Important Financial Aid Deadlines
The deadlines to have a completed file* in order to be paid on the first day of the terms are as follows:
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2020 Summer quarter: May 29, 2020
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2020 Fall quarter: July 24, 2020
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2021 Winter quarter: November 6, 2020
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2021 Spring quarter: February 5, 2021
*A completed file is one that has been screened and no further documents are required.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
How to Apply for Financial Aid Webpage
It’s easy to apply for financial aid. Students can submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. The FAFSA collects financial data and other information that is used to calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) that ultimately determines a student’s eligibility for aid.
Step 1: Create your FSA ID and PIN
To submit a FAFSA, you first need to create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID and PIN.
Creating an FSA ID and PIN
Step 2: Fill out a FAFSA
The key to obtaining financial aid is to apply early. Students should apply at least three months prior to the time they expect to enter school. Students may begin the process at any time; however, financial aid will not be awarded until a start date has been assigned. The federal code for Renton Technical College is 014001.
Step 3: Additional Financial Aid Forms
Once your information has been processed, you will receive e-mail notification that your Student Aid Report is available to view and print out. Please print a copy, including the signature page, for your records.
- Complete the requested forms when you have been notified. Forms are available on our website on the Financial Aid Forms page. Include the signature page from your Student Aid Report (make sure you sign it) with your forms that you mail or bring in to us.
- Stay in touch with the Financial Aid Office to be certain that all information needed to complete your file has been turned in on time.
Eligibility Requirements
Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements
All financial aid recipients must meet the following requirements:
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Be a citizen of the United States or an eligible non-citizen
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Have a high school diploma or high school equivalency
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Have a valid Social Security Number (unless you are applying for the WA Dream Act Funding)
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Not owe a repayment on a grant or be in default on a student loan
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Have financial need as determined by the Federal need analysis
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Be registered with Selective Service, if required
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Be enrolled in an eligible program and enroll only for classes that are required for that program. If enrolled in a class that is not part of the program, financial aid will not count those credits when awarding aid.
Awards and Disbursements
The Renton Technical College Financial Aid Office processes the student’s financial aid file and determines eligibility for grants, work study, and loans based on the student’s enrollment level.
- Full-time: 12 credits or more
- Three-quarter-time: 9-11 credits
- Half-time: 6-8 credits
- Less-than-half-time: 5 credits or less
Students are notified of their financial aid eligibility with an award letter mailed to their address on file. Grants are prorated based on the student’s enrollment level through the fifth day of the quarter. Because loans must be repaid with interest, an additional application is required. Student loans require a minimum enrollment in six credits.
Maximum Time Frame for Funding
The maximum time frame for funding to complete a training program is 150% of the published length of the program. (For Washington State Need Grant recipients it is 125%.)
Satisfactory Progress
Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress Webpage
It is important to remember that financial aid eligibility is based on academic standing as well as credits completed versus credits registered. We review your progress from your start date at RTC, even if you did not receive aid. It is possible to lose eligibility without ever having received aid.
In order to remain eligible for financial aid, you must meet the following satisfactory academic progress requirements: At the end of each grading period, you must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0, successfully complete at least 67% of your cumulative attempted credits and not attempt more than 150% of the total credits required for your degree/certificate program.
Warning
You are eligible to receive financial aid while on warning status.
If you fail to maintain the satisfactory academic requirements listed above, you will be placed on financial aid warning at RTC for the next term. At the end of the term, progress will be reviewed.
Suspension
If at the end of a warning period you have not met the cumulative completion and/or GPA satisfactory academic progress requirements, your aid will be suspended. You have the option to submit an appeal or complete credits at your own expense until the cumulative completion and/or GPA satisfactory academic progress requirements have been met.
You will be placed on financial aid suspension from financial aid at Renton Technical College if:
- You fall below a cumulative 2.0 GPA following a warning period.
- You fail to complete at least 67% of your cumulative attempted credits following a warning period.
- You have attempted 150% of the total credits required for your degree/certificate program.
Reinstatement After Suspension
You may request reinstatement of eligibility after completing credits at your own expense which result in you meeting the cumulative completion and/or GPA satisfactory academic progress requirements. Sitting out a period of time in and of itself is not sufficient to re-establish your financial aid eligibility.
Appeals
You have the option to appeal your financial aid suspension if you had a mitigating circumstance you would like us to review. Appeal forms are available in the financial aid office.
Grants
Grants Webpage
Grants are considered gift aid and do not require repayment unless a student leaves school before completing more than 60% of the term. RTC participates in the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Opportunity Grant, and Washington State Need Grant programs.
Loans
Loans Webpage
Federal Direct Loans are low-interest loans for students and parents to help pay for the cost of a student’s education after high school. The lender is the US Department of Education rather than a bank or other financial institution. Repayment begins six months after completion or withdrawal from school. There are three types of loans available under this program:
- Direct Subsidized Loans are need-based. A student’s eligibility to borrow is based on financial need as determined by the federal government which pays interest on the loan while the student is in school.
- Direct Unsubsidized Loans do not require a student to show financial need; however the cost of the student’s education must exceed any other financial aid offered. The student, not the federal government, is responsible to pay all the interest that accrues on this loan.
- Direct PLUS Loans are loans a parent takes out in order to pay for their child’s educational expenses. Contact the Financial Aid Office if you are interested in applying for a PLUS loan.
The Emergency Student Loan is a $200 short-term institutional loan available to financial aid students who are making satisfactory progress. All loans must be repaid no later than the end of the quarter in which they are received. Funds are limited.
