Financial Aid Frequently Asked Questions

What hours are you open?

To check the status of your financial aid application, please log into ctcLink. Since we replaced our old financial aid portal with ctcLink, the Financial Aid tile in ctcLink is now the primary communication tool regarding your financial aid. 

Fall Quarter In-Person Office Hours at the Express Enrollment Center
Monday:           9:00   a.m.  -    6:00  p.m.
Tuesday:          9:00   a.m.  -     4:30 p.m. 
Wednesday:    9:00   a.m.  -     4:30 p.m. 
Thursday:        9:00   a.m.  -     4:30 p.m. 
Friday:             9:00   a.m.  -     4:30 p.m.           

Contact us by email fin_aid@everettcc.edu or phone 425-388-9280 to arrange a zoom meeting.

Who should apply for financial aid? How can I tell if my family makes too much money to qualify?

You won't know unless you apply. Complete a financial aid application!  In Washington, there are two different applications for financial aid, but you only need to file one:

• File the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) if you are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
  • Prepare to complete the FAFSA.
• File the WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) if you are not eligible to complete the FAFSA due to immigration status.
  • Prepare to complete the WASFA.

The calculation which determines eligibility for aid is complicated. There is no easy, straight forward "income cut-off" or other method to help you anticipate whether you'll be eligible—the only way to find out for sure is to apply. If your family circumstances change, the financial aid office is in a better position to help if your application is already on file.

Watch this video explaining your options and how to apply for financial aid. 

You should apply for financial aid as soon after October 1 as possible. Do not wait until you are admitted to apply. You do not need to know whether or where you plan to go to school, or what programs you might be interested in to complete a financial aid application (FAFSA or WASFA). Some colleges may have additional financial aid forms for you to complete. Check their website or contact their financial aid office to find out. Once you are admitted, talk to each college's financial aid office to ensure your application information is received accurately and on time. 

Should I file a FAFSA or WASFA?

In Washington, there are two different applications for financial aid, but you only need to file one. Please contact us if you're not sure which application to complete.

• File the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) if you are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
  Prepare to complete the FAFSA.
• File the WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) if you are not eligible to complete the FAFSA due to immigration status.
  Prepare to complete the WASFA.
• If you're unsure whether to complete the FAFSA or WASFA, please contact our office or please visit readysetgrad.gov  for more information. Here is a helpful tool https://wsac.wa.gov/WASFAelig to determine if the WASFA is the right application for you.

Which year FAFSA or WASFA should I fill out?

How do I see my Financial Aid information?

We have replaced our old financial aid portal with ctcLink. The Financial Aid Tile in ctcLink is now the primary communication tool regarding your financial aid, where you will be able to: 

What are some common FAFSA mistakes?

Visit the Department of Education's resource page for the  10 common mistakes to avoid when completing the FAFSA.

How much does it cost to go to a Washington state college?

Here are estimates of how much it costs to attend various schools. These figures include tuition and fees for 9 months and an estimate for room and board, transportation, books and supplies, and miscellaneous personal expenses. Living expenses will be adjusted down for those students living with their parents.  

When do I get my money?  

Financial aid (grants, scholarships and student loans) will be applied to outstanding tuition and fees first. If you have been awarded more financial aid money than outstanding tuition and fees, the difference will be disbursed to you through a third party, BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. Your Financial Aid Offer Letter will give you an estimate of how much aid you have been awarded each quarter. Log into your ctcLink Financial Aid Tile to view your awards and estimated disbursement dates. Financial Aid Refunds (the balance of your financial aid after tuition and fees have been deducted). Anticipated Disbursement Dates are posted in your Financial Aid Awards section in your ctcLink Financial Aid Tile. Note: the "Disbursement Date" next to your aid offer is not actual date funds will be disbursed to your student account. It is the earliest date that we will begin financial aid disbursements for the quarter. Current quarter disbursement information is also posted on our main financial aid webpage, under the heading "Latest News". To prevent delays, be sure you have selected a refund preference with BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. For more information about BankMobile Disbursements, visit this link: http://bankmobiledisbursements.com/how-it-works

How much financial aid will I receive?

You can receive financial aid equal to your "financial need." Financial aid may be a combination of grants, loans, and work study. This is referred to as your "aid package". Need based aid is not intended to replace your family's contribution toward educational costs, but rather to help fill the gap between what your family can pay and your total education costs. Financial aid programs that are not based on need  are also frequently available to those who apply for financial aid (i.e., those who go through the application process for "need-based" aid). Examples of non-need based aid include Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loans, Alternative Student Loans, and various off-campus scholarship programs.

What does it mean to meet the deadline?

If you meet the deadline and are found to be eligible for financial aid, you may receive institutional aid, state and federal funding, including work-study. Your classes are held while you are waiting for your application to process.  If you met the quarterly financial aid deadline, you will be able to see a "tuition deferment" in your ctcLink account. This will keep you enrolled in your classes while your application is being processed. You will be notified prior to the start of the quarter. If the deadline is not met, you should plan to cover your educational expenses while you are waiting to be notified about your eligibility.  You will be considered for available funds only. 

How is my financial need determined?

