Financial Aid
Financial Aid Applications Status and Processing Times
Check Your Financial Aid Application Status
- You can check the status of your 2023/2024 award on the LionsLink Student View Login.
- Please check your status before contacting the Financial Aid Office office with any questions.
I Submitted All My Documents
- If you turned in all your documents to the Financial Aid office, you just need to wait for your file to be processed.
- Files are processed in the order students applied. The earlier you turned in your financial aid application, the earlier you will get your award.
- When your aid is processed, it will be visible in LionsLink.
Tuition Deferral
- For those who have applied and are waiting to have their financial aid file reviewed, we will automatically defer your tuition payment, as long as you have completed all required checklist items and have met satisfactory progress requirements. There will no longer be a form you need to sign.
- Please note that a payment deferral is not a guarantee of aid eligibility. If found ineligible
for aid, or if your aid offer doesn't fully cover the amount due, it is your responsibility
to pay the balance owed.
- For more information about aid eligibility, please see our Financial Aid Policies webpage.
I Am Not Sure if I Submitted All My Documents
If you are not sure that all your documents have been turned in, you can find that information in your LionsLink account.
I Don't Know How to Check My Financial Aid Status in LionsLink
View View Financial Aid Guide in Full Screen Tip: For the remainder of the 2021-22 school year, the Financial Aid Office continues
to use the existing FAM (financial aid management) system. Financial Aid information for 2022-2023 can be accessed through LionsLink
in late Spring. Check the Financial Aid website for the most up-to-date information. Funding your education is possible using federal or state aid. Apply for federal or
state financial aid. OR After receiving your award email from LWTech, you will be able to log into LionsLink
to review these awards. Go to the LWTech LionsLink Portal and click on ‘ctcLink Login’. Enter your ‘ctcLink ID’ number, and click on the ‘Next’ button. Then enter your ‘Password’ and click on the ‘Verify’ button. Tip: If you forgot your password, click on ‘Password Help’ to reset it. Additional directions
can be found in the Reset Your LionsLink Account Password tutorial. Make sure you are viewing information for LWTech. If you attend multiple institutions,
use the ‘Gear Icon’ on the top right of your Dashboard to change institutions (college name). On the left side navigation bar, click on ‘Financials’. Tip: Depending on the size of your screen, you may need to click on the ‘hamburger’ menu icon on the left side of your screen to expand the menu options. In the newly appeared dropdown, select from the following options: Tip: Tip: Need to know terms? Visit the Student Services Glossary page.Step 1
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Additional Information
Summer 2023 through Spring 2024 Applications
- For Summer 2023 through Spring 2024, please be complete your 2023/2024 financial aid application, if you have not already done so.
- You can check the status of your 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 awards on the LionsLink Student View Login.
- If more information is needed from you, we will email you at your LionsLink preferred email address. See information below on how to apply.
2021-2022 Applications
- 2021/2022 award information can still found at the Student Portal Login.
- You will need your social security number or taxpayer ID number or WAFSA ID number to log-in.
- If you've not used the Student Portal before, please view the How to Use the Financial Aid Student Portal video before logging in.
Student Emergency Grants Processing Time
Currently, emergency grants applications are taking an average of 2 weeks to process. Learn more about emergency grants below.
The Financial Aid office helps students seeking financial assistance meet their educational expenses at LWTech. Students need not be low income to qualify for some types of financial assistance. Students may apply for most types of financial aid by completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid, see information below).
Apply for Financial Aid Early
Because the FAFSA must be submitted each academic year (summer through spring), it is advised that students apply as soon as possible after October 1, before the year they will be attending LWTech (for example October 1, 2022 for attending during the 2023-2024 academic year). The Application Process page has detailed information on how to apply for financial aid.
Please note that the 2024/2025 FAFSA will not be available until later in the year. It is scheduled to be released in December 2023.
Apply by or before the priority deadline date for the quarter you wish to attend.
See above for current processing times.
The Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) is for people who are non-citizen
students unable to file for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
You must meet one of the two criteria listed below:
- Completion of a high school diploma or GED or equivalent, and have lived in Washington State for one year prior to starting classes at LWTech and signed a residency affidavit in the WASFA application or Enrollment Services office and qualify for in-state tuition, or
- DACA (whether status is current or expired) students who meet Washington State residency
requirements
I don't know if I qualify for WASFA.
