WA governor wants to require FAFSA for high school graduation

High school seniors in Washington would need to complete student aid paperwork to graduate, under a proposal Gov. Bob Ferguson announced Monday.

If students didn’t want to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, they could sign an agreement to opt out. Ferguson will press for lawmakers to approve the requirement during the next legislative session, which begins in January.

Around half of Washington families qualify for higher education financial aid, according to the state’s Student Achievement Council. But last year, Washington ranked 47th among states for the number of high school seniors who completed the FAFSA.

“Washington state is literally the most generous state in the entire country for providing financial assistance,” Ferguson said during a press conference. “Here’s the bad news: in order to access those funds, you’ve got to complete this form.”

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/07/14/wa-governor-wants-to-require-fafsa-for-high-school-graduation/