FAFSA (FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID)

U.S. Citizens and residents who have Permanent Resident Status in the U.S should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form to apply for financial aid for college.

• Whatcom Community College's Federal School Code: 010364
• It takes approximately 1 week to receive a student's FAFSA form once it is completed online
• Need help completing the FAFSA? Call 1-800-433-3243 or schedule an appointment with us by contacting Orca Central

FAFSA Application

WASFA (WASHINGTON APPLICATION FOR STATE FINANCIAL AID)

The Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) is for people who don’t file a FAFSA. People who complete a WASFA are applying for state aid only.

After you complete the WASFA, the college(s) or program(s) you choose will determine whether you meet state residency requirements and state financial aid eligibility. State financial aid could include Washington College Grant, the College Bound Scholarship, Passport to Careers, or State Work Study.

WASFA Application

Financial Aid Application Process

1. FAFSA/WASFA Received: Once WCC receives a student's FAFSA or WASFA, the student will receive a confirmation email.
2. Check Your Tasks in ctcLink: Students should log in to ctcLink, go to Student Homepage, and select Tasks. Any items listed in the To-Do List are additional requirements needed to complete financial aid file review process.
3. Application Review Timeline: Please allow 6-8 weeks for the review process. This is dependent on when required items are submitted and reviewed.

Awarding Process

1. File Completion & Timeline: After the FAFSA/WASFA has been reviewed and all To-Do items are completed, the file moves to awarding. This step may take 2-3 weeks.
2. Grant Review & Financial Aid Offer: Students are reviewed for Federal Pell Grant and Washington College Grant (WCG) eligibility. If eligible, a Financial Aid Offer is sent outlining the award and directing the student to view it in ctcLink.
3. How to View Awards in ctcLink: Log in to ctcLink. Click Student Homepage. Click Financial Aid. Click View Financial Aid. Select the Aid Year and Institution.
4. If Not Eligible for Grants: Students who are not grant-eligible receive an email explaining that they may now apply for loans and proceed with the WCC student loan process.

Financial Aid Offer Notification

Once your financial aid file has been reviewed and awarded, you will receive a Financial Aid Offer if you are eligible for grants, work-study, or scholarships. This offer will outline your awards and provide important details about your eligibility.

How to View Your Awards in ctcLink

Log in to ctcLink, then:

1. Click Student Homepage
2. Select the Financial Aid tile

From there, you can view your full financial aid package.

Save a Copy

We recommend downloading/saving your Financial Aid Offer for your records.

1. Applying Aid to Your Account: The Business Office/Student Financials will apply your financial aid awards to any outstanding charges on your ctcLink account for the quarter. This includes: tuition, mandatory fees, and WCC housing charges (if applicable).
2. Refund Process: After all outstanding charges have been covered, any remaining funds will be sent to BankMobile (BMTX, Inc.) for refund processing.
3. Refund Timing: The time it take to receive your refund depends on the refund preference you selected with BankMobile.

Viewing Your Account Balance

1. Log into ctcLink: Go to Student Homepage. Click the Financial Account tile.
2. Find Your Balance: Your current account balance should show at the top of the left sidebar. It may also be found in the main window of the Financial Account tile.

Refund Process

After your outstanding charges have been paid, any remaining financial funds are refunded to you beginning on the first day of the quarter through BankMobile, a technology solution powered by BMTX, Inc.

Set Up Your BankMobile Disbursements Profile

To receive a refund, you must set up a profile specifically for WCC. Profiles created for other colleges will not work. Make sure your mailing address, email address, and banking information are current to avoid delays. Be sure to keep track of your login information

How to Select Your Refund Preference

To set up your refund preference for the first time:

1. Log in to your MyWCC account.
2. Follow the steps outlined in the section titled "HOW TO SELECT YOUR FINANCIAL AID REFUND" below.

Important Note

If you do not set up a refund preference, a paper check will be mailed to you. This may delay your refund by 3 or more weeks.

To select your refund preference with BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc., follow these steps:

• Log into mywcc.whatcom.edu.
• Click GENERAL
• Click FINANCIAL AID REFUND
• Select how you want your money delivered

For assistance with your MyWCC Student Portal, network account or student email, please contact the Student Help Desk at studenthelpdesk@whatcom.edu or 360-383-3410.

Federal and State Financial Aid Regulations require that students who receive financial aid be required to make Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to maintain financial aid eligibility.

Click here for more information about Whatcom Community College's Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Guidelines for Using Your AmeriCorps Award at WCC

You can use your Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to pay for current education expenses. Educational expenses that can be paid include:

• The “Cost of Attendance” (COA) for a degree or certificate-granting program of study. The COA may include tuition, books and supplies, transportation, room and board, and other expenses.
• Educational expenses for non-degree courses, such as continuing education courses or workshops. Educational expenses that can be paid include tuition and fees, books, and supplies as determined by WCC.
• Courses or training programs authorized under the Montgomery G.I. Bill® and Post 9/11 G.I. Bill®. These courses and programs have been approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for G.I. Bill® educational benefits.

How to Access and Manage Your AmeriCorps Award

Account Creation:

• Register for a My AmeriCorps account at my.americorps.gov. Click “Register to create a new Member/Alum account” and follow the instructions.

Request an Education Award Payment:

1. Log in to My AmeriCorps.
2. Click “Create Education Award Payment Request” under “My Education Award.”
3. Complete and submit the form.
4. WCC will verify and submit your request to CNCS.

Payment Details:

• By law, payments are made directly to Whatcom Community College, not to individuals.
• Payments are disbursed in two installments. First installment is at the beginning of the selected enrollment period (quarter). Second installment is at the midpoint of the enrollment period (quarter).
• WCC does not provide matching funds for AmeriCorps Award recipients. However, students may apply for additional financial aid if eligible.

Important Notes:

• Once your request is received and your enrollment is confirmed, the Financial Aid Office will place a hold on your tuition to prevent course cancellation/drop for non-payment.
• Submit requests 2–3 weeks before the quarter begins to allow for processing.

For questions, please contact Rico Martinez, Financial Aid Program Specialist, at rmartinez@whatcom.edu