Washington Governor Bob Ferguson announced on July 14, 2026, that he wants to require high school seniors to complete the FAFSA or its state equivalent before graduating. Students who choose not to file can sign an opt-out agreement and still receive their diploma. The proposal hasn't passed yet — it needs the state legislature to act. But it shines a light on how many students skip the FAFSA and forfeit grant money they never knew they had.

On July 14, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson announced a new legislative proposal: make completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid — or Washington's own equivalent, the WASFA — a requirement for high school graduation. Students who don't want to file could sign an opt-out agreement rather than lose their diploma.1

This isn't law yet. Governor Ferguson said it will be a Governor-request bill in Washington's next legislative session. But it reflects something bigger: a growing recognition that FAFSA non-completion isn't a bureaucratic inconvenience — it's a financial loss measured in real grant dollars that students walk away from without knowing it.

Washington's FAFSA Completion Problem

Washington has ranked near the bottom of national FAFSA completion rates among high school seniors for years. When Governor Ferguson launched his "Washington Completes FAFSA" initiative, the state was ranked 47th in the country.1

After months of outreach, Washington climbed to 40th — a jump of seven places that translated to roughly 4,700 more seniors completing the FAFSA this year compared to last year.1 That's real progress. It's also still 40th.

The cost of not filing isn't abstract. Washington's state financial aid program — the Washington College Grant — can pay for community college, university, and approved career training programs, full-time or part-time. You cannot access it without a FAFSA on file. Students who skip the application are also skipping the chance to find out whether they qualify for this money.

What the Proposal Actually Requires

Under Governor Ferguson's proposal, graduating seniors would need to do one of two things:

  1. Complete the FAFSA or WASFA before receiving their diploma.
  2. Sign a written opt-out agreement, confirming they chose not to apply for federal and state financial aid.

The opt-out matters. This is not a mandate to attend college, take on debt, or accept any financial aid offer. It's a mandate to make a deliberate choice rather than a passive one. A student who decides college isn't for them, or whose family doesn't want federal aid involved, can still graduate — they just have to say so in writing.

According to Governor Ferguson's office, a small number of Washington school districts have already begun requiring FAFSA completion on their own initiative, without waiting for state law. Those districts are achieving significantly higher completion rates than the rest of the state.1

What This Means for Washington Families Right Now

If your child is currently a high school student in Washington, this proposal doesn't change anything today. No bill has passed, and the legislature hasn't voted. But a few things are worth knowing now:

Your district may already have this requirement. Some Washington districts have moved ahead independently. Ask your school counselor whether your district has implemented a FAFSA completion requirement or is planning to.

The Washington College Grant is real money. This state grant is need-based and covers significant costs — not just tuition, but fees, at community colleges, four-year universities, and career programs. Missing the FAFSA means missing your shot at it.

Filing early matters. The Washington College Grant has a priority filing window, and waiting reduces what you might receive. Our FAFSA deadline guide for 2026-27 has state-specific deadline information.

If you're not sure whether FAFSA is worth the effort for your family, file anyway and see what the aid offer looks like. Completing the form doesn't commit you to anything. What you get back is information — and sometimes that information is a grant check you weren't expecting.

What Families Everywhere Should Take From This

The Washington proposal is state-specific, but the problem it's responding to is nationwide. Millions of high school seniors skip the FAFSA every year — and a significant percentage of them would have qualified for federal or state grants that cost them nothing to receive.

Our FAFSA completion rates by state page shows where your state ranks. If it's below average, you're in a place where many students are leaving aid uncollected.

For those who need help getting started, our step-by-step FAFSA guide for parents and our walkthrough on how to fill out the FAFSA cover the full process. If your family's tax or income situation is unusual — job loss, divorce, or a recent change in circumstances — our FAFSA special circumstances appeal guide explains how to flag that to your financial aid office.

For more on what's different about the current cycle, see our breakdown of what actually changed in the 2026-27 FAFSA. And for comparison, Washington isn't the first state to push for higher completion numbers — check our coverage of Texas's record FAFSA completions in 2026 to see what aggressive outreach can accomplish.

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Footnotes

  1. Office of the Governor of Washington State. (2026, July 14). Governor Ferguson announces new legislative proposal: Requiring FAFSA or WASFA or opt-out to graduate high school. Governor Bob Ferguson. https://governor.wa.gov/news/2026/governor-ferguson-announces-new-legislative-proposal-requiring-fafsa-or-wasfa-or-opt-out-graduate ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  2. Washington State Standard. (2026, July 14). WA governor wants to require FAFSA for high school graduation. Washington State Standard. https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/07/14/wa-governor-wants-to-require-fafsa-for-high-school-graduation/ ↩

  3. Higher Ed Dive. (2026, July 14). Washington governor eyes FAFSA requirement for high school students. Higher Ed Dive. https://www.highereddive.com/news/washington-governor-eyes-fafsa-requirement-for-high-school-students/825362/ ↩