North Seattle College
PA-8: Affordability and Access

North Seattle has partnered with the United Way Benefits Hub to help students navigate financial challenges and cover basic needs while in school. The Benefits Hub offers one-stop financial assistance through one-on-one coaching in the following areas:

Emergency funds
Food access
Housing support
Financial coaching & paying for college
Other benefits, including FAFSA/WAFSA support, reduced bus fare, childcare, tax preparation and more
We work with you to make sure that no matter what, you are able to stay in school and complete your program.

North Seattle College is proud to support students with emergency financial grants while enrolled in school. We know that unexpected expenses and emergencies can create a barrier to remaining enrolled in school and completing your program of study.

We have multiple sources of funds students can access from one application.

Seattle Promise launched in 2018 to create more equitable higher education opportunities for Seattle public school graduates.

The program is a promise to:
- guide students onto a direct path from high school to college to graduation with a degree, certificate, or transfer to a four-year college or university;
- boost career opportunities for all students, especially first-generation and historically under-served populations; and,
- prepare students to participate in our region's vibrant workforce and economy without taking on overwhelming debt.

The program provides the first two years (or up to 90 credits) of tuition, additional financial support for books, transportation, housing, etc. to those with financial need, and personal guidance to succeed in college. All Seattle public high school graduates are eligible regardless of grade point average (GPA), income or country of birth. The program provides financial support as well as ongoing college and career guidance for students to attend one of three Seattle Colleges (North, Central, and South).

Seattle Promise scholars receive the following services:

- Support applying to Seattle Promise and Seattle Colleges (North, Central or South)
- Support applying for and completing financial aid requirements
- Full coverage of any tuition expenses remaining after other scholarships and financial aid
- Assistance with choosing and registering for classes
- Preparation for the transition from high school to college
- Guidance and mentorship through the first two years of college

The primary purpose of the TRiO programs is to prepare students from disadvantaged backgrounds to successfully enter, persist, and complete a postsecondary education. In general, these programs identify low-income, first-generation, and students with disabilities and provides them the assistance, support, and encouragement necessary to enter and complete a college education.

Workforce Education offers tuition assistance funding and guides students through our application process. What is tuition assistance? It is money that Workforce Education pays directly to the college to cover the cost of tuition and fees. Workforce Education may also provide a book voucher to cover the cost of your required textbooks. Workforce Education tuition assistance is money that you do not pay back.

Through Opportunity Pathways, Washington State provides a variety of financial aid programs to help students and their families pay for college. Pursuant to RCW 28B.15.0681, the approximate level of state support received by students is being provided to the colleges for your use.

The Opportunity Grant Scholarship (OG) provides education grants for low-income students who have not yet earned a degree and are studying an eligible program. OG provides up to 45 credits of tuition and $1,000 per year for books.

North Seattle College (NSC) provides access to financial support programs such as Federal and State Financial Aid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Basic Food employment Training (BFET), and Tuition Waivers for some low income students and veterans.

Students are eligible for increased Basic Food (SNAP) benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Basic Food is extra money for groceries to help you put healthy food on the table. On the North Seattle College campus, we offer a curbside pop-up food pantry on Tuesdays from 4-7 p.m. for students, faculty and staff.

The Office of Veterans Services at North Seattle College offers a range of assistance to veterans, reservists, active duty personnel and eligible family members who receive Veteran’s Administration education benefits. We provide help with any issues having to do with veteran status and serve as a resource for military personnel transitioning into civilian life. We also offer certification services for anyone eligible for: Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill ® ; Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill ® ; Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation; Chapter 35/ Aid for Eligible Family Members and Chapter 1606/1607 Selective Reservists.

Integrated Basic Education & Skills Training (I-BEST) offers specific job skills and college readiness in reading, writing, math, or english. Since I-BEST programs are job-training programs, students often get financial aid from Workforce Education to pay for tuition and textbooks. Currently, we offer the following I-BEST programs:
- Accounting
- Early Childhood Education
- Electronics
- Information Technology
- Nursing Assistant

Recent FAFSA qualified students for Pell grant money (and thus considered low-income) whose total family income is $50,000 a year or less qualify. NSC comes in at 14%.

NSC does not currently have a system to measure success outside of graduating. Over two-thirds of NSC's students transfer and do not receive a degree, so it is difficult to measure "success." The 39% number is based on graduates, although we consider a higher percentage of students to be successful since many do not attend NSC with the goal of graduating.