Financial Aid

 We are currently processing financial aid applications that were received by June 6th, 2025. Until then, please note that you won’t be able to view your 2025-26 financial aid information in ctcLink until we have received your application.  Not sure about your status? Don’t worry! Our team is here to help. Feel free to email, call, or visit us in person—we're happy to answer any questions and provide the support you need. 

Not sure whether to complete the FAFSA® or WASFA? We’re here to help! Contact our office for guidance, or check out the helpful resources on the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) website. You can also use this tool to determine if the WASFA is the right application for you: WASFA Eligibility Tool.

• The 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is now open. New and returning students who plan to attend college between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026 should complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. To assist students and parents in the process, the U.S. Department of Education’s (Department’s) Federal Student Aid office has been sharing tips 6 Things You Need Before Filling Out the FAFSA® Form” and “8 Steps to Completing the FAFSA Form. 

• The 2025-26 Washington Application for State Financial Aid is now open. New and returning students who plan to attend college between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026 should complete the WASFA as soon as possible. Submit the WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) if you are not eligible to complete the FAFSA® due to immigration status, defaulted federal loans, or other issues with federal aid. Learn more and apply on the WASFA page. 

How To Submit the 2025–26 FAFSA® Form if Your Contributor Doesn’t Have an SSN  

• The Department of Education recently launched two videos—one for students and one for contributors—that guide applicants and their families through the process of making corrections and submitting the 25-26 FAFSA® form. One in Spanish Language: Orientación para hacer correcciones y completar la Better FAFSA: Padres https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf3WcNN91kM&t=19s

Tutorials from Federal Student Aid (FSA):

• Start Your 2025-26 FAFSA® Form
• How to Create an FSA ID (Account Username and Password)
• What is a Contributor on the 2025-26 FAFSA® Form?
• What Happens After Submitting Your FAFSA® Form

• Applications usually open October 1, and will again in future years.
• For an estimate of your federal financial aid for 2025-2026, you can use the Federal Student Aid Estimator on the Federal Student Aid website. This tool estimates the Student Aid Index (SAI) for 2025-26 and the federal aid for which you may qualify.

This Dashboard is in progress. We estimate to begin processing financial aid aid applications in January or February 2026.

2026-27 Academic Year Priority Processing Dates:

To be determined.

2025-26 Academic Year Priority Processing Dates:

Summer 2025 May 23, 2025 
Fall 2025 June 6, 2025 
Winter 2026  November 7th, 2025
Spring 2026  February 13th, 2026

Meeting Financial Aid Priority Processing Dates

Plan Ahead for Success!

To ensure your financial aid is ready in time, we recommend submitting your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) at least two weeks before the priority date and submitting all requested documents by the priority deadline. If you submit your FAFSA or WASFA on the same day as the priority processing date, it won't be received by the college the same day.

What is a Priority Processing Date?

A priority processing date is considered met if:

1. You have submitted your FAFSA or WASFA application, and
2. All requested paperwork is completed and received by the Financial Aid Office by the published priority date (depending on your starting quarter).

Meeting the priority processing date gives you the best chance to have your aid eligibility determined before the quarter begins.

Benefits of Meeting the Priority Processing Date:

• Tuition Postponement Hold: If you meet the priority processing date, you may be eligible for a tuition postponement hold, allowing you to remain registered for your classes while your financial aid is processed.

What Happens if You Miss the Priority Date?
Don’t worry—you can still apply for financial aid! However:

• Late Files: Applications completed after the priority date may not be reviewed until after the quarter begins.
• Planning Ahead: Be prepared to cover your educational expenses upfront while your aid is being reviewed.
• Retroactive Aid: If you qualify for grant aid, it will be applied retroactively for the quarter(s) you were eligible.

For Federal Direct Loan Requests:

• You must be enrolled in at least 6 credits required for your program.
• Loan Request Forms must be submitted before the end of the quarter in which you’re requesting the loan.

Reminder: You must complete your FAFSA or WASFA every year. Stay ahead by filing early and submitting all documents on time. Your preparation and timely actions will help ensure a smoother financial aid process.

If you have questions, our Financial Aid Office is here to support you every step of the way!

There are a number of alternative ways to fund your education,  while you are waiting for your financial aid application to be reviewed and processed.

• Everett Community College Scholarship Opportunities
• AmeriCorps Education Award
• Washington State Opportunity Scholarships offers three pathways to high-demand careers in Washington state. Not sure where to start? Find the right scholarship program for you and then read the information below to get started.  

  Here are some important Washington State Opportunity Scholarships highlights:

• The Baccalaureate Scholarship (BaS) application for the 2024-2025 academic year opens on January 10, 2024 and closes on February 29, 2024 and applicants will be notified of their selection status in April 2024
• The Career and Technical Scholarship (CTS) application for Winter/Spring 2026 opens September 30, 2025 and closes on October 16, 2025 at 9 p.m. Applicants will be notified of their selection status in late November 2025
• The Graduate Scholarship (GRD) application for the 2024-2025 academic year opens March 25, 2024
  1. the GRD eligibility requirements can be found here
• Current BaS scholars: please review the eligibility requirements here
• Current CTS scholars: please review the eligibility requirements here

• College Bound Scholarship
• Undocumented students
• Veteran Resource Center
• Financial Aid Information for Veterans
• Ability to Benefit 

Savi created the free COVID-19 Student Loan Aid Tool to help borrowers enroll in federal programs that can reduce or eliminate payments for up to 12 months.

Pell Grant Recipients Eligible for Federal Internet Subsidy During Pandemic

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently announced the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program to help those struggling to pay for internet amid the pandemic, stating that a household is eligible to receive the benefit if one member of the household received a federal Pell Grant during the current award year, among other possible criteria for eligibility. Under the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, eligible households can receive up to $50 per month to help pay for broadband internet service. Written or electronic confirmation from a student’s school that the individual is a Pell Grant recipient will serve as verification for the program, or a student’s financial aid award letter documenting the amount of their Pell Grant award received for the current year. A copy of a student’s paid invoice that shows the student’s receipt of a Pell Grant during the current award year or a copy of the student’s Student Aid Report will all serve as proper documentation, according to the notice from the FCC. For more information, visit FCC website Emergency Broadband Benefit. 

Avoid Scams

The Federal Trade Commission is warning that scammers are taking advantage of the ongoing pandemic in attempts to obtain students’ financial and personal information, in some instances posing as financial aid offices. If you receive an email that tells you to click on a link to get a message about your COVID-19 economic stimulus check — and it needs to be opened through a portal link requiring your university login. Don’t do it. It’s a phishing scam. If you click to “log in,” you could be giving your username, password, or other personal information to scammers, while possibly downloading malware onto your device.