On February 26th, 2014, Governor Inslee signed the Dream Act, known in Washington State as the Real Hope Act into law. This law allows undocumented non-citizens, who are unable to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) due to his/her immigration status, to apply for State Financial Aid through the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA).
Financial Aid Deadlines:
Desired Start Quarter: Summer 2025 (2025-26 WASFA)
Apply to PC Before: May 2025
Complete Financial Aid File Before: May 1, 2025
Desired Start Quarter: Fall 2025 (2025-26 WASFA)
Apply to PC Before: August 2025
Complete Financial Aid File Before: June 1, 2025
Desired Start Quarter: Winter 2026 (2025-26 WASFA)
Apply to PC Before: November 2025
Complete Financial Aid File Before: November 1, 2025
Desired Start Quarter: Spring 2026 (2025-26 WASFA)
Apply to PC Before: February 2026
Complete Financial Aid File Before: March 1, 2026
STEP 1:
Non-U.S. citizen students should apply online for State Aid at: www.wsac.wa.gov/wasfa.
(If you are a U.S. citizen, please complete the FAFSA - not the WASFA - at www.StudentAid.gov.)
The 2025-26 WASFA is available for the 2025-26 academic year which starts Summer 2025 (July 1, 2025) and extends through Spring 2026 (April - June 2026).
Eligibility requirements include:
- Must have graduated from a Washington high school or obtained a GED® (or will do so before beginning college)
- Must have lived in Washington for three years prior to, and continuously since, earning a high school diploma or equivalent
- Sign an affidavit (written promise) to file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States when eligible to apply*
- Must meet Washington College Grant program requirements
*Students granted deferred action for childhood arrival (DACA) must also complete and sign the affidavit.
STEP 2:
Once you have completed your WASFA application and have applied for admission to Peninsula College, log into the ctcLink Financial Aid Tile through your Student Portal to check your file status and, once awarded, view your grant aid.
Within the ctcLink Financial Aid Tile you will be able to access your student financial aid info such as estimated cost of attendance and any awards for the academic year. Please respond promptly to any requests for information by the Financial Aid Office in order to avoid delays in processing your financial aid application.
Once we have received your WASFA, we will contact you via email if we require further documentation. This could include, but is not limited to, proof of high school/GED completion, affidavit form, etc. Any additional information will be listed on your Financial Aid Portal. Please be sure to check your Portal regularly for ALL updates (you will not have access to the Portal until we have received your WASFA).
The Financial Aid staff is dedicated to processing files in a timely manner. If you complete your financial aid file by the deadline, you will be notified before the quarter starts. Files are processed in order by file completion date.
If you have any questions about your WASFA application, please contact Financial Aid at (360) 417-6390 or the Washington Student Achievement Council at (360) 753-7800.