Tuition Waivers & Discounts
The Seattle College District (SCD), as directed by the Board of Trustees, will provide a program of tuition and fee waivers as authorized by the Washington State Legislature and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. If a student is eligible for more than one waiver, the Registrar’s Office will apply the one waiver that is most financially beneficial to the student.
You may be eligible for a tuition waiver under the following circumstances:
Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language and GED® Preparation students pay $25 per student per quarter. Colleges may waive the $25 charge for students who are unable to pay. All ungraded course fees are operating fees and are subject to the requirements in RCW 28B.15.031 – "Operating fees"- Defined – Disposition
The college will waive all tuition (operating and building fees) and services and activities fees for the children and surviving spouses of deceased or disabled law enforcement officers or firefighters.
Eligible children must begin their course of study at a community college within 10 years of high school graduation.
The officers and firefighters must have died or become totally disabled in the line of duty while employed by a public law enforcement agency, full-time or volunteer fire department in this state. Totally disabled is defined as totally and permanently disabled for life by bodily injury or disease and thereby prevented from performing any occupation or gainful pursuit.
The college will waive all tuition and fees for a child/spouse/domestic partner of an eligible veteran or National Guard member who:
- Became totally disabled as a result of active federal military or naval service;
- Is determined by the federal government to be a prisoner of war or missing action; or
- Lost his or her life as a result of active federal military or naval service
"Eligible veteran or national guard member" means a Washington domiciliary who was an active or reserve member of the United States military or naval forces, or a national guard member called to active duty, who served in active federal service, in a war or conflict fought on foreign soil or in international waters or in another location in support of those serving on foreign soil or in international waters, and if discharged from service, has received an honorable discharge.
"Totally disabled" means a person who has been determined to be one hundred percent disabled by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.
"Washington domiciliary" means a person whose place of habitation is the state of Washington. "Washington domiciliary" includes a person who is residing in rental housing or residing in base housing.
High School Completion
RESIDENT: SCD will waive 80% of the Building, Service & Activities, and Operating fee for resident students 19 years of age and older who are enrolled in high school completion program.
NON-RESIDENT: SCD will waive 100% of the non-resident differential of the Building, Service & Activities, and Operating fee for non-resident students 19 years of age and older who are enrolled in high school completion program.
The college will waive tuition charges (operating, building, and services and activities fees) for students 60 years or older who are enrolled for audit or credit. The waiver is not available to students using the course credits for increasing credentials or salary schedule increases.
To utilize the waiver, students must meet the following conditions and submit the completed Senior Citizen Space Available Waiver form for official course registration between the 6th and 10th day of the quarter (5th through 8th in the summer quarter).
Tuition and Fees:
The cost is $5 per course (up to two courses). Students are also responsible for any additional charges such as course fees, books, photo ID, transportation fee, Universal Technology fee, etc. Review our Tuition & Fees page for details.
Conditions:
- The student must be 60 years or older
- The student must be a Washington State resident whose domicile has been within the state for at least one year prior to the intended quarter of enrollment.
- The waiver funds up to two courses per quarter. The cost is $5 per course plus all associated course and class fees.
- Classes must have seats available at the time of registration.
- Meet course pre-requisites prior to registration or waived by the instructor.
- The waiver cannot be used for Continuing Education or WAOL courses.
- The waiver cannot be used to apply for degrees or certificates if it was used for program requisites.
- Officially register for courses between the 6th and 10th day of the quarter (5th through 8th in Summer).
- Students who enroll prior to the sixth day of the quarter (fifth for summer) will forfeit their waiver eligibility.
- A new tuition waiver form must be presented each quarter.
Required Documents and Registration:
- Apply to South Seattle College.
- Complete the Senior Citizen Space Available Waiver Form with your contact information, student ID number, and instructor permission.
- Submit the completed form for official registration via email at ssccregistration@seattlecolleges.edu or in-person in the Student Services Lobby – Robert Smith Building.
The forms must be submitted within the official registration period to the Registration Office. You will be manually registered for classes. Forms submitted prior and after will not be accepted.
Students attempting to use the waiver will go to class on the first day of instruction and let instructor know you are planning to enroll using a space available waiver. If they feel space may be available, you can request permission to visit the class until you can officially register. For online classes, the instructor can grant access permission for Canvas.
Note: Students using this waiver may not be moved ahead of students on class waitlists or added to a waitlist. Additional class sections cannot be created to accommodate waiver students. Waiver students may not overload a class capacity.
Permanent Washington State employees employed half-time (50%) or more may register on a space available basis using the Washington State Employee Waiver.
Tuition and Fees:
The Seattle College District will waive 100% of Building and Service & Activity tuition fees. Students are responsible for paying $20.00 of the Operating tuition fee for the first 6 credits of enrollment.
Students are also responsible for any additional charges such as course fees, books, photo ID, transportation fee, Universal Technology fee, etc. Review our Tuition & Fees page for details.
Conditions:
- Officially register for courses between the 6th and 10th day of the quarter (5th through 8th in Summer) with instructor permission.
- The student must be a Washington State resident whose domicile has been within the state for at least one year prior to the intended quarter of enrollment.
- Students who register for courses prior to the waiver registration period will lose their waiver eligibility for those courses. Dropped courses are considered a registration transaction.
- Students enrolled in over 6 credits will be charged at the regular tuition rate for all credits more than 6.
- The waiver cannot be used for Continuing Education or Washington Online/System Shared courses.
- Classes must have seats available at the time of registration.
- Meet course pre-requisites prior to registration or waived by the instructor.
- A new tuition waiver and certification of employment form must be presented each quarter.
Required Documents and Registration:
- Apply to South Seattle College.
- Complete the Washington State Employee Space Available Tuition Waiver Form with your contact information, student ID number, and instructor permission.
- Complete the Certification of Enrollment Form with your supervisor or HR approval.
- Submit the completed forms for official registration via email at ssccregistration@seattlecolleges.edu or in-person in the Student Services Lobby – Robert Smith Building.
The forms must be submitted within the official registration period to the Registration Office. You will be manually registered for classes. Forms submitted prior and after will not be accepted.
Students attempting to use the waiver will go to class on the first day of instruction and let instructor know you are planning to enroll using a space available waiver. If they feel space may be available, you can request permission to visit the class until you can officially register. For online classes, the instructor can grant access permission for Canvas.
Employees in the K-12 System:
Employees in the K-12 system are eligible for the Washington State Employee Waiver with verification that they are teachers or certificated instructional staff employed at public common and vocational schools, holding or seeking a valid endorsement and assignment in a state-identified shortage area. Non-instructional classified staff employed at K-12 public schools and working half time or more, may use the waiver when the employee is taking courses relevant to their work assignment.
(GRAY BOX) Note: Students using this waiver may not be moved ahead of students on class waitlists or added to a waitlist. Additional class sections cannot be created to accommodate waiver students. Waiver students may not overload a class capacity.
Note: Students using this waiver may not be moved ahead of students on class waitlists or added to a waitlist. Additional class sections cannot be created to accommodate waiver students. Waiver students may not overload a class capacity.