Purpose of Financial Aid
For many students and families, the cost of attending college is too great to manage alone. For this reason, the BTC Financial Aid Office is available to assist eligible students in obtaining financial aid so they may achieve their educational and career goals. There are many types of financial aid available, including grants, loans, scholarships, work study and other agency funding.

Financial Aid can be used to pay tuition, fees, books, supplies and some living expenses.

To be sure you receive the money you are eligible for, it is best to plan ahead. The financial aid process can take up to three months, so start your application process early.

Available Programs  (back to top)
There are two basic types of financial aid available to help meet college costs: gift aid and self-help aid. Gift aid includes grants and scholarships, aid that does not need to be repaid. Self-help aid includes loan and work study. Loans must be repaid at a future date and work study must be earned.

Federal Pell Grant
This grant is considered to be the foundation of the financial aid award. The amount will vary from year to year, depending on the appropriations from Congress.

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
ACG grants are awarded to fulltime students who are enrolled in two year degree programs, who have completed a rigorous high school program of study and who meet the following criteria.
• Be eligible to receive a Pell Grant
• Be enrolled in a BTC AAS degree program
• Have completed high school on or after January 2005
• Be a US Citizen
• Demonstrate completion of a rigorous academic curriculum in high school, as defined by the State of Washington
• Maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 while in college


Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Eligible students may receive additional grant funds from the Federal Government. FSEOG is awarded to students showing the lowest family contribution who are also eligible for a Pell Grant. Since funds are limited, these grants are awarded on a first-come first-served basis.

State Need Grant (SNG)
Similar to the FSEOG, this grant is awarded to eligible students on a first-come first-served basis to Washington State residents only.

State Work Study
Through part-time employment on campus, students who demonstrate financial need and are enrolled at least half time may earn a portion of their educational costs. If the student desires a work study position, he or she must complete a Work Study Application, available in the Financial Aid Office. Students will then be referred to potential employers. After the student is hired, he or she must complete the appropriate paperwork necessary for working in the State of Washington. Students are paid on the tenth of the month following the period of employment.

Stafford Loans
Eligible students may borrow up to $3,500 or $4,500 (depending on the grade level) per year to assist in meeting educational costs. An additional amount is available to eligible independent students in the form of an unsubsidized loan. The interest on these loans accumulates during the time the student is in school and is added to the principal when the loan goes into repayment. The interest rate is 6.8%.

Repayment of principal and interest begins six months after the student is no longer enrolled in school at least halftime. A student must first complete an on line Loan Entrance Interview before applying for a Stafford Loan. Further information is available in the Financial Aid Office.

Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
PLUS loans enable parents with good credit histories to borrow to pay the education expenses of each child who is a dependent undergraduate enrolled at least half time. The annual limit of a PLUS loan is equal to the student’s’s cost of attendance minus any other financial aid received. The cap on the interest rate is 9%.

Other Financial Aid  (back to top)

Scholarships
Any student interested in applying for scholarships offered through BTC must complete and submit the standard scholarship application. Private scholarships are also available throughout the academic year. Applications are available through the Financial Aid Office.

Veterans Benefits
Veterans who wish to use their VA benefits for educational costs should contact the Veterans Coordinator in the Financial Resources Center prior to enrollment to ensure benefits will be paid in a timely manner.

Other Agency Assistance
BTC encourages students to check into eligibility for funding assistance from other agencies. Students may be eligible for additional funding to supplement their Federal financial aid package. Some of the funding that may be available is listed below. Information about agency funding is available in off-campus offices and at the Student Financial Resources Center in the BTC Student Services Building.

On-Campus Funding
• Worker Retraining
• Workfirst
• Opportunity Grant
• Food Stamp Employment and Training (FSET)

Off-Campus Funding

• Division of Vacational Rehabilitation (DVR)
• Employment Security
• Labor and Industries (L&I)
• Northwest Workforce Development Council (NWDC)
• Tribal Funding

Eligibility Requirements  (back to top)
To receive financial aid, students must:

• Submit the FAFSA and other paperwork that may be requestd by the Financial Aid Office
• Be accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible program of study
• Be a U.S citizen or an eligible non-citizen
• Have a High School Diploma, GED or pass the Ability to Benefit test offered through BTC's Assessment Center
• Not owe a repayment of any grant, be in default on any student loan, or have borrowed in excess of the Stafford loan limits
• Register with Selective Service, if required.
• Have a valid Social Security Number


Students may not be eligible if they have:
• Earned a Bachelor's Degree (not eligible for a Pell grant, State Need grant, or SEOG, but may be eligible for other aid)
• Received aid from another school during the same quarter of enrollment
• Convicted for the possession or sale of illegal drugs