Financial Aid & FAFSA
FAFSA INFORMATION
If your student is considering attending a two year, four year, vocational or training program that accepts federal aid, please be ready to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), available October 1 at
The FAFSA is your best chance to access financial help you may be eligible for in order for your student to attend a college, university, or vocational program. Unless you know your student is entering the workforce or military directly out of high school, please plan on completing a FAFSA for access to grants, loans, and some institutional scholarships.
Follow these steps to complete the FAFSA as close to October 1 as possible:
1) Before you complete the FAFSA, you and your student will each need an FSA ID to provide your signature electronically.
2) Start to gather these items in order to complete the online FAFSA application on or after October 1st:
- Social Security Card
- Student’s Social Security Card
- Drivers License (if applicable)
- Alien Registration Number (if applicable)
- Tax Returns for 2020
- No Taxes?
- Records of Untaxed Income
- Child Support paid or received
- Interest Income
- Veterans noneducational benefits
- W2
- Information on cash/savings/checking balances
- Value of investments/ real estate (not for the home you live in)
- Business/farm asset value
3) Fill out the application as close to October 1st as possible at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa .
In order to submit the FAFSA, you must first create an "FSA ID." Both student and parent need an FSA ID. You should go to fsaid.ed.gov to start the process.
1) The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) application opens OCTOBER 1st this year!
That means if your student will be attending any post-secondary institutions in 2022, you should fill this out.
The closer you can fill it out to Oct. 1st, the better chance you have of getting aid if you qualify.
Here is the website: https://fafsa.ed.gov/
2) Even if you think your income level will be too high, many institutions
REQUIRE the FAFSA. It never hurts to fill it out, as your circumstances can change.
3) In order to submit the FAFSA, you must first create an "FSA ID." There are no longer pin numbers,
so everyone must create an ID this year. Both student and parent need an FSA ID.
You can go to fsaid.ed.gov to start the process now.
4) If you have questions or get "stuck" on the FAFSA, feel free to call any local institution's financial
aid departments (i.e., SFCC, EWU, Gonzaga, etc.). They should be able to answer general questions
even if you don't intend to apply there. You can also call FAFSA directly at 1-800-4FED-AID
(1-800-433-3243).
• 7 Things You Need Before You Fill Out the FAFSA
http://blog.ed.gov/2015/12/7-things-before-fafsa/
• 7 Steps to Filling Out the FAFSA
http://blog.ed.gov/2015/12/7-steps-filling-out-fafsa/
• 11 Common FAFSA Mistakes
http://blog.ed.gov/2016/01/11-common-fafsa-mistakes/
Common Questions about Filing the FAFSA
http://www.onlinecolleges.net/for-students/fafsa/. This guide answers the most common questions that students
have about filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Topics include eligibility, special cases, what you need to actually apply, and questions to expect.
A variety of options are available to help you pay for college. Check out the options below and contact the financial aid office at the college of your choice.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Virtually all financial aid sources in Washington use a single application form called the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). After you complete the online form, you can choose which colleges to send it to. You must submit the FAFSA to your college's financial aid office to be considered. For instructions, visit the 7 Easy Steps to the FAFSA video tutorial.
Washington State Financial Aid Programs
The state’s student financial aid programs — for example, State Need Grant, College Bound scholarship, state Work Study, Passport to College for foster youth — help tens of thousands of students annually earn college credits, certificates and degrees.
Known collectively as Washington Opportunity Pathways, some of these programs are need-based, while others are based on merit (good grades). Find out if you are eligible for one or more Opportunity Pathways programs.
Funds are Limited, Apply Right Away
Many aid programs are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so complete your FAFSA right away. Priority deadlines vary from college to college, so check the college's financial aid deadline.
Students must apply for financial aid every year.
Types of Funding
Grants — do not need to be paid back
Loans — must be repaid
Scholarships — do not need to be paid back
Workforce transition support — do not need to be paid back. This includes:
Opportunity Grant
WorkFirst
Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET)
Worker Retraining
Financial Aid Tips
After you accept financial aid, ask the financial aid office:
How and when you'll receive the money.
How much aid will be directly applied to your bill.
How much your first bill will be.
What you can expect in future years. (Your financial aid amounts might differ from year to year.)
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Washington Community Colleges
Quality Education at an Affordable Cost
Washington state community and technical colleges offer the best educational values around. Our tuition and fees average about half the tuition at public four-year universities. You'll save thousands for classes that transfer to universities or prepare you for a career.
Tuition and Fees
The following tuition and fees are set by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and apply to all 34 colleges. Every college also charges campus-based fees, like technology fees or lab fees. Visit the tuition and fees page at the college of your choice for more complete cost information.
Tuition Waivers
Students who meet certain criteria may be eligible for tuition waivers to help pay for college. These tuition waivers vary by campus, so check with your college registrar's office. Some examples are Oregon border county residents, military veterans and senior citizens.
Calculate Your College Costs
Tuition and fees are just part of the cost of going to college. Students also need to pay class fees, books, supplies and other related expenses. Net price calculators can help you estimate how much you'll pay to attend a college after financial aid is factored in.
