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Students gathered in Puyallup courtyard

Step 1: Apply for Admission to Pierce College

To apply to Pierce College visit the Apply for Admission page.

Step 2: Apply for Financial Aid

Students begin the annual application process by completing either the:

The 2025-2026 FAFSA and WASFA applications are now available for the upcoming academic year that begins July 1, 2025.  Completing the FAFSA or WASFA is the first step of the application process. You do not need to complete both applications. If you are unsure which application to complete, complete the WASFA Questionnaire.

  • To receive financial aid for Winter 2025 and/or Spring 2025, please complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA/WASFA application. 

    To ensure Financial Aid will have adequate time to process your aid, you should submit your FAFSA/WASFA based on the following priority timelines. If you do not submit your FAFSA/WASFA to Pierce College by the priority timeline or pay for your tuition/fees yourself, you may be dropped from your classes for non-payment.

    Academic Term You Want to Begin Financial Aid Priority Timeline Tuition/Fees Due Academic Term Begins
    Winter 2025 November 18, 2024 December 18, 2024 January 6, 2025
    Spring 2025 February 10, 2025 March 24, 2025 April 7, 2025
    Summer 2025 April 22, 2025 June 17, 2025 July 1, 2025
  • Your FAFSA/WASFA will be electronically sent to the school 5-7 business days after you complete the application. Be sure to include Pierce College School Code on your application, School Code: 005000.
  • After your application has been received, you will receive ctcLink notifications from the Financial Aid office with your next steps.
  • Processing can take up to four weeks after all required documentation has been submitted to the Financial Aid office. Frequently check your ctcLink Message Center and To-Do lists for additional information.
  • You will need to submit a new FAFSA/WASFA application each year to continue receiving financial aid.

Step 3: Check Your Financial Aid Application Status in ctcLink

Log in to ctcLink and review the Financial Aid tile, Message Center, and To-Do lists for updates on the status of your application.

  • The Financial Aid tile, Message Center, and To-Do lists are the communication tools used by Financial Aid staff to send you updated information about your application.
  • Submit all requested documents and information to the Financial Aid office by the priority date on the To-Do list task.

Step 4: Receive Your Financial Aid

Your initial financial aid award is based on full-time enrollment, which is 12 or more credits each term. To avoid delays in financial aid disbursements, you must notify the Financial Aid Office in advance if you are enrolling in fewer than 12 credits for a term.

Step 5: Manage Your Financial Aid

To remain eligible to receive financial aid, you must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Failure to do so will result in a loss and/or repayment of aid. For more information regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress and term requirements, please review Get and Keep Your Aid.