Paying for College Overview

How much does college cost?

Preparing to pay for college should begin as soon as possible. Make sure to review total costs, important deadlines, fees, payment options and the numerous ways to pay for college listed below.

Having a solid plan for covering the cost of college is an important step toward graduation. South Seattle College is offering the services of Nelnet, a leading tuition payment plan provider, to make the process easier for you. Working together, South and Nelnet will provide you with strategies for covering the costs of college.

Financial Aid

We encourage all students to apply for the FAFSA. This can qualify students to receive federal funding for the cost of attending college.  Don’t wait to apply! Grants and scholarships exhaust quickly. You should plan to complete the FAFSA at least 90 days before the beginning of the quarter you are planning to attend, even if you are only considering going to school.

The WASFA is available for students who do not qualify to use the FAFSA. If you are HB 1079 or DACA eligible, then you may be able to receive funding by completing the WASFA. Make sure to apply as soon as possible as state funding is very limited!

Remember that completing the FAFSA or WASFA is only the first step in the application for Financial Aid, and all students will need to submit additional documents.  Once you submit your FAFSA or WASFA, check your email daily for more information from the Financial Aid Office and contact for assistance.

Workforce Education

The Workforce Education office can help you retrain for a new job or career. Individuals who are eligible to receive Washington state unemployment benefits, BFET/TANF, whose unemployment benefits have been exhausted within the last 24 months or are facing the prospect of a layoff may be able to receive financial assistance through our Workforce Office.

Services provided by Worker Retraining include financial assistance, career planning, job search assistance and educational advising and planning.

Visit Workforce Education for more information and contact information for assistance.  

Opportunity Grant

The Opportunity Grant provides funding for students pursuing specific Professional & Technical programs.

To be eligible for funding student must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Washington State resident
  • Has not earned a previous degree
  • Enrolled in a program eligible program of study
  • Has applied and determined financial need the FAFSA/WASFA

Veteran Services

Veterans are a vital part of our campus community and we are here to assist you in successfully completing your educational goals. United States veterans, active duty, National Guard & Reserve military personnel, their spouses and dependents can access a variety of educational benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other programs to help pay for their education at South Seattle College. Please connect with our Veterans Affairs staff to begin the process of accessing your benefits.

ROTC and U.S. military veterans are encouraged to apply for all types of financial aid for which they may be eligible.

Payment Plan

The Nelnet Payment Plan provides students the ability to break up the cost of tuition into affordable monthly payments. With numerous enrollment deadlines, payment plans are easy and flexible.

Scholarships

Scholarships are a great resource to help pay for college. Scholarships are free money that can be used to pay for a variety college expenses, and are available to all students. The key to accessing these dollars is APPLYING. There are NO limits to how many scholarships you can apply for or be awarded.

Emergency Funds

Support Funds awards are available to students who have unanticipated financial barriers and meet certain criteria. Funds can be used for tuition, fees, textbooks, and transportation. This fund is not intended to be a substitute for financial aid or scholarships.

 

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.