Washington high school seniors, including those in Olympia and Tumwater, would need to apply for financial aid or formally decline before receiving their diplomas under a proposal Governor Bob Ferguson announced July 13.
The governor-request bill would make completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or its state equivalent, the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA), a statewide graduation requirement.
Families who don't want to file could sign an opt-out form instead. Ferguson plans to introduce the legislation when the session convenes in January 2027.
Neither the Olympia School District nor the Tumwater School District has issued a public statement on the proposal. District-level FAFSA completion rates for local schools were not included in the governor's announcement or available state data.
What it means for families
Under the Washington College Grant for 2026-27, a family of four earning $83,500 or less could have college or career training fully covered. A family of four earning up to $139,500 could qualify for some aid.
A family of three earning up to $70,000 would have full tuition and fees covered at any Washington public university. Completing the FAFSA or WASFA is the only way to access these funds.
Only 51% of Washington seniors in the Class of 2026 completed the FAFSA, ranking the state 40th nationally, according to the governor's office. In 2024, Washington students left more than $80 million in federal student aid unclaimed.
"Let's be honest. 40th is not gonna get the job done," Ferguson said at a press conference at Highline College in Des Moines. "More and more states are requiring young people to complete the FAFSA in order to graduate."
Support and pushback
Sen. Lisa Wellman, D-Mercer Island, who chairs the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee, backs the proposal. She said the FAFSA requirement could fold into the existing High School and Beyond Plan, which is already a graduation requirement.
Not everyone is on board. Tricia Lubach, executive director of the Washington State School Directors' Association, said she has already heard concerns from school board members about cost and the risk of withholding diplomas.
"Every time something new is imposed upon a school district, it costs money," Lubach told the Washington State Standard. "The public education system in Washington is under pretty significant financial strain."
State Superintendent Chris Reykdal supports increasing completion rates but is proposing a different approach: a year-long Postsecondary Launch Course for all graduating seniors combining civics and financial literacy, including FAFSA instruction.
What families should know
The WASFA option means undocumented students can satisfy the requirement without filing federal paperwork. Washington does not share WASFA information with the federal government, according to the governor's office.
Three Washington districts that already require FAFSA completion post higher rates than the state average: Federal Way (67%), College Place (74%), and North Beach (68%).
Before Ferguson launched the Washington Completes FAFSA campaign in September 2025, the state ranked 47th nationally. Approximately 4,700 more seniors in the Class of 2026 filed compared to the Class of 2025.
The State Board of Education expects to finalize draft graduation requirements in August 2026. Families can track the bill's progress when the legislature convenes in January 2027.