A standard analysis is used to determine financial need. The amount your family is expected to contribute (the Expected Family Contribution, or EFC) is calculated based upon the information reported on your FAFSA. The EFC is then subtracted from the cost of education at the school to which you're applying. The difference between the two is your need for financial assistance.

You can estimate your EFC up front by using an online EFC financial aid calculator. 

What do I do when tuition is due and my financial aid hasn't been evaluated?

If you met the quarterly deadline and other financial aid requirements based on your FAFSA  (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) , and show satisfactory academic history, you may get a tuition postponement. This will allow you to stay enrolled in your classes without payment as we process your financial aid.

Does Financial Aid pay for repeating or retaking coursework?

It depends. The rules for repeat coursework are quite complex and your individual situation will need to be evaluated. The course must apply to your program of study, but there are other factors, such as whether you received Title IV funding for the previously attempted course. Repeating a course can also impact your Satisfactory Academic Progress status (SAP). Repeated coursework credits all count towards the state and federal maximum timeframe allowed for your program. We recommend you contact the Financial Aid Office if you have questions.

In general, Federal Student Aid regulations define how financial aid can be used for classes taken more than once.

You MAY receive financial aid: 

• To repeat a course that has already been passed (D- or higher) only one additional time. Any repeated attempts after that will not be eligible for financial aid. 
• As many times as necessary to repeat a course in which the only previous grade earned has been a failing grade (F).

You MAY not receive financial aid:

• If a student has both passed a course (with a "D" grade) and failed that same course (with an "F" grade), he or she cannot receive Title IV aid to pay for that course again. The regulation allows for one repetition of a previously passed course. For purposes of receiving Title IV aid to pay for repeated coursework, the Department of Education considers a "D" to be a passing grade, regardless of institutional policy.

All courses previously taken, even if financial aid was not used, are compared against the current quarter to determine if it is a repeated class and whether it can be paid for using financial aid. Your financial aid may be recalculated if you take a class that is not eligible for financial aid. 
Repeating a course can also impact yourSatisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status.  All grades count for SAP and all credit hours attempted and earned count, as well. PLEASE NOTE:  If you have questions regarding repeat coursework and eligibility for financial aid, please contact the Financial Aid Office. 

Need a general overview of the financial aid process?

For a general overview of the financial aid process, including how to prepare for college, types of aid you may be eligible for, basic eligibility requirements, how to repay your student loans, please visit the Federal Student Aid website. 

You may also reference the  the Federal Student Aid website  for more information.

If I change schools, how do I edit my FAFSA or WASFA so the money goes to my new school? And about how long would it take for the money to transfer schools?

Student financial aid does not directly transfer between colleges. Instead, the new college will recalculate your eligibility from scratch based on the information on your FAFSA or WASFA, and the new college's financial aid forms. Note: any institutional aid offered EvCC will not transfer to your new college.

The FAFSA and WASFA have space for you to list up to ten colleges. To send your FAFSA or WASFA information to the new college, list it in one of the ten slots. You can search by college name, or enter the Federal School Code directly if you know it. If all ten slots are filled, replace one of them with the new college. It may take a week or two for the new college to receive the data from your FAFSA or WASFA. You will receive a new Student Aid Report (SAR) when your new college has received the data from your FAFSA or WASFA. Be sure to submit any supplemental forms required by the new college. The time to prepare a new financial aid package varies from college to college. If you haven't heard from the new college more than a month after you receive the SAR, contact the college's financial aid office to ask about the status of your financial aid application.

Can I receive a Pell Grant for summer, fall, winter, and spring terms?

It is possible, if the Financial Aid Office determines you eligible for what is referred to as "Year Round Pell Grant" (see below). Eligible students may receive up to four Pell awards in one academic year. The maximum time-frame that students may receive Federal Pell Grant is the equivalent of eighteen full-time quarters. One full-time quarter of Pell equals 33%.

Year Round Pell Grant - Summer 2022 through Spring Quarter 2023

For spring 2023, Pell eligible students can receive up to 150% of their scheduled Pell award each year. What does this mean for you? If you were a Pell eligible student in summer 2022, fall 2022, and/or winter 2023, you may qualify for a Pell Grant for spring 2023.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a spring Pell Grant, you must:

• Be Pell Grant eligible as determined by the Financial Aid Office.
• In most cases, there is a requirement to enroll at least half-time (6+ credits)
• Meet or maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
• Have lifetime Pell Grant eligibility remaining

Important:

• The maximum time-frame that students may receive Federal Pell Grant is the equivalent of eighteen full-time quarters. One full-time quarter of Pell Grant equals 33%.

• You can view your Lifetime Pell Eligibility Used (LEU)  through the National Student Loan Data System . 

Minimum Credits for Spring Pell Grant

• If you enrolled full-time (12+ credits) and received the full-time Pell Grant amount for summer 2022 fall 2022 and winter 2023, you must enroll at least half-time (6+ credits) in spring 2023 classes to receive a spring Pell Grant. 
• If you enrolled part-time summer 2022, fall 2022, or winter 2023, there is no mimum credit requirement to receive spring 2023 Pell Grant (unless required by your EFC (Estimated Family Contribution). You can use the remainder of your annual "first" scheduled Pell Grant during spring with no minum credit requirement.