How to Apply for Financial Aid
To apply for financial aid, you will need to complete the following steps. Applying for financial aid is always free. Please be sure to plan ahead and start early as it may take up to three months to complete your initial financial aid process.

• Apply for a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov. You will receive your PIN in 2-3 days or by mail in 7-10 days. If you are a dependent student, your parent will also need to apply for a PIN. If you are unsure if you are a dependent student, contact the BTC Financial Aid Office, or refer to Section Two of the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet


• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Include BTC's Federal School Code (016227)


• Review your Student Aid Report (SAR) and make corrections if needed.


• Submit any additional paperwork, including documentation that is requested by the BTC Financial Aid Office.

Verification  (back to top)
Occasionally, the Financial Aid Office is required to verify the accuracy of information provided on a student's financial aid application. If an application is selected, the Financial Aid Office will request additional information for the student's file, such as copies of tax returns and worksheets. This additional information should be provided to the Financial Aid Office promptly. Awards will be made only after receipt of this additional information. Upon receipt, the Financial Aid Office will review the information and correct the information, if necessary.

Expected Family Contribution  (back to top)
The theory of Need Analysis is that all students are expected to contribute toward the cost of education. The amount of this contribution is determined by evaluating the family resources, such as income, assets, savings, untaxed income, and other information included in the FAFSA. Need Analysis attempts to evaluate all families in as equitable a manner as possible.

Selection Criteria  (back to top)
The formula for awarding financial aid is per Federal Regulation 34CFR, Part 668. This formula determines the amount of aid and the program source of such aid. In providing assistance, the Financial Aid Office will follow the allocation guidelines provided in each aid program. Unless otherwise stated, those students with the greatest “need” will be assisted first. Under no circumstances will any students receive an amount of financial assistance greater than their “need.”

Although it is possible to develop an allocation formula, experience has shown that in the actual implementation, there are many circumstances that must be taken into account to implement exceptions. Such factors as a student’s ability to work or family responsibilities can indicate whether a student will receive a loan, a work-study position, or a combination of both, in addition to the grants for which the student is eligible.

All students who apply for financial aid are eligible to receive assistance, even if it is only in the form of an unsubsidized student loan

Delivery of Financial Aid  (back to top)
Financial Aid is awarded on a school year basis. Students who will be attending multiple school years will need to submit a FAFSA for each school yearthey will be attending and complete the financial aid application process for each school year. At BTC a new school year starts with the summer quarter of each year, and the school year ends at the completion of the spring quarter each year.

For students who have financial aid awards for their school year, the aid is paid each quarter. The aid is first used to pay the student's tuition and fees for the quarter. If the student's financial aid awards exceeds the cost of their tuition and fees for the quarter, the remaining amount is used to create a check for the student. The check can be picked up at the BTC cashier's window and can be used to purchase books and supplies and for living expenses. New BTC students who are receiving funds from a student loan, must attend classes for the first 30 days of their first quarter before loan proceeds for their first quarter can be processed.

A Work Study is paid with a payroll check, which is delived on the tenth of the month following the month of employment.

Satisfactory Academic Progress  (back to top)
Students who receive financial aid are legally required to make satisfactory academic progress in their program objective to remain eligible for financial aid. Each quarter, the Financial Aid Office must determine a student’s eligibility for financial aid based on his or her academic progress. Financial aid progress standards are consistent with the College’s Academic Standards, which apply to all students. Students who complete at least 67% of enrolled credits with at least a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) are considered to be making satisfactory academic progress in their program of study.

Students are placed on Financial Aid probation if their quarter grade point average is below 2.0 or if the number of credits earned is less than 67% of the enrolled credits for the quarter. Students who fail to demonstrate satisfactory progress will be placed on financial aid probation for the next quarter. Failure to demonstrate satisfactory progress during this one quarter of financial aid probation will result in termination of financial aid eligibility for the following quarter. Delivery of financial aid for students on probation will be withheld until academic progress is evaluated.

Denial of Financial Aid  (back to top)
Students who are denied financial aid due to lack of Satisfactory Academic Progress may petition the Financial Aid Office for reinstatement of aid. The Director of Financial Aid will make an initial determination on the petition. If the student wishes to appeal the decision, the appeal will be presented to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee.

Students who have aid terminated due to lack of Satisfactory Academic Progress may, on a conditional basis, use financial aid to pay for tuition and fees for the next quarter until the Appeals Committee has had an opportunity to review the appeal. Other students who are denied financial aid due to lack of Satisfactory Academic Progress and who do not appeal are required to pay tuition and fees from sources other than financial aid in order to continue attending at Bellingham Technical College.

For the students who file an appeal, and such appeal is granted by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee, those students will be on Probationary Status and may continue to receive financial aid contingent upon continuous quarterly improvement of their grade point average. If the appeal is denied, the student will be ineligible for financial aid until such time as the student again meets the guidelines for making satisfactory academic progress.

Financial Aid Appeals Committee  (back to top)
The Financial Aid Appeals Committee meets as needed. The results of an appeal are mailed to the student within a week of the meeting.

The Appeals Committee may grant an extension of a quarter for circumstances outside the student's control, e.g., accident, prolonged illness or other major circumstances. Documentation is required to be submitted with the Letter of Appeal. Any additional requirements applied by the Appeals Committee (e.g., make up of an incomplete grade) must be met prior to any delivery of financial aid.