Actually he’s doing a gap year and will be 20 at the start of college, but if he went to WWU (or any other OOS) would come in as OOS … in our case, I’m just getting familiar with the options down the road in case he ends up on that iconic 6-year plan! We’re assuming that any OOS option would have to be affordable as OOS.
mom2ck, many states do not require you to be 24 to be an independent resident. For FA purposes, yes, but for instate residency purposes, if the adult student doesn’t take money from the parents, it is very easy to establish residency in a state with one year of living there. Sounds like the OP has been independently supporting herself for years.
The problem may be if she moves and immediately starts school, it may not look like she’s moved to Washington to become a resident but only moved for school purposes. Take the gap year, establish a home, work full time.