Financial Aid

Paying for college options:

  • Financial aid: scholarships, grants and loans
  • Your earnings: more value if you help pay for your education
  • College payment plans: tuition payments on a monthly plan
  • Employer Educational Assistance Programs: Many employers offer scholarships or tuition reimbursement
  • The military: tuition reimbursement, loan repayment, G.I. Bill

Financial Aid Information
As you progress through your senior year of high school, use a checklist to keep on top of college financial aid and:

  • Attend the financial aid program at your high school, or the college fair in your area.
  • Complete scholarship applications. Contact your guidance counselor for local awards.
  • Complete the free application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) after January 1 (of your senior year) and submit before March 1.
  • Look for an award letter from the colleges that have accepted you that details the assistance they are offering.
  • If you do need to apply for an education loan, do so eight to 10 weeks before school starts.

Your first stop on your search for money to pay for college should be at the Higher Education Coordinating Board Website: www.hecb.wa.gov. You and your parents can find lots of very helpful information. There are also many opportunities at the federal level.

Higher Education Coordinating Board is a state agency that administrators and coordinates state and federal aid programs to provide the best possible service to students and ensures the best use of state resources.

FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form you complete (which is easier then you think) to apply for state, federal and college-specific financial aid. Pick up the FAFSA at your high school or college. You can also apply on-line at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC): If you need answers right away to questions about federal student aid, call the number listed below between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (eastern time), Monday through Friday: 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) toll-free number, or online at http://www.studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/2004_2005/english/general-infocenter.htm.

FSAIC will:

  • Assist you in making corrections to your Student Aid Report (SAR).
  • Tell you whether a school participates in the federal student aid programs and that school's student loan default rate.
  • Explain federal student aid eligibility requirements and how to determine need.

Washington State Financial Aid Resources: 

  • Supplemental College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP): Federal funds are available to migrant and seasonal farm workers and their children to go to school: www.hecb.wa.gov/grants/camp/campindex.asp
     
  • Guaranteed Educational Tuition (GET): Offers WA families a simple, safe, and affordable way to save for future college expenses by investing in tuition units: www.hecb.wa.gov/GET/index.asp
     
  • Americorps is a network of national service programs that provide intensive services to meet critical needs in education, public safety, the environment, homeland security, and other human needs. An eductional award of $4,725 is given after satisfactorily completing the program: www.ofm.wa.gov/servewa/americorps.htm
     
  • Washington State University offers a website for students who are interested in nursing. This website provides information on financial support along with other valuable information on nursing: www.nursing.wsu.edu/future
     
  • State Health Professional Loan Repayment and Scholarship Program: www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/ocrh/slrp/default.htm Contact: Kathy McVay, Program Administrator, P.O. Box 47834, Olympia WA 98504-7834 or email at kathy.mcvay@doh.wa.gov
     
  • American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) Contact: Kathy Moran, American Business Women’s Assoc., P.O. Box 1070, Spokane, WA 99210
     
  • American Legion Auxiliary Department of Washington Department Gift Scholarships Local Unit, American Legion Auxiliary or the American Legion Auxiliary of Washington, P.O. Box 5867, Lacey WA 98509-5867
     
  • Carlson-Lewiston Rotary Scholarship: www.lcsc.edu/financialaid/scholarships.htm
     
  • Carroll Olson Nursing Scholarship Endowment: www.columbiabasin.edu/home/index.asp?page=91
     
  • Community Colleges of Spokane Foundation Scholarships Contact: Sue Davidson, Community Colleges of Spokane Foundation, 501 North River Point Blvd., P.O. Box 6000, MS 1005, Spokane WA 99217-6000
     
  • Dorothy E. Guild Nursing Scholarship Contact: Gonzaga University, Financial Aid Office, 502 E. Boone, Spokane, WA 99258-0001
     
  • Dr. & Mrs. Charles Simmons Scholarship: www.lcsc.edu/financialaid/scholarships.htm
     
  • The Grace Smith Endowed Scholarship in Nursing: www.lcsc.edu/financialaid/scholarships.htm
     
  • Gretchen Dimico Memorial Scholarship: www.lcsc.edu/financialaid/schloarships.htm
     
  • Hank and Patty Thomsen Memorial Scholarship Endowment: www.columbiabasin.edu/home/index.asp?page=91
     
  • Hearthstone Resident Council Contact: Big Bend Community College, Financial Aid Office, 7662 Chanute St. NE, Moses Lake, WA 98837
     
  • Katherine Lewis Nursing Scholarship Contact: Big Bend Community College, Financial Aid Office, 7662 Chanute St. NE, Moses Lake, WA 98837
     
  • King County Nurse’s Association Scholarship Program: www.kcnurses.org
     
  • Laura Moore Cunningham Nursing Scholarship: www.lcsc.edu/financialaid/scholarships.htm
     
  • Lee Eggert Scholarship
    Contact: Big Bend Community College, Financial Aid Office, 7662 Chanute St. NE; Moses Lake, WA 98837
     
  • Lois Jean Roberts Memorial Nursing Scholarships
    Contact: St. Luke’s Foundation, PO Box 5641, Bellingham, WA 98227
     
  • Louisa Murphy Nursing Scholarship: www.lcsc.edu/financialaid/scholarships.htm
     
  • Lt. Col. Richard Paul Beers Memorial Scholarship: www.columbiabasin.edu/home/index.asp?page=91
     
  • Margaret S. Staunton Scholarship
    Contact: Gonzaga University, Financial Aid office, 502 E. Boone, Spokane WA 99258-0001
     
  • Margaret Tagen Scholarship: www.columbiabasin.edu/home/index.asp?page=91
     
  • Mary Schons Scholarship
    Contact: Gonzaga University, Financial Aid Office, 502 E. Boone, Spokane, WA 99258-0001
     
  • Minority Nurse Annual Scholarship Program: www.minoritynurse.com
     
  • The Moses Lake Clinic Nurse’s Scholarship
    Contact: Moses Lake Clinic Nurse’s Scholarship Committee, 840 Hill, Moses Lake, WA 98837
     
  • Nurse Practioner group of Spokane Scholarship
    Contact: Teresa Colley c/o NPGS, 124 Rowan., Ste, 102 Spokane, WA 99207
     
  • Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP): www.bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/loanrepay.htm
     
  • Nursing Incentive Contracts: www.lcsc.edu/financialaid/scholarships-nursing.htm
  • Oncology Nursing Foundation Scholarships: www.onsfoundation.org
     
  • Sacred Heart Alumni Association Scholarship and the Sacred Heart School of Nursing Patrician Bautch McGuire Memorial Scholarship
    Contact: Sacred Heart of Nursing Scholarship Committee, c/o Public Relations, PO Box 2555, Spokane, WA 99220-2555
     
  • Spokane Area Retired Educators Foundation Student Loan Fund
    Contact: Neil Prescott, Chairman, Student Loan Fund, Spokane Area Retired Educators Foundation, 523 N. Best Rd., Spokane, WA 99216
     
  • St. Lukes Memorial Hospital Alumnae Association
    Contact: Claudia Kroll, Spokane Community College Nursing Department
  • Tri-State Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Undergraduate Scholarship
    Contact: Director of Public Relations, Tri-State Memorial Hospital, PO Box 189, Clarkston, WA 99403
     
  • Washington State Health Faculty Association Fund
    Contact: Carol Nelson, Spokane Community College, Nursing Department Chair, 1810 Greene Street, Spokane, WA 99207
     
  • Wilson A. “Bill” Cease Scholarship www.columbiabasin.edu/home/index.asp?page=91

OTHER FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES: