The school year has just started, which means that Washington seniors have a lot on their minds, including how to pay for college or trade school.
Gov. Bob Ferguson made a stop at Renton High School on Sept. 19 to talk to seniors about signing up for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA), along with signing a new executive order.
Ferguson hit the stage at the Renton IKEA Performing Arts Center with representatives from Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) to talk about the guidelines and timelines, and to clear up any misinformation about applying for financial aid for college, trade schools and qualifying “on-the-job training programs.”
“Washington is one of the most, if not the most generous in terms of financial assistance,” Ferguson said. “I want every eligible student to take advantage of this money for college, apprenticeships and other education or training. To access that money, all you have to do is fill out the form. You will never know how much financial aid you qualify for unless you do.”
WASFA is the state’s application, which serves as an alternative for students who may not be eligible for federal aid. It was mentioned many times during the event that undocumented families are eligible to apply for the WASFA grant.
Ferguson talked about the need for families to consider the forms when looking at sending their students to post-secondary schooling or training, even if they think that their income may be too high or that they may not qualify.
“We’ve done all the hard work of getting the financial aid available, but we need to do a better job making sure that students and their families know that this is available to them and to actually complete this form,” said Ferguson.
Sarah Weiss, WSAC’s Director of College Access Initiatives, talked to the crowd about tools that students and their families can use when they have questions, concerns or issues when it comes to applying for financial aid.
Weiss highlight the free “OtterBot” texting service, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provides information sources on financial aid, college planning and reminders for deadlines and other dates.
Students were also reminded that all Renton School District graduates automatically qualify for free two-year tuition at Renton Technical College.
During the event, Ferguson named Renton High’s student body president Naomi Dancer “Washingtonian of the Day,” an honor that took the senior “completely by surprise.”
“I didn’t even know that it was going to happen so when it did, I was completely shocked and just so grateful in that moment that I was named Washingtonian of the Day. I was just so amazed that I got to stand in front of my peers and receive that title,” said Dancer, who wants to attend Florida A&M University to study higher-level education and science.
Ferguson finished the event with the signing of Executive Order 25-08, titled “Establishing the ‘Washington Completes FAFSA’ Campaign.” The executive order says that Washington state is projected to generate 1.5 million job openings “across key sectors” and that “approximately 75% of those job openings will require education and credentials beyond high school.”
The executive order also says that nearly half of state households qualify for the Washington College Grant (WA Grant) and that, due to these and other reasons, the governor is establishing a campaign to to “increase the number of Washington students who complete and submit the FAFSA during their senior year of high school.”
This includes creating a “Washington Completes FAFSA” advisory board, inviting participation from the following groups:
• High school counselors
• Student leaders
• High school principals
• District superintendent representatives
• Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) representatives
• Representatives from public four-year college or universities, community or technical colleges and independent, not-for-profit colleges or universities
• Representatives from a community-based organizations that work with students and families on college counseling
• Representatives from the Washington philanthropic community
The advisory board will be appointed by Nov. 15 and convene for the initial meeting.
The order also calls for establishing a statewide financial aid goal, support for schools and school districts, “relentless focus on real-time outcomes and data,” coordinating with community partnerships and an annual reporting of progress by Oct. 31, 2026.
According to the U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of the 2026 Best Colleges in Washington state, the top five colleges are University of Washington, Gonzaga University, Seattle University, Washington State University and Seattle Pacific University, which range in in-state tuition from $13,406 (UW) to $58,965 (SU).
Applications for FAFSA and WASFA open Wednesday, Oct. 1, where families would use 2024 income information. Online accounts can be created now for both so that applications can be submitted on that first day.
For more information, visit studentaid.gov for FAFSA and wsac.wa.gov/wasfa for WASFA.
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Gov. Bob Ferguson gives student body president Naomi Dancer the pen he used to sign the executive order. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing
On Sept. 19, Gov. Bob Ferguson made a stop at Renton High School to discuss financial aid for college. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing
On Sept. 19, Gov. Bob Ferguson made a stop at Renton High School to discuss financial aid for college. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing On Sept. 19, Gov. Bob Ferguson made a stop at Renton High School to discuss financial aid for college. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing
