Financial Aid

Summer 2024, Fall 2024, Winter 2025, and Spring 2025

Coming Soon!

• Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal
• Maximum Time Limit Appeal
• Release of Information
• Special Circumstances – Income Revision (Change in Financial Situation)
• Professional judgment – Dependency Override (Independent Appeal)

Why is FAFSA Changing?

The biggest changes in 40 years will be happening in Financial Aid starting the 2024-2025 academic year. Are you ready? This webpage will be updated as the Financial Aid Office prepares for these changes, so you can stay informed about your Financial Aid resources, and the changes ahead.

The FAFSA Simplification Act represents a significant overhaul of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid starting with the 2024–25 award year. Some changes have already gone into effect in prior academic years, but the largest changes are occurring in 2024-25. This includes changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form, need analysis, and many policies and procedures for schools that participate in federal student aid programs. These changes will alter how it looks for students to apply for aid through the FAFSA® form and the methodology for determining what aid students may be eligible for.

What Does This Mean for You?

Your 2024-2025 FAFSA® process will be different, but the Financial Aid Office is here for you! This webpage will keep you updated with the most recent information.

What is Changing

• 2024-2025 FAFSA Release Date
  • Usually, October 1st the new FAFSA is launched, for 2024-2025 expect the FAFSA® to open by the end of December 2023.
• Say goodbye to “EFC” (expected family contribution) and hello to “SAI” (student aid index)
  • This number measures the student and/or family’s ability to pay for college. The new need analysis formula allows for a potential SAI as low as -1500 and implements a separate eligibility criterion for determining Federal Pell Grants.
• Expanded Access to Federal Pell Grant
  • Expanded eligibility based on family size (not including number in college) and federal poverty level will allow for more students to receive Federal Pell Grants
  • Incarcerated students in federal and state penal facilities may be able to receive Federal Pell Grants
  • Federal Pell Grant lifetime eligibility will be restored to students whose school closed when they were enrolled or if the school is found to have misled the student
• Streamlined FAFSA® Form
  • Fewer questions will be asked, and federal tax data will automatically be transferred from the IRS starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA®
• New Terminology
  • With the 2024-2025 FAFSA® you will see and hear words such as contributor (anyone who is asked to provide information on the FAFSA® like a parent or spouse) and consent (each required contributor will be required to consent to their information being included on the FAFSA®).

How to Prepare

• Ensure to mark your calendars for December 2023, watch for the 2024-2025 FAFSA® release. Once an official date is known, we will update you here.
• See how the FAFSA Simplification changes impact what you may qualify for. Use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to see what you may now be eligible for.
• Check back here for the most recent updates!

How is the WASFA Being Impacted?

• The Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) for 2024-2025, will be delayed and be available in December 2023.
• This page will be updated with WASFA changes and how state aid is impacted.
• Follow Washington Student Achievement Council’s WASFA website as well for additional resources

Resources

• What is the FAFSA Simplification Act by Federal Student Aid
• Better FAFSA Better Future Roadmap
• Key Terms, Definitions, and Systems Related to FAFSA Simplification
• Better FAFSA Better Future Timeline (PDF)
• Better FAFSA Better Future YouTube Video

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), previously known as CARES Act/Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act, provides funding to institutions to provide emergency financial aid grants to students whose lives have been disrupted with campus classes/operations going online and who are facing financial challenges due to the COVID-19 health crisis. HEERF funds may help pay for any part of your college cost to attend and emergency costs due to the Coronavirus such as textbooks, course materials, food, housing/rent, technology (such as laptop, printer, webcam, WI-FI, software, etc.), healthcare, childcare, etc. Cascadia College has exhausted all Higher Education Emergency Relief funding, and is no longer accepting HEERF application. Because we are still processing funding, Cascadia is required to post the following information:

Application Process

1. 1. Complete the Online Application
   2. Set up a BankMobile account. Cascadia has partnered with BankMobile Disbursements to process aid refunds. Students who are awarded are required to create a profile online and select a refund preference with BankMobile to receive awards.
   3. After application closes, funds will begin to be added to your award and you can view this on the ctcLink Self Service Portal. In ctcLink, the HEERF awarding appears as CARES I, CARES II, or CARES III.

Eligibility

All Cascadia students currently enrolled who meet the following criteria, may be eligible:

• • Must be enrolled in classes in the quarter for which you are requesting HEERF 
  • Must have expenses or needs related to the COVID-19 health crisis

Funding is limited and the college cannot guarantee that every student who is eligible will receive funding. Cascadia College prioritizes students with exceptional financial need, when processing application request.

About HEERF

• • The Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security Act (CARES) was signed into law March 2020, allotting money to provide economic aid to the American people negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. From the CARES Act, funding was given to the Office of Postsecondary Education as the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, or HEERF
  • The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) was signed into law December 2020, authorizing money in support for education, in addition to the money provided by the CARES Act. To ensure learning continues for students during the COVID-19 pandemic, CRRSAA made available to higher education institutions fundings as the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II, or HEERF II.
  • The American Rescue Plan (ARP) was signed into law March 2021
  • The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III, or HEERF III, was authorized by the American Rescue Plan to provide funding in support to institutions of higher education to serve and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic

FAQs

1. How will I receive HEERF funding if approved?

The HEERF funding will be dispersed via BankMobile. Our school delivers your refund with BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution powered by BMTX, Inc. View our contract online.

2. If I did not complete a FAFSA or WAFSA, could I still qualify?

Yes. The HEERF funding does NOT require you to complete the FAFSA or WAFSA.

3. In the past I did not qualify for Financial Aid because of too much income, would that mean I won’t qualify for HEERF funding too?

No. This funding for COVID related emergencies is not based on income. We understand that students have incurred additional expenses related to COVID-19 regardless of income. If you meet the eligibility requirements above and submit the application before it closes, your application will be considered for funds.

4. Does this impact my Financial Aid?

No. The COVID-19 related emergency funds do not impact your financial aid or the maximum amount of award a student can receive.

If you have any questions about HEERF that was not addressed, please email finaid@cascadia.edu or visit Student Services Virtual Assistance to Drop-in Zoom with Financial Aid.