College Planning Network

10/02/2025

The 2026-27 FAFSA and WASFA forms are available.

Apply now! Financial aid applications are now available Washington Student Achievement Council sent this bulletin at 10/01/2025 11:22 AM PDT Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.| Student & Family Messaging Please consider sharing this information with students and families in yo...

04/19/2025

The question keeps being asked, is college worth the cost? The answer is still yes and it’s worth even more today.

New Fed data shows investing in a college education can produce a median 12.5% return.

12/17/2024

This is a good article on apprenticeships.

More people are lining up for apprenticeships than there are employers to provide them

12/14/2024

Families and students who qualify for SNAP while in high school or middle school will be eligible for free tuition and fees at public colleges and universities in Washington State as of January 2026.

The state of Washington will soon provide guaranteed college tuition for low-income students.

10/24/2024

The 2025-26 FAFSA is due out on December 1, 2024 and CPN has scheduled the following workshops to help families prepare. All are free and open to the public and presented live but with optional Zoom participation.

Federal Way Library, Saturday, November 23rd - 2 to 4pm
The Money Maze - Finding money for college, followed by
The Scholarship Market - How to find and apply for private scholarships

Bothell Public Library, Tuesday, December 3rd - 6:30-7:30pm
The Money Maze - Finding money for college
This session includes a free digital version of the 36 page Money Maze book.

Edmonds College, Thursday, December 5th - 6-8:30pm
The Money Maze - Finding money for college (expanded 2 hour workshop)
This session includes a free digital version of the 36 page Money Maze book and refreshments.

If you wish to attend, please RSVP for the date you wish and we will send you full details.

10/24/2024

Middle income families and students are being recruited with scholarship dollars at some private colleges.

Many middle-income families are frustrated by the cost of higher education, feeling they earn too much for financial aid, but not enough to pay for it themselves.

03/26/2024

Here are the top 12 colleges and universities in WA for average annual earnings after 10 years. The preceding number is the number of graduates surveyed.

DIGIPEN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY WA
Bachelor's For-profit 264 $99,210
GONZAGA UNIVERSITY WA
Bachelor's Private non-profit 1,243 $76,325
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON - SEATTLE WA
Bachelor's Public 8,435 $74,063
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY WA
Bachelor's Private non-profit 1,363 $73,484
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY WA
Bachelor's Public 6,954 $65,331
UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND WA
Bachelor's Private non-profit 630 $64,570
WHITMAN COLLEGE WA
Bachelor's Private non-profit 273 $64,442
CITY UNIVERSITY OF SEATTLE WA
Bachelor's Private non-profit 359 $64,434
DIVERS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY WA
Certificate For-profit 293 $61,337
SEATTLE PACIFIC UNIVERSITY WA
Bachelor's Private non-profit 1,010 $61,006
PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY WA
Bachelor's Private non-profit 1,188 $60,932
SAINT MARTIN'S UNIVERSITY WA
Bachelor's Private non-profit 499 $60,191

03/26/2024

Is College worth it? This story from the Seattle Times has some useful information.

A new analysis found that former students at most colleges had an annual income higher than high school graduates a decade after enrollment.

03/08/2024

News stories of students and parents questioning the value of higher education have been on the rise since the pandemic. This chart shows the financial benefits of a four year college degree from 1990-2023. Of course the benefits of a college education are much more than just financial but the numbers speak for themselves.

01/19/2024

Here is a useful summary of changes to federal financial aid programs for 2024-25.

From a redesigned FAFSA to halved monthly payments, Biden's debt cancellation Plan B and more, here’s what to expect with student financial aid and loans in 2024.

01/09/2024

https://www.npr.org/2024/01/09/1222664638/fafsa-student-financial-aid-college

The Education Department has made a big mistake with this year's FAFSA — one that could cost students financial aid they're entitled to. It's now grappling with how to implement a fix.