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SCHOLARSHIPS
DFS SCHOLARSHIPS
Jacob Meltzer and Josh Thorsvik, owners of 8 Keep It Cut locations in Arizona and 2001 MLHS graduates & Medical Lake Dollars for Scholars recipients, have recently made a generous donation to Medical Lake Dollars for Scholars with which they are able to offer several more scholarships this year!
Those of you who have applied for the DFS scholarships need to return to your dashboard and search for matched scholarships again (left side of the page, scroll down a little). If you qualify for these new scholarships you'll find them in the My Opportunities section of the dashboard. Simply click the "APPLY" button and you're golden!
Because of the lateness of this addition, Mrs. Niblock has extended the deadline for ALL scholarships to Monday, May 17 to give you the weekend to complete any tasks and take advantage of these new scholarships
Mrs. Niblock will also be sending emails out late tonight about this opportunity as well as let you know if you still have additional steps in order to qualify for MLDFS scholarships.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Niblock at [email protected].
THIS LINK TAKES YOU DIRECTLY TO WASHINGTON SCHOLARSHIPS
College Scholarship Links
Colleges
University of Washington Scholarships
University of Washington Tacoma Scholarships
Washington State University Scholarships
Western Washington University Scholarships
Eastern Washington University Scholarships
Central Washington University Scholarships
The Evergreen State College Scholarships
University of Washington Tacoma Scholarships
Washington State University Scholarships
Western Washington University Scholarships
Eastern Washington University Scholarships
Central Washington University Scholarships
The Evergreen State College Scholarships
Independent Colleges of Washington Scholarships
University of Puget Sound Scholarships
Pacific Lutheran University Scholarships
St. Martin’s University Scholarships
Seattle University Scholarships
Seattle Pacific University Scholarships
Gonzaga University Scholarships
Heritage University Scholarships
Walla Walla University Scholarships
Whitman College Scholarships
Whitworth University Scholarships
Western Governors University Scholarships
University of Puget Sound Scholarships
Pacific Lutheran University Scholarships
St. Martin’s University Scholarships
Seattle University Scholarships
Seattle Pacific University Scholarships
Gonzaga University Scholarships
Heritage University Scholarships
Walla Walla University Scholarships
Whitman College Scholarships
Whitworth University Scholarships
Western Governors University Scholarships
Fastweb is your connection to scholarships, colleges, financial aid and more
Free scholarship and financial aid platform.
MILITARY DEPENDENT SCHOLARSHIPS
https://www.militaryscholar.org/sfmc/apply.html
Deadline: March 1, 2021
American Indian Endowed Scholarship
These Scholarship awards are based on the interest earnings available from the endowment which typically range from $500-$2,000. Applicants must have close social and cultural ties to an American Indian tribe or community in Washington State. for more information and to apply click on the link above.
Daughters of American Agriculture Scholarship
This scholarship will award 2 students $1,000. Students must be a woman planning to study agriculture leadership, communications, rural sociology, medicine, or any other courses directly related to agriculture. for more information click on the link above.
Scholarship for Journalism Diversity
This scholarship will award 1 student $8,500. The student must be a high school senior with an average GPA of 3.0 or better who is preparing to enter college and intends to become a journalist who will bring diversity to U.S. journalism. For more information click on the link above.
American Chemical Society Scholars Program
This scholarship will award 350 students $5,000. Students must be a graduating high school senior. For more information click on the link above.
Project Yellow Light Video Scholarship
This scholarship will award 6 students $8,000. Students must currently be in high and be attending a College or University in the Fall of 2021. For more information click on the link above.
This scholarship will award 150 students $10,000. Students must be a high school senior planning to attend college in the fall and intends to pursue a college curriculum directed toward a career in applied geophysics. For more information click on the link above.
Microsoft Disability Scholarships
This scholarship will award 10 students $20,000. Students must be a current high school senior living with a disability (as defined by WHO). For more information click on
the link above.
The Washington State School Retiree's Association and its local units are offering more than $15,000 in Scholarships to those interested in working in the public or privates schools in the state of Washington as a teacher or related field; counselor, speech therapist, physical or occupational therapist, psychologist, etc. Click on the link above for information and to apply.
Deadline: March 2, 2021
This Scholarship awards are based on a variety of criteria and are typically from $500-$2,500. Click on the link above for more information and to apply.
Deadline: March 12, 2021
Executive Women International of Spokane
Up to 3 juniors per school may apply. The first place scholarship is worth $6,000, second place is worth $3,000 and third place is worth $2,000. Click on the link above for more information and to apply.
Deadline: March 15, 2021
Beyond the Boroughs National Scholarship
This scholarship will award 2 students $20,000. Students must be a high school senior accepted to an accredited four-year college, university, or equivalent and be from a low-income household. For more information click on the link above.
This Scholarship will award 1 student $6,000. The student must rank in the 90th percentile in both math and critical reading on SAT or composite ACT scores. Students must also pursue an engineering or related science degree through an ABET-accredited program. For more information click on the link above.
