Financial Aid - Home

Important Notice:
The Financial Aid Office will be closed on Wednesdays for file processing.

Important Dates

The priority deadlines to receive the maximum consideration for funding are:

  • Feb. 3 for spring quarter
  • March 15 for summer quarter *
  • May 1 for fall quarter
  • Oct. 1 for winter quarter 2013
  • Feb. 3 for spring quarter 2013

Note: All REQUIRED paperwork, including the completed FAFSA application, loan application (if applicable), etc., needs to be in your financial aid file by these deadlines for priority funding.

*Summer quarter 2012 is the start of the 2012-2013 school year. The FAFSA and Direct Stafford Loan Application (if applicable) need to be completed on an annual basis.
**Meeting the priority funding deadline does not guarantee you will be eligible for aid, or that the aid you qualify for will be of the type or amount desired.

Eligibility Requirements

To receive financial aid at Pierce College, you must:

  • Have a high school diploma or GED.
  • Enroll in an eligible degree or certificate program.
  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
  • Have a valid Social Security Number.
  • Make satisfactory academic progress in your classes.

If you are applying for financial aid for the first time, you must complete a Pierce College Financial Aid Orientation Session before your application can be reviewed. Someone from Financial Aid will contact you if you are required to complete an orientation session.

Estimating Your Eligibility

Note: Only students confirmed to meet all basic eligibility requirements who are enrolled in eligible certificates or degree programs will be awarded aid.

Federal Pell Grants:

  • Please review your Electronic Federal Student Aid Report (ESAR) for fastest access to your anticipated Pell Grant eligibility. The ESAR is provided after your FAFSA is filed each year.
  • Divide the annual Pell Grant total from your ESAR by three to calculate your estimated award based on full-time enrollment (12+ credits) in one quarter at Pierce College.
  • Your Pell award will be reduced to 75 percent value if you are enrolled as a three-quarter- time student (9-11 credits) or 50 percent if you are half-time (6-8 credits).

Federal Stafford Loans:

  • Refer to our Grants and Loans page for information to help determine your student loan eligibility.
  • Loan application materials are available online through our financial aid homepage.
  • If you borrowed at Pierce College during the 2011-12 award year, you will not be required to complete new "MPN" or "Entrance Counseling" for the 2012-13 loan process.
  • If you are borrowing your first loan at first-year grade level, you are not eligible to receive loan funds until at least 30 days after the start of your first term at the college.

State of Washington Grants:

  • You must meet the college's May 1 application requirements to be considered for State Need Grant funding for the 2012-13 award year.
  • Due to funding allocation considerations, your are advised to consider your Federal Pell Grant and Stafford Loan to be the core of your award offers for 2012-13.
  • Due to funding allocation considerations, we may have sufficient funding to renew 2011-12 state grants for 2012-13
  • You will be notified of your State Need Grant or other state-funded grant eligibility at the same time you are notified by the college of your confirmed Federal Pell Grant.
School Code 005000

Student Account Inquiries

financialaid@pierce.ctc.edu
Documentation Requirements
Program Eligibility
Award Processing Status

Recorded Voice Information

(253) 964-6544
Priority Funding Dates
Pierce College School Code
Online Self Service Instructions

Office Hours

Ft. Steilacoom & Puyallup Campuses

M: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
T: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
W: Closed
Th: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
F: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Stafford Loans

directloans@pierce.ctc.edu

District Director, Financial Aid

Martin Daniels
(253) 964-6619