Types of Financial Aid
There are four main types of Financial Aid funding, Federal, State, Institutional, and Private Scholarship. Within each category are individual funds, each with their own eligibility criteria, award amounts, and criteria for maintaining eligibility.
One of the most common eligibility criteria is “Need”. The Financial Aid Office determines each student’s Need, and it is the Need that Financial Aid Staff try to fill with Financial Aid funds.
Students can receive financial aid assistance when taking as few as 1 credit, however the majority of financial aid requires at least ½ time enrollment (6 or more credits), with many grants and scholarships requiring full time enrollment (12 or more credits).
Below is a list of the most common funds of financial aid available at South Seattle College. They have been broken up by type so you have a better understanding of where the money is coming from.
Federal
Federal Financial Aid dollars come from federal taxes.
Pell Grant
Enrollment Level Range: 1 or more credit
Annual Award Amount Range: $0-$5,920
Need Based Aid: Yes, for low income students only
Subject to Return of Title IV: Yes
Pell Grants are the foundation of Financial Aid. It is a need based grant that only the students with the highest need qualify for. The Pell Grant is awarded on a complex matrix related to the Cost of Attendance, enrollment level, and Expected Family Contribution (EFC).
The amount you receive changes dramatically depending on your Enrollment Level, and in some cases, you may not be eligible for any Pell Grant. Pell Grant eligibility begins with as little as 1 credit.
Pell Grants are subject to the Return of Title IV policy.
SEOG (Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant)
Enrollment Level Range: 1 or more credit
Annual Award Amount Range: $0-$900
Need Based Aid: Yes, for students with a 0 EFC and Pell Grant
Subject to Return of Title IV: Yes
The Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is a small amount of additional funding that can be given to students who have a zero Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and are eligible to receive the Pell Grant. This funding is extremely limited and is exhausted quickly.
The amount a student receives depends on enrollment level.
Federal Work Study
Enrollment Level Range: 6 or more credit
Annual Award Amount Range: $0-$5,000
Need Based Aid: Yes
Subject to Return of Title IV: No but the student must stop work immediately if they drop all South classes
Federal Work Study is a work program designed to provide students work and income opportunities that do not reduce their eligibility for financial aid in coming years. Income earned through the Federal Work Study program is recorded on the FAFSA separately from other sources of income, and does not influence the amount of income used to calculate the EFC.
Federal Work Study is not immediately added to the Award Letter. The Financial Aid Office determines student eligibility and remaining funds on a monthly basis. If funding is available, students are notified and instructed where to find the list of eligible Work Study positions across campus. Students apply for the positions, and if offered an interview, they come into the Financial Aid Office to receive a Work Study Referral Form, which indicates there Work Study eligibility. If the student is hired, and if Work Study funds are still available, Federal Work Study will be added to the student’s Award Letter and Accepted on their behalf by the Financial Aid Office.
Work Study funds are given out first come first serve to students who are hired into positions. It is important to secure a position quickly when authorized for Federal Work Study because funds will run out quickly and many employers will close down their positions when there is no more Work Study available.
Direct Student Loans
Enrollment Level Range: 6 or more credit
Annual Award Amount Range: $100-$12,500
Need Based Aid: Yes for Subsidized Loans, No for Unsubsidized Loans
Subject to Return of Title IV: Yes
Direct Student Loans are available at South Seattle College. Students who are not eligible to receive any other types of financial aid are invited to apply for a loan, however all students eligible to receive federal financial aid may apply.
These loans have a low interest rate, and are guaranteed by the US Department of Education, so a student cannot be turned away due to bad credit. However, students have a lifetime limit of which they can borrow student loans, and South does not encourage any transfer student to borrow loans except under very specific circumstances.
If you would like to learn more about student loans you should Schedule an Appointment to speak with a member of your Financial Aid Team.
At South Seattle College we understand that student loans can be intimidating. That’s why we have partnered with Inceptia, a division of the National Student Loan Program, to provide you with free assistance on your student loan obligations to ensure you feel comfortable and can be successful in your loan repayment.
Inceptia may be calling to help you with next steps in your repayment journey. Their friendly counselors are there to help you every step of the way. While you are in your grace period, they might reach out to you to answer questions you may have on your repayment options. If you become delinquent on your loans, they may also contact you to help find a solution that works within your means.
The Inceptia counselors are there to help you with every step by staying in touch with you via phone calls, letters, and/or emails. They will not be collecting money from you. Inceptia’s nonprofit purpose is to help you find answers to your questions and solutions to your issues. We encourage you to visit Inceptia’s Student Loan Knowledge HQ website at HeroKnowl.org.
State
State financial aid dollars come from state taxes. Students that accept state financial aid, must agree to State Terms and Conditions.
SNG (Washington State Need Grant)
Enrollment Level Range: 3 or more credit
Annual Award Amount Range: $147-$6,871
Need Based Aid: Yes
Subject to Return if Student Drops 100% of Their Quarter Classes: Yes
The Washington State Need Grant (SNG) is financial aid funding for low income students. This funding is awarded based on state legislated income criteria which creates an MFI%. Financial Aid Staff uses a table to determine a students Award amount based on enrollment and MFI%.