Louie Family Foundation Scholarships
This Scholarship will award 25 students $4,000. To be eligible for this scholarship you must be planning to attend an accredited college/university in the fall of 2021. You must also have a minimum GPA of 3.7 or higher, have a minimum SAT score of 1300 or an ACT score of 27. For more information and to apply click on the link above.
Deadline: March 19, 2021
Community Colleges of Spokane Foundation
By completing our General Application, students are applying to multiple scholarships at once and may receive separate, personalized scholarship recommendations! Click on the link above for more information.
Deadline: March 25, 2021
This scholarship will award 400 students $5,000. To qualify you must be children, step-children, or legal dependents of full- or part-time permanent federal civilian or postal workers employed with the federal government for more than three years. For more information and to apply click on the link above.
Deadline: March 29, 2021
This scholarship will award 1 student $2,222. To be eligible you must be a resident of the United States, District of Columbia or US Territories and at least 16 years of age. For more information and to apply click on the link above.
Deadline: March 30, 2021
Odenza Marketing Group Scholarship
This scholarship will award 1 student $500. The student must be between the ages of 16 and 25 on March 30, 2021. For more information click on the link above.
Deadline: March 31, 2021
This scholarship will award 12 students $2,000. To be eligible you must be a high school senior and have a minimum GPA of 2.5. For more information and to apply click on the link above.
This scholarship will award 10 students $10,000. To be eligible you must be a high school senior planning to attend college in September 2021 and answer the essay question on the sponsor's website. For more information and to apply click on the link above.
Deadline: April 1, 2021
Fairchild Spouses United Scholarship Award
FSU is a private volunteer organization serving Fairchild Air Force Base. FSU is offering an annual merit-based scholarship to military spouses and dependents. Awards are awarded for outstanding academic achievement, character/leadership qualities, and community involvement. The quantity and value of annual FSU scholarship awards are dependent on funds raised. For more information click on the link above or see Mrs. Ford in the Counseling Center.
American Nuclear Society Scholarship
This scholarship will award 3 students $5,000. To be eligible you must be a high school senior who has enrolled full-time in college courses pursuing science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) with an interest in working in nuclear science and technology. For more information and to apply click on the link above.
Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship
This scholarship will award 200 students $10,000. To be eligible you must be a high school senior with a GPA of 2.5 or above, be enrolling in one of the following majors: Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Physics. For more information and to apply click on the link above.
This scholarship will award 42 students $4,000. To be eligible you be a woman between the ages of 16 and 19 on April 1st living in a Zonta district/region. You must also demonstrate evidence of at least one of the following: Active commitment to volunteerism, experience in local government, student government, or workplace leadership. For more information and to apply click on the link above.
This scholarship will award 1 student $500. To be eligible you must currently be in high school, college, or university. For more information and to apply click on the link above.
Deadline: April 15, 2021
Inland Power & Light Excellence Award
This scholarship will award 15 students $1,000. Click on the link above or see Mrs. Ford in the Counseling Center for more information and to apply.
Scott and Kim Verplank Foundation Scholarship
This scholarship will award 1 student $10,000. To be eligible you must be a high school senior diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and have a GPA of 3.0 or greater. You must also be successfully managing diabetes with proper medication, exercise, and diet. For more information and to apply click on the link above.
Intertech Foundation STEM Scholarship
This scholarship will award 1 student $2,500. To be eligible you must have a GPA of 3.3 or higher with an intent to study computer science. You must also be enrolling at or accepted to an accredited college or university with the US for the fall of 2021. For more information and to apply click on the link above.
National Dairy Shrine Scholarships
This scholarship will award 42 students $3,000. To be eligible you must a high school senior planning to enter a four-year college or university with the intent to major in Dairy/Animal Science. For more information and to apply click on the link above.
Deadline: April 16, 2021 at 3:00 P.M.
2021 Darrelyn McDermott Memorial Scholarship
This $500 scholarship is in honor of a past Cheney High School English teacher who encouraged many students to write. You will find more information and must apply through the class of 2021 Google Classroom.
Deadline: April 28, 2021
VSA Emerging Young Artists Program
This scholarship will award 15 students $20,000. To be eligible you must be between the ages of 16 and 25 with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. For more information and to apply click on the link above.
Deadline: April 30, 2021
This scholarship will award 1 student $1,000. To be eligible you must be planning to attend college or university full- or part-time in the fall of 2021 and have a GPA of 2.5 or greater. For more information and to apply click on the link above.
Deadline: May 14, 2021
Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW)
BIAW recognizes continuing education as a core principle in the support and sustainability of the home building industry by offering scholarships and grants. Students throughout Washington state and education or workforce development programs that encourage the youth of today to get involved in building the homes of tomorrow are encouraged to apply. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $5,000. Click on the link above for more information or to apply. Or see Mrs. Ford in the Counseling Center.
Deadline: May 15, 2021
This scholarship will award 1 student $1,000. To be eligible you must be planning to attend college or university in the fall of 2021. You must also have a GPA of 2.5 or greater and plan on attending a school in the United States. For more information and to apply click on the link above.
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