Priority Date

Financial Aid Priority Date

NEW for the 2026-27 Award Year

The Financial Aid Office accepts applications from October 1 to June 25. However, Highline College utilizes a Priority Date for each quarter to ensure timely processing and class enrollment security for students.

Highline College Financial Aid Priority Due Dates

Submitting your financial aid application (FAFSA or WASFA) by the Priority Due date is highly recommended for optimal service.

Financial Aid Award Year 2026-27

Term	Priority Due Date
Fall 2026	Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Winter 2027	Thursday, October 1, 2026
Spring 2027	Friday, January 1, 2027
Summer 2027	Thursday, April 1, 2027

Note: If a due date falls on a weekend or a college holiday, the deadline will be automatically extended to the next business day.

Requirements for Meeting the Priority Date

To successfully meet the Priority Date, applicants must satisfy two core requirements:

1. Be Admitted to Highline College: Complete the Highline College Admissions Application and receive confirmation of your admitted status
2. Submit FAFSA or WASFA: Your FAFSA or WASFA Application must be received by Highline College by the quarter's Priority Due Date.

Submission Guidelines

• FAFSA/WASFA Electronic Applications: You will need to complete the FAFSA/WASFA application at least 7 business days before the Priority Date you want to meet, to ensure Highline receives your application data before the due date.
• FAFSA/WASFA Paper Applications: You will need to complete the FAFSA/WASFA paper application at least 8 weeks before the Priority Date you want to meet, to ensure Highline receives your application data before the due date.

Critical Data Match

Your application details must align precisely across all records for your FAFSA/WASFA to count as submitted by the Priority Date:

• Your First and Last Name, Date of Birth, and your ID number (SSN, ITIN, or WASFA ID) must exactly match on both your Highline College Admissions Application and your financial aid application.
• WASFA Filers: It is essential to ensure your SSN, ITIN, or WASFA ID is included on your Admissions Application.

Key Benefits of Priority Submission

Meeting the Priority Date provides significant security for your enrollment:

• Class Enrollment Hold: You will be placed on a class "hold," preventing you from being dropped for non-payment. This hold begins on the Tuition and fee due date, and ends the 4th week of the quarter—locking you in your classes so you won’t be dropped for non-payment.
• Processing Buffer: The hold provides extra time to process complex financial aid applications without the risk of class removal for non-payment.

Important Obligations and Disclaimers

While beneficial, meeting the Priority Date comes with strict requirements you will be held to:

• Funding is Not Guaranteed: The enrollment hold is not a guarantee of financial aid eligibility or funding amount. If your eligibility is denied or your aid does not cover your full charges, you remain personally obligated to pay the balance owed for the quarter.
• Past Due Holds: Any student account with an owing balance 11 days after the start of the quarter will incur a Past Due Balance Hold. This hold will block all future class registration.
• The hold is only lifted upon full payment of all past due balances, with no exceptions to this policy.