Scholarships
Foundation Scholarships Webpage
The Renton Technical College Foundation, in partnership with various service, business and professional organizations in the community, provides more than $30,000 in scholarships annually. Current students will receive scholarship announcements via their student email account throughout the year from the Director of Student Engagement.
Visit the Learning Resource & Career Center, Building C, Room 102, to browse a list of external scholarships or make an appointment with a tutor for personal guidance.
Work Study Programs
Work Study Webpage
Work Study programs provide part-time employment to eligible students, on and off campus. The maximum a student can earn is determined by financial need and funds available. Students can work up to 19 hours per week while school is in session. Every effort is made to place students in jobs which relate to their training. RTC participates in both the federal and state work study programs. A list of current Work Study jobs can be accessed online on the RTC Career Connections website.
Veterans Programs
Veterans Programs Webpage
Most of the training programs at Renton Technical College which offer a Certificate of Completion or an Associate of Applied Science degree are approved for benefits under the following Veterans Administration regulations:
- Chapter 31 (Vocational Rehabilitation)
- 30 (Montgomery Bill)
- 32 (VEAP)
- 35 (Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance)
- 1606 (Reserves) of Title 38, U.S. Code.
- 33 (Post 9/11)
- VRAP
Students who plan to use their veteran’s benefits are required to contact the Veteran’s Specialist, Margo Izutsu at (425) 235-2352 ext. 5738.
A determination of eligibility by the Veterans Administration and the receipt of your first month’s benefits can take 4 to 6 weeks, so it’s a good idea to apply well in advance of your anticipated start date if you plan to use your benefits to pay for initial tuition costs.
Veterans who have not previously used their benefits must complete Form 22-1990 and submit a certified copy of their DD - 214 and eligibility letter.
Veterans who have used their educational benefits at a prior college must submit an academic transcript for evaluation of credits. All veterans are required to keep the Veterans’ Specialist apprised of enrollment plans each quarter and are expected to conform to the attendance and academic standards of the satisfactory progress policy to remain eligible for benefits.
Agency Funded Students
Agency Funded Webpage
The Financial Aid Office acts as the liaison between students and the various public and private agencies who offer funding, including:
- Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)
- Department of Labor and Industries (L&I)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
- Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
- Employment Security Department
- Private Insurance
For questions regarding outside funding plans, please contact Margo Izutsu at (425) 235-2352 ext. 5738.
Workforce Education Funding
Workforce Education Funding Opportunities Webpage
Basic Food Employment & Training (BFET)
BFET Webpage
The Basic Food Employment and Training program (BFET) provides access to training and career services to food stamp recipients who are not participating in the TANF program. An RTC counselor will determine your eligibility.
For more information, call the Student Success Center at (425) 235-5840, or contact the counselors below:
Faye Melton
Worker Retraining and BFET Counselor
fmelton@rtc.edu
Bilal Abdallah
Worker Retraining and BFET Counselor
babdallah@rtc.edu
Taqwo Mohamoud
ABAWD Navigator
tmohamoud@rtc.edu
Opportunity Grant
Opportunity Grant Webpage
Students eligible for the Opportunity Grant may receive funds to cover 45 credits of tuition/mandatory fees and up to $1,000 for books and supplies. Support services such as tutoring, college success workshops, emergency childcare, and emergency transportation are also part of the Opportunity Grant program. Due to limited availability of funds, submitting an application does not guarantee that you will receive an award. Student must be enrolled in an Opportunity Grant eligible program.
To apply or for additional information, please contact Kathy Tessier, Opportunity Grant case manager at 425-235-2352 ext. 5720.
WorkFirst
WorkFirst Webpage
Tuition assistance is available for Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) recipients and working parents who meet income guidelines. You may be eligible if you are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), working for pay, and your Individual Responsibility Plan (IRP) includes training; or you are working for pay, low-income, a custodial or non-custodial parent financially responsible for a child, and not receiving any other form of financial aid. An RTC counselor will determine your eligibility.
For more information, call the Student Success Center at (425) 235-5840.
Worker Retraining
Worker Retraining Webpage
Worker Retraining is designed to help students gain the skills and certification needed to be competitive in today’s job market. The program is a partnership between technical and community colleges and Employment Security. Worker Retraining has provided an opportunity for job training to thousands of eligible Washington workers since 1993.
For an appointment or to sign up for the Worker Retraining Information, please call (425) 235-5840 or visit Start Next Quarter or visit the Student Success Center in Building I at Renton Technical College.
Financial Aid Refund and Repayment Policy
Return of Title IV Funds
Students who receive Title IV aid (Federal Pell, Federal SEOG, Federal Direct Subsidized and/or Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford loans and Direct Parent PLUS loans) and withdraw from school are subject to the Return of Title IV aid regulations. Federal law requires that a student must earn the aid they receive. When a student withdraws, drops out or otherwise fails to complete more than 60% of the term for which they received federal funds, the school is required to determine the amount earned using the Return of Title IV aid regulations.
If a student completes more than 60% of the term, it is determined that all financial aid has been earned. If a student completes 60% or less of the term, the earned and unearned portion will be calculated.
The unearned portion of tuition will be returned by the college to the appropriate Title IV program. The college will then bill the student for the amount of tuition that was returned in excess of the college’s refund policy.
Notice: Renton Technical College does not and will not provide any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on success in securing enrollment or financial aid to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting or admissions activities or in making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance.
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