WASFAA

Name

WASFAA

Legal name

Western Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Website

https://wasfaa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Eugene

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Individual membership at $62/year for single participants; Institutional membership at $405/year for institutions with 7+ staff members. Membership year runs July 1 to June 30.
2. Event Registration Fees: Fees for annual conference, Summer Institute, Leadership Development Program, and Management & Leadership Institute. Pricing varies by event and membership status.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate partners support WASFAA through various sponsorship tiers for conferences, training events, and marketing visibility. Includes Standard ($1,200), Silver (sold out), and Gold levels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

WASFAA is a nonprofit professional membership association that sells individual and institutional memberships ($62 and $405 annually) along with paid registration to its flagship training programs—the Sister Dale Brown Summer Institute, Rebekah Hoppel Salcedo Leadership Development Program, Jerry R. Sims Management & Leadership Institute, Annual Conference, Virtual Fall Training Series, and FAAC/CFAA certification prep workshops—to financial aid administrators across eight western states and Pacific Islands. The association also generates revenue through corporate partnership sponsorship tiers and provides federal advocacy on student financial aid policy.

Product overview

WASFAA (Western Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators) is a professional membership association offering a portfolio of training, leadership development, and advocacy programs for financial aid professionals. The core offerings include the Sister Dale Brown Summer Institute (a flagship week-long in-person training with multiple tracks), the Rebekah Hoppel Salcedo Leadership Development Program (year-long mentorship cohort), and the Jerry R. Sims Management & Leadership Institute (three-day management training). Supporting programs include the Annual Conference, Virtual Fall Training Series, FAAC/CFAA certification prep workshops, monthly newsletters, and the IDEEA Committee advocacy initiatives. Membership types include individual ($62/year) and institutional ($405/year) options covering professionals across Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Pacific Islands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rebekah Hoppel Salcedo Leadership Development Program (RHS LDP): A year-long leadership program offering mentorship and professional development for future leaders in financial aid.
• Sister Dale Brown Summer Institute (SDBSI)
• Jerry R. Sims Management & Leadership Institute (JRS MLI)
• IDEEA Committee

Products and services

• Sister Dale Brown Summer Institute (SDBSI) A week-long, in-person immersive training program for financial aid professionals held annually in June at rotating host campuses, offering beginner, intermediate, and LEAD tracks with NASFAA U credential opportunities.
• Rebekah Hoppel Salcedo Leadership Development Program (RHS LDP) A cohort-based year-long mentorship and leadership development program for aspiring financial aid leaders, partnering with the Summer Institute for hands-on training experience.
• Jerry R. Sims Management & Leadership Institute (JRS MLI) A three-day annual training event for new and aspiring managers focused on operational calendars, compliance requirements, project management, and leadership skills.
• Annual Conference The premier annual training and networking event for financial aid professionals across the Western region, featuring policy updates, workshops, and professional development sessions. Held rotatingly throughout the WASFAA region.
• Virtual Fall Training Series A virtual webinar series running August through December featuring federal updates, verification training, and operational best practices, offered at member and non-member pricing.
• FAAC/CFAA Certification Prep Workshop In-person workshops preparing financial aid professionals for NASFAA's Certified Financial Aid Administrator (CFAA) Program knowledge exam, with complimentary exam access included.
• IDEEA Committee Initiatives Inclusion, Diversity, Ethnicity, Equity, and Action committee focused on advocacy, training, and resources supporting underrepresented professionals and students across the region.
• Federal Relations & Advocacy Legislative advocacy efforts including formal letters, regulatory responses, and position statements on student access and financial aid policy at regional and national levels.
• Individual Membership Annual individual membership priced at $62 per year, designed for single participants and institutions with 1-6 participating staff members, providing access to training, conference, and professional development resources.
• Institutional Membership Annual institutional membership priced at $405 per year, designed for institutions with 7 or more staff participating, with one primary contact managing renewals and roster with no cap on staff members.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ professionals gather annually at the conference

