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This page is no longer being updated. Please see the main financial aid page for current information.

  • Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov (Pierce College's school code is 005000).
  • To check the status of your financial aid application please see Student Online Services.
  • Now you can complete your financial aid orientation on the Web! (opens in a new window) This orientation, or its equivalent in our office, is required for all financial aid recipients before funds can be released.
  • Required entrance and exit counseling can be completed online for all Stafford loan borrowers.

Contact information

Financial assistance may be available to you from various sources in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and employment. Aid is awarded according to federal, state and institutional guidelines. No student will be denied aid on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or age.

All prospective students are encouraged to apply for aid. Financial aid staff will discuss opportunities with you and help you with the application process. Eligibility is determined through a careful assessment of your financial situation, taking into account your and/or your family's income, assets, debts, number of dependents, and the estimated cost of attending Pierce College.

In addition to meeting financial need criteria set by federal, state and institutional regulations and guidelines, a financial aid recipient must:

  • apply for admission to the college.
  • be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
  • be enrolled in or accepted for enrollment in an eligible Pierce College degree or certificate program.
  • be making satisfactory academic progress.
  • not owe repayment or be in default on any federal loan or grant.
  • be registered with Selective Service (for males at least 18 years old, born after Dec. 31, 1959, and not active duty military).
  • have earned a high school diploma or GED.

Satisfactory academic progress for financial aid eligibility is explained in the materials sent to students with their financial aid notification.

Financial aid is normally awarded based on full-time enrollment (12 credits or more). If you plan to enroll in fewer than 12 credits for any quarter, you must give the financial aid office advance notification to allow for your award to be revised.

Applying for Aid

Apply for financial aid as early as possible. The priority application date is April 15 of each year for the following academic year. This means that you must submit all of your required documents to the financial aid office by this date to ensure that you will be awarded the maximum amount of aid you are eligible to receive. Awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis for students whose files are complete.

If your file is not complete by the priority application date, your award may not be ready by the first day of the quarter for which you are applying. In that case, you may pay your own tuition and may become eligible for reimbursement at a later time.

To apply, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov, or complete the paper version and mail it to the processor. The federal school code for all Pierce College sites is 005000. An Admission Application is also required to complete this process.

Credit load requirements

Financial aid is based on the number of credits you take each quarter, according to the following schedule:

  • Full-time: 12 or more credits per quarter, including summer
  • 3/4 time: nine to 11 credits per quarter, including summer
  • 1/2 time: six to eight credits per quarter, including summer

You must take at least six credits each quarter to be eligible to receive most types of financial aid.

Types of Financial Aid

Grants and scholarships

These funds do not have to be repaid unless you withdraw from school during an academic term.

  • Federal Pell Grant: A federal grant providing a "floor" of financial aid to which other aid is added as needed.
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG): An additional source of federal grant aid for eligible students.
  • Washington State Need Grant (WSNG): Partial grant support for eligible Washington state residents.
  • Washington State Tuition Waiver (TW): Tuition grants for a limited number of state residents.
  • Scholarships: Some scholarships from outside donors are available through the Financial Aid Office or your academic department.

Employment

  • Federal College Work-Study Program: Work on or off campus with a non-profit agency. You may work for a maximum of 19.5 hours weekly (40 hours during quarter breaks).
  • State Work-Study Program (SWSP): You should work in your field of academic interest. Work may be in private industry or business, with preference to Washington state residents. You may work for a maximum of 19 hours weekly (40 hours during quarter breaks).

Loans

  • Federal Stafford Loan/PLUS: Applications are obtained at the college; a loan is granted by your bank, savings and loan or credit union. You must first apply for financial aid using the FAFSA.
  • Federal Perkins Loan: Limited to students with highest educational costs and exceptional need.

Special Funding

Through the worker retaining/WorkFirst programs, financial assistance may be available if you are:

  • receiving unemployment benefits, have received unemployment benefits in the past 24 months, or have exhausted your unemployment benefits.
  • a working parent with a small household income or receiving DSHS/WorkFirst cash assistance.
  • a homemaker who now needs to financially support yourself and your family.

Contact the workforce development director at (253) 964-6265 for information on special funding opportunities.

Agency Funded Students

If you expect to be funded by an outside agency such as Boeing, Labor & Industries, or Qwest, for example, you will need to ensure that vouchers for tuition and fees have been received by the cashier's office at the college you plan to attend before you register. You need to initiate this process and contact the agency that will be providing your funding. You must also arrange with the agency to be able to charge books and supplies in the college bookstore.