Applying for Aid

Applying for Aid

Welcome to Green River College! We are excited for you to join our community. To receive financial aid, follow the steps below to ensure that you can get and keep your aid. The earlier you start this process, the better!

1. Apply for admissions to Green River College

Returning students who have been away for a quarter or more and Running Start students must re-apply to the college. 

2. Apply for financial aid

• Submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid). Which application should I complete? 
• We cannot guarantee that applications submitted after the priority processing deadline will be reviewed in time for the start of the quarter. 

FAFSA/WASFA 2023-2024 (Summer 2023 - Spring 2024)

FAFSA/WASFA 2024-2025 (Summer 2024 - Spring 2025)

3. Check your email regularly along with the Tasks and Message Center tiles in ctcLink for updates on your financial aid.

• Check that the preferred email you have selected in ctcLink is up-to-date. You may or may not have selected your student email as your preferred email. You can edit it using the Profile tile in ctcLink.
• You can download most of the requested documents from the Financial Aid Forms site, and/or the Internal Revenue Services (IRS)
• Please upload any forms or documents electronically to our office via our secure document upload tool or drop them off in-person during our operating hours.

4. Review your financial aid offer

• Once your aid offer is ready to review, you will receive a notification at your preferred email selected in ctcLink. You can review your aid and choose to accept or decline any loans or work study opportunities you may be offered using the Financial Aid tile in ctcLink. Grants (free money) are automatically accepted on your behalf.
• Students who are first-time loan borrowers must complete loan entrance counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note online before they can receive their loans. Students who do not qualify for any grants or work study opportunities based on their income reported on the FAFSA must submit a direct loan worksheet to request student loans.
• Students who want to get a work study job must apply for a job and be accepted. To view available jobs, create an account at GRC's online job portal Handshake. 
• If you qualify for aid, Financial Aid will automatically pay for your tuition and fees first and send any remaining funds directly to the student through our third-party vendor, BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. Students who do not qualify for enough aid to cover the entire cost of their tuition and fees will be notified once their aid has been applied to their student account that they must pay the remaining balance. Students may pay the remaining balance on their account by either visiting the Student Financials Office at the Green River College main campus in Auburn in-person Monday - Thursday from 8 AM - 5 PM, Fridays from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM in the Student Affairs Building on the second floor or may pay online through the Financial Account tile in ctcLink.
• Select your refund preference with BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. Visit this link for more information: http://bankmobiledisbursements.com/how-it-works/.
• Financial Aid can only pay for courses that count towards a student's program of study. We recommend students meet with an advisor and check the Academic Progress tile in ctcLink before signing up for courses to ensure Financial Aid can pay for your classes.
• Awards listed on a student's financial aid offer letter are based on the student being enrolled full-time (taking at least 12 credits for the quarter); therefore, the amount of aid students will receive will be reduced if students are taking fewer than 12 credits. Please keep in mind that students must be registered in at least 6 credits to receive student loans and work in student employment. Once they have finalized their course schedule, students should notify the Financial Aid Office if they decide to take fewer than 12 credits to prevent delays in receiving their aid.  

5. Manage your Financial Aid

In order to remain eligible to receive financial aid, you must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP); failure to do so will result in a loss and/or repayment of aid. Please connect with our office if you are struggling to complete your clases and before deciding to drop or withdraw from any courses.

6. Re-New Your Aid

Students must re-submit their FAFSA/WASFA every award year with updated tax and income information to maintain their eligibility for aid. Both applications become available on October 1st each year to apply for aid for the following year.