Planning Ahead

How Do I Apply For Financial Aid?

The University of Washington will use your financial aid application to determine your eligibility for federal and/or state aid, as well as university funding. 

To apply for financial aid each academic year, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using the University of Washington's federal code 003798. The University of Washington has one federal school code for all three campuses (UW Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma). Filing this application allows you to be considered for Federal and State aid programs (as well as university funding).

The Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) is for those who choose not to file a federal FAFSA application. This application is for state aid programs (as well as university funding) only.  Not sure if you should fill out the WASFA? If you are unsure if you should complete a FAFSA or a WASFA, complete the WASFA Questionnaire for more information.

The 2026-2027 FAFSA/WASFA will be available approximately in October 2025. The FAFSA/WASFA priority filing date is February 28, 2026  for the 2026-27 academic year. 

*Please note that you want to fill out the correct application year for your plans of enrollment. The University of Washington academic year begins in summer quarter. For example, the 2026-2027 academic year includes summer 2026, autumn 2026, winter 2027, and spring 2027 quarters. If you are planning to attend UW Tacoma in autumn 2027, then you would wait to fill out the 2027-2028 financial aid application.

What Happens After I Submit My Financial Aid Application?

Email Notice that we have received your application

After you have completed your financial aid application with our school code, your information will be sent to our school. During this time, if you have not done so already, you should apply to the University of Washington Tacoma for Admissions. Once we receive your FAFSA or WASFA application, your information will be matched to your student profile and you will receive an email that notifies you we have received your aid application. 

Turn in documents requested by our office

After we receive your financial aid application and start the review process, you may be asked for additional information and documentation. You will receive an email notice for the request of these documents. If you are unsure if documents have been requested of you, look at the "Document Status" section in the left hand menu of your Financial Aid Status page. If the section does not appear, then no documents were requested. If the check marks are green, then the document request had been satisfied. We may also request information in the form of an email, and it will not appear in the documents section - please be sure to always check your student email. 

After documents are reviewed, the application may be corrected by our office based upon the information received.

Can you tell me about receiving an aid offer?

Notice of aid offer

If your financial aid application is valid (documents may still be requested), has matched to a student profile, and you are admitted to UW Tacoma, a Notice of Preliminary Financial Aid Offer email or Notice of Financial Aid Offer email may be sent.

Review your aid offer

After receiving the email,  you can vie your financial aid offer in your MyUW student portal, on your Financial Aid Status page.  A great way to view on one page what you have been offered, is to click the "Print Notice of Aid Offer" option in the left hand menu of the Financial Aid Status page. It will tell you what types of aid you are receiving quarterly and annually.

Accept and/or reject your aid offer

Once you have reviewed your aid offer and are ready to accept or reject elements of the award - you will do so under "Aid Offer Accept/Reject" in the left hand menu of your Financial Aid Status page. For video instructions, you may visit: Using Your MyUW Portal to Accept Financial Aid