Students may only receive 5 years of funding. A student who completed a 2 year degree or certificate must wait 5 years before they can receive SNG for another 2 year degree. Students who received SNG for a 2 year degree and then immediately pursue a 4 year Bachelor’s degree, are eligible to receive the SNG and do not have a waiting period.
Students are required to have between a 13% and 25% self help component to receive this funding. The self help component is calculated by the Financial Aid Office.
College Bound
Enrollment Level Range: 3 or more credit
Annual Award Amount Range: $63-$2,175
Need Based Aid: Yes
Subject to Return if Student Drops 100% of Their Quarter Classes: Yes
To qualify for College Bound Scholarships, students had to enroll in the College Bound program in high school and meet certain requirements.
The College Bound Scholarship offers additional funding for those students who qualify for the Washington State Need Grant.
Students with this scholarship are guaranteed Washington State Need Grant funds so long as they meet criteria and have enough need. The self help requirement for the Washington State Need Grant does not apply to students with the College Bound Scholarship.
Opportunity Grant
Enrollment Level Range: 1 or more credits
Annual Award Amount Range: $167-$6,000
Need Based Aid: Yes, for low-income students only
Subject to Return if Student Drops 100% of Their Quarter Classes: Yes
The goal of the Opportunity Grant Scholarship (OG) program is to recruit, retain, progress and graduate students from under-represented communities into high-wage, high-demand professional/technical jobs.
The scholarship offers up to 45 quarter credits of tuition and fees plus $1,000 for supplies, books or tools. Starting with initial award quarter, there is a maximum eligibility of either three consecutive years or 45 credits of tuition and fees.
OG eligible programs are: Automotive Technology, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Diesel & Heavy Equipment, I-BEST (Prof Tech), Network Security Administration, Welding Fabrication Technology, Wine Studies.
Students must be Washington state residents, and submit either FAFSA or WASFA to determine need.
For more information please view the Opportunity Grant Scholarship overview.
Passport to College
Enrollment Level Range: 3 or more credit
Annual Award Amount Range: $63-$2,175
Need Based Aid: Yes
Subject to Return if Student Drops 100% of Their Quarter Classes: Yes
Institutional
Institutional financial aid funds come from tuition and fees collected at South during the previous year. To receive these funds, a student must show need and be a resident of Washington State and be eligible to pay at the in state tuition rate.
South Seattle College Tuition Waiver
Enrollment Level Range: 9 or more credit
Annual Award Amount Range: $0-$3,900
Need Based Aid: Yes
Subject to Return if Student Drops 100% of Their Quarter Classes: No
The South Seattle College Tuition Waiver (Tuition Waiver) waives tuition only and has no cash value, meaning that it cannot produce a Financial Aid Refund. These funds cannot be applied towards fees, or any other charges than instate tuition.
These funds are voided for students on a consortium agreement or who have their tuition covered through some other funding source including BFET or Veterans Education Benefits.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Private Scholarship
Enrollment Level Range: Varies by Donor
Annual Award Amount Range: Varies by Donor
Need Based Aid: Varies by Donor
Subject to Return if Student Drops 100% of Their Quarter Classes: Varies by Donor
Private or Outside Scholarships are those gifted to a student from an outside organization. Each donor designates specific eligibility criteria and funding ranges, along with what the student has to do to continue receiving the scholarship.
If no criteria are established by the donor, South will consider the scholarship non-need based, but will return any amount over the Cost of Attendance to the donor. South will award the scholarship at any enrollment level, but will divide the scholarship evenly between all quarters the student attended for the year. Continuing eligibility will be the same as the Academic Enrollment Policy. Funds will not be rolled from one academic year to another, but will be returned to the donor. Funds will be returned to the donor if the student transfers schools.
Foundation Scholarship Support
Enrollment Level Range: Varies by scholarship
Annual Award Amount Range: Varies by scholarship
Need Based Aid: Varies by scholarship
Subject to Return if Student Drops 100% of Their Quarter Classes: Varies by scholarship
South Seattle College students are fortunate to have philanthropic support from two foundations: Seattle Colleges Foundation and the South Seattle College Foundation. Students are encouraged to apply for scholarships offered by both foundations.
Each year, these two foundations award scholarships to deserving students, helping them achieve their academic goals and progress toward a stable and fulfilling career. Scholarships are awarded based on factors such as academic merit, financial need, program of study and school and community involvement, and provide between one and three quarters of prepaid tuition.
To apply, students must complete online applications, which requires information about the student's financial situation, work and school history, a personal statement and two recommendations, with at least one from a South instructor or staff member.
It is important for students to note that the Seattle Colleges Foundation scholarship application is separate from the South Seattle College Foundation scholarship application. In order to be eligible for scholarship opportunities from both foundations, students must complete both application processes.
Learn more about the scholarship application processes – including application deadline dates -- on the Foundation Scholarship Support webpage.