Note: if you have completed the FAFSA, you have already applied for federal and state financial aid and do not need to complete the WASFA unless your college asks you to.
LWTech is committed to your success, and we recognize emergencies can sometimes get in the way. In order to keep you on track to graduate, limited emergency funding may be available to registered students who have a current financial emergency (not projected costs for your program).
While emergency funds are available each quarter, the college generally runs out of funds within the first few weeks of each quarter. It is rare that applications in excess of $2,000 are approved.
For ongoing education expenses, please apply for financial aid whenever possible. Workforce Development (WFD) may provide assistance with tuition, books, advising, and individualized support services for those who qualify.
- Complete the Start Next Quarter Survey to find out more!
- It may also be helpful to explore community resources while you are waiting. You can learn more about community resources online.
Customer Service Hours and FAFSA/WASFA Assistance
Please check the status of your 2023/2024 award on the LionsLink Student View Login before attempting to contact the office with any questions. How-to-Training Guides can help you navigate LionsLink and view your financial aid status in our new system.
Customer Service Availability for week of 9/25/2023
- You may email financialaid@lwtech.edu with your question and we will respond to your question during business hours in the order in which it was received. We appreciate your patience during peak times as our response time may be delayed.
- Please do not send duplicate messages as that may delay response times and slow down the processing time for financial aid awards.
- Documents received will be posted within 5-7 business days; there is no need to email us to confirm receipt of documents.
- For security and privacy reasons, we will only respond to e-mails that are from your preferred ctcLink e-mail address or your LWTech email address. There is no need to include your SID or SSN.
Monday
- Available by email only (see message above)
- 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday
- Virtual via Zoom (link below)
- 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- In-person services at the Financial Aid Office (West Building, W209)
- 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday
- Virtual via Zoom (link below)
- 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- In-person services at the Financial Aid Office (West Building, W209)
- 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Thursday
- Available by email only (see message above)
- 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Friday
- Virtual via Zoom (link below)
- 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- In-person services at the Financial Aid Office (West Building, W209)
- 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
Zoom Information
Using Zoom
- Zoom can be used on a computer, tablet, with the link above.
- You can call in via phone at (253) 215-8782
- Meeting ID: 880 0714 0958
- Zoom does not require registering for an account.
- Visit Zoom.us/resources or Zoom help and how-tos for more information and help videos.
- You are not required to have your camera on to participate in the Zoom session.
FAFSA/WASFA Assistance
There are a few ways to receive assistance with your financial aid application:
- The Financial Aid team can help you with your FAFSA or WASFA on Zoom on Wednesdays at 2 p.m.
- Northwest Education Access (NWEA)
- November 14, 2023 (in-person), 10-11:30 a.m., Room T320
- November 15, 2023 (virtual), 6-7:30 p.m., Via Zoom
- November 16, 2023 (virtual), 2-3:30 p.m., Via Zoom
- December 12, 2023 (in-person), 10-11:30 a.m., Room W113
- December 13, 2023 (virtual), 6-7:30 p.m., Via Zoom
- December 14, 2023 (virtual), 2-3:30 p.m., Via Zoom
Meanwhile, if you need assistance with your financial aid application, feel free to contact the Federal Processing Center at (800) 4-FED-AID for help with the FAFSA, or the Washington Student Achievement Council at (360) 753-7800 for help with the WASFA.
Please note, that you only need to fill out one application (FAFSA or WASFA), not both.
2023-2024 Application - What You Need
Summer Quarter 2023 through Spring Quarter 2024:
- 2021 tax return
- 2021 W2s
- Parents' tax information if dependent
- Non-filers may need to report 2021 untaxed income totals; please bring documentation with you
- Students who are permanent residents will need to reference their permanent resident card number
Financial Aid Application Resources
There are also many helpful articles and/or videos that can also give you the information you need to complete your application.
Email Notifications
Financial Aid sends notices and communications by email to your preferred e-mail address in LionsLink. If you want to opt out of electronic communications, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at benefits.va.gov/gibill.