Financial Aid

West Building, W209
(425) 739-8106

To help finance your education, we encourage you to inform yourself about financial aid through our Web site www.lwtc.edu/financialaid, by reading the available literature, or by contacting the Financial Aid Office. Lake Washington Technical College believes people should have the opportunity to achieve their educational goals and the Financial Aid Office is here to help support you in your educational efforts.

Financial aid is available for eligible students who enroll either to earn a certificate or a degree. Students and their families need not be low-income to qualify for some kinds of financial aid. By applying for financial aid as early as possible and meeting the institutional priority date, students have the best chance of being reviewed before the beginning of each quarter, and the best chance of maximum funds eligibility each financial aid year.

Financial aid is intended to add to but not replace a person’s financial resources. If combined resources are not sufficient to cover expenses, you may be eligible for financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, low-interest loans and student employment. You must demonstrate a financial need to be eligible for most types of assistance. Financial need is calculated as the difference between the cost of attending school and what you and your family can afford to pay.

Sample Calculation:
Cost of Attendance
- Expected Family Contribution
= Financial Need

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the basic form to apply for assistance and is your passport to financial aid. Information on this form determines your eligibility for grants, scholarships, work study and low-interest loans.

Financial Aid Application Procedure

• Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the federal processor. This application collects financial data and other information used to calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) that determines a student’s eligibility for aid. Students may complete their FAFSA on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov, and many of the forms needed may be downloaded from the Financial Aid Web site at www.lwtc.edu/financialaid.
• Stay in touch with the Financial Aid Office to be certain that all information has been received to complete your file.
• Students must reapply for financial aid each year after January 1 for the new award year beginning with summer quarter. The financial aid year begins with summer quarter and ends with spring quarter.

Eligibility Requirements

Students are eligible for financial aid if they are:

• For most aid programs, attending for the purpose of obtaining a degree or certificate at the college. (Some certificate programs may not be eligible for certain types of aid. Check with the Financial Aid Office to verify program eligibility.)
• A U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
• Making satisfactory academic progress in a program of study as defined by the institution’s satisfactory progress criteria.
• Not in default on any previous student loans or owing a refund on any grants.
• Registered for the draft with Selective Service (if male), as required by law.
• A high school graduate, have a GED or passing scores on an approved ability-to-benefit test.

Students who have the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree (including degrees earned in a foreign country) are limited to applying for loans and work-study assistance.

Students will be notified of their financial aid award by mail. Awarding begins in May.

Federal Financial Aid Refund Policy

Students that receive federal financial aid are subject to the federal Return to Title IV Funds regulations. These regulations state that aid eligibility for a student receiving federal aid must be recalculated under most circumstances if the student withdraws from classes early or ceases to attend during the quarter. Some students may owe a repayment to the federal aid programs. These regulations and any resulting amounts owed are separate from and may be in addition to the College’s own tuition refund policy. For a copy of the Return to Title IV Funds refund policy, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

Worker Retraining, Opportunity Grant, and WorkFirst Programs (Low-Income Working Parent)

See the Support Services for Students section of this catalog. To determine your eligibility, check with the Worker Retraining Center, West Building, W207D, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The WorkFirst or Low-Income Working Parent Program is also located in the West Building, room W207I.

Other forms of financial aid are available through non-profit agencies and community-based organizations. Lists of agencies are available through the Employment Resource Center, West Building, W205.

Veteran’s Benefits

Lake Washington Technical College has been authorized by the Department of Veterans Affairs to certify veterans for educational benefits. In order to be eligible for educational benefits, you must be enrolled in a certificate- or degree-granting program that has been pre-approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Most programs that are two quarters or more in length at Lake Washington Technical College are eligible, but some are not.

For more information please log onto our Web site at www.lwtc.edu/financialaid. You may contact the Veterans Adviser at (425) 739-8100, ext. 475, for additional information. The Veterans Adviser is located in the Financial Aid office in the West Building, W209.

If you are applying for Vocational Rehabilitation benefits (Chapter 31), you will need to contact a VA case manager at the Seattle regional office at (206) 220-6128 for further requirements regarding benefits.

To apply for benefits under Chapter 30, 35, 1606 and 1607, you will need the following documents:

1. Completed “Application for VA Benefits” or “Request for Change of Program or Place of Training”, whichever one is applicable.
2. Copy of your DD-214 (unless you are applying for Chapter 1606-reservist, or Chapter 35-dependent on survivor’s benefits.) Please do not submit original copies.
3. You will need to submit official transcripts, by your third quarter of attendance, for both military experience and colleges that you had after high school to determine if credits will go toward your program of study. You may request that these be sent directly to the Admission’s office. You must also request that the Admission’s office evaluate the transcript and have the transcript forwarded to the Veterans Adviser.
4. If you are a reservist and are applying for Chapter 1606 benefits, you must submit a copy of the NOBE (Notice of Basic Eligibility) along with the completed application. You may contact your unit on obtaining your NOBE.

Please note that it does take at least 40 days after the start of the quarter to receive your first check. If you have any questions regarding check disbursements or the application process, log onto the Web site www.gibill.va.gov (opens new window) or contact the Department of Veterans Affairs at 1 (888)  442-4551.

Veterans who have received an honorable discharge or are members of the National Guard or Reservists called to active duty may also be available for a 25% waiver of tuition costs. Veterans may apply for this waiver at the Enrollment Services office. For more information regarding the Veterans Waivers, please contact Enrollment Services.

Children or spouse of a Disabled/Deceased/MIA/POW veteran may be eligible to receive a waiver of all tuition and fees. Contact the Financial Aid office in W209 or Enrollment Services office in W201 for more information.