and promote student financial aid initiatives that increase the number of people who complete the FAFSA and attain a college credential.
WWCC will provide this service in Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, and Walla Walla counties. Marisol Luengas-Maya and Natalia Nikolaeva will serve as financial aid outreach specialists in the high schools throughout these counties.
“The FAFSA and WASFA applications are intimidating and daunting, and they can be difficult to complete for many students and families,” Luengas-Maya said. “We are here to provide information and help you complete these applications, so more people can have confidence in their ability to attend college.”
These financial aid outreach specialists are available to assist regardless of the college or university a student plans to attend. The service is free for all participants.
The FAFSA and WASFA are critical resources for any student wishing to continue their education past high school. Through these applications, college students are awarded various forms of financial aid—many of which don’t require repayment.
Washington regularly ranks among the worst states in the nation for FAFSA completion, yet cost is the most common barrier to enrollment and completion.
“Estimates suggest that Washington students miss out on more than $50 million in unclaimed federal aid by not completing the FAFSA, and much of this aid doesn’t need to be paid back,” WWCC Director of Student Financial SupportMaisee Peralez said.
Through this outreach, the State of Washington aims to bring awareness to how financial aid can make a college degree more affordable, and how the FAFSA and WASFA can help students achieve that goal.
According to Aim Higher Washington, led by the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), only about 60% of Washington’s high school graduates have enrolled in a college or university immediately after high school since 2014. In funding this pilot project, the State of Washington set a goal that 70% of adults will complete a degree or credential—a number that currently only stands at 62%.
“The very first step in making any decision is to be well-informed,” Nikolaeva said. “This collaborative project is a key opportunity for high school students and their families to access higher education and learn about financial resources to make it more affordable. They can then make the decision that is best for their unique needs.”