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ascent (Ascent Funding)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivate student loan provider offering award-winning loans with or without cosigner and educational resources for schools and students.
• CitizensminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivate student loans and refinancing solutions designed to bridge gap between federal aid and college costs.
• College AveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivate undergraduate, graduate, parent, and career loans with competitive rates and streamlined borrowing tools.
• EarnestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivate student loans with zero fees, flexible terms, and competitive rates.
• EdlyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIncome-based repayment student loan options aligned with graduates' financial realities.
• Funding UminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFixed-rate undergraduate loans with no cosigner required, fast pre-approval, and personal loan officer support.
• MPOWERminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNo-cosigner, no-credit-history private loans to international students at eligible U.S. and Canadian institutions.
• MonogramminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPersonalized private student loan solutions including AAA Advantage Loan, Abe, Custom Choice Loan, and Union Federal Private Student Loan.
• Nelnet BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivate student loans and refinancing options with competitive rates and focus on borrower support.
• PNC BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-school and refinance private student loans including specialty options for health and bar study programs.
• Sallie MaeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading provider of private education loans for undergraduate, graduate, and parent borrowers.
• SoFiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivate student loans, refinancing, and financial services with no origination or late fees.
• College BoardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMission-driven nonprofit empowering students in college planning through SAT, AP/BigFuture, and financial aid resources.
• College RaptorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFree planning platform offering personalized college matches, net price estimates, and scholarship opportunities.
• Granite EdvanceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNew Hampshire-based education nonprofit serving students and families with free college and career planning support.
• Hank PaymentsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFintech platform for goal-based cash management, savings, and debt-reduction with student fund disbursement tools.
• KHEAAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority administering student financial aid programs and scholarships.
• MEFAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMassachusetts Educational Financing Authority offering tax-advantaged savings plans and fixed-rate loans.
• NASFAAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators - supports aid professionals and advances policies for fairness and equitable student access. WASFAA is one of six regional associations affiliated with NASFAA.
• PHEAAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency operating student loan guarantees and servicing.
• SparrowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFree borrower-first private student loan search platform with personalized real-time rate comparisons.
• Trellis CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit supporting students and institutions in financial aid administration and student success services.
• AscendiumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit student loan guarantor providing student success and financial wellness solutions.
• ECMC SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit service provider helping students succeed with college preparation, repayment counseling, and analytics.
• EdFinancial ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStudent loan servicer managing billing, repayment plans, and payment processing.
• Financial Aid Services (FAS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHigher education consulting providing interim staffing, outsourced processing, and operational assessments.
• InceptiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDivision of NSLP offering verification, FAFSA completion, default prevention, and financial education tools.
• MOHELAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMissouri Higher Education Loan Authority - one of largest student loan servicers in the U.S.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• NASFAA (National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators): National umbrella professional association for student financial aid administrators. WASFAA is one of six NASFAA regional affiliates, sharing the same mission, governance model, training curricula, and member base — the most directly comparable peer.
• EASFAA (Eastern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators): Sister regional association covering the eastern US, also affiliated with NASFAA. Operates the same all-volunteer membership-based model, regional training events, and advocacy mission as WASFAA, differing only in geographic footprint.
• MASFAA (Mid-Atlantic Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators): Mid-Atlantic regional NASFAA affiliate operating the same volunteer professional association model — dues-funded training, conferences, and federal advocacy for financial aid administrators in its region.
• RMASFAA (Rocky Mountain Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators): Rocky Mountain regional NASFAA affiliate serving a similar professional membership audience with comparable dues-funded training, conferences, and leadership development programs.
• SASFAA (Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators): Southern regional NASFAA affiliate providing the same volunteer-led professional development, training, and advocacy services for financial aid administrators as WASFAA but in the southern US states.
• SWASFAA (Southwestern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators): Southwestern regional NASFAA affiliate with an identical operating model to WASFAA: dues-funded, volunteer-led training programs, annual conferences, and federal advocacy for member institutions.
• CASFAA (California Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators): State chapter serving financial aid administrators in California, one of WASFAA's eight member-state associations. Operates as a direct sub-component of WASFAA's distribution network with similar dues, training, and event model.
• OASFAA (Oregon Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators): Oregon state chapter under WASFAA, providing local programming and member services to Oregon-based financial aid administrators in a comparable non-profit association structure.
• AASFAA (Arizona Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators): Arizona state chapter of WASFAA, operating the same volunteer professional association model at the state level with training events, networking, and advocacy for Arizona financial aid professionals.

Emerging players

• Higher Education Associates (HEA): A commercial higher education consulting and training firm that competes for the same financial aid administrator training budgets with fee-based workshops, certification prep, and compliance training — adjacent to but not operating on a membership model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WASFAA.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wasfaa
• Xx.com/WASFAA_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WASFAA