Financial Aid Department
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Applying for financial aid is one of the big steps you'll want to take before you start classes.
OVERVIEW
The Financial Aid office can help you complete all the steps needed to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) for DACA and SB 5194 students.
CONTACT
Please choose either email or phone message but not both, and allow the office the time listed to respond to your inquiry.
- Email: financialaid@highline.edu
- Expect an email response within 48 hours
- Message Line: (206) 592-3358
- For recorded information and to leave a message only. Return calls take 72 hours
- Location: Upper lobby of Building 6. Campus Map
Federal School Code: 003781
Use this code when applying for financial aid at Highline College.
Priority Due Dates: 2026-27
Learn more about Priority Due Dates
| 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 |
Hold Codes
Hold Codes keep students in their classes while the Financial Aid Office processes your request for financial aid. Only students who met the Priority Due Date for the term, or who have been awarded financial aid are eligible for a hold code. Hold codes will not be applied for another other reason from the Financial Aid Office. Students who are confirmed ineligible for financial aid will have their “Financial Aid Do Not Drop” holds released on September 14, 2026 as you must have made payment arrangements by this date.
Fall Quarter 2026 Begins on September 28, 2026
To ensure that your financial aid disburses on time, you must complete the Mandatory After Award Letter Presentation for the year.
Financial Aid Suspension and Maximum Timeframe Appeals
These items are due October 6, 2026 by 12 p.m. Late appeals will not be accepted for fall quarter.
Financial Aid Disbursement
Financial Aid Disbursement begins on September 28, 2026 for those students who have been awarded and who have completed the annual Mandatory After Award Letter Presentation.
Financial Aid Census Date
Financial Aid Census Date is October 9, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Your financial aid will be adjusted one final time to match your enrollment on this date.
What Is a Financial Aid Hold Code
Financial Aid Holds keep you in your classes without paying for tuition and fees as long as the hold code is in place. The hold code can be removed at any time, and it is your responsibility to monitor this. You can confirm you have a Financial Aid Hold code by logging into your ctcLink Student Portal and clicking on the HOLDs Tile. The Financial Aid Office uses the hold code “FINANCIAL AID-DO NOT DROP”
How Do You Get a Financial Aid Hold Code
There are only two ways to get a Financial Aid Hold Code:
- Meet our quarterly Priority Funding Due Date
- Be awarded financial aid funding before the tuition and fee due date each quarter
- You must also be enrolled in classes and not have paid your owing balance for the term
The Financial Aid Office will not hold students for any other reason, requests for a financial aid hold by students will be denied if they do not meet the above criteria.
When Are Hold Codes Removed
Hold codes will be removed for all students who are confirmed to not be eligible for financial aid beginning on September 15, 2026.
Students on Suspension or Maximum Timeframe Suspension will have their hold codes removed if:
- They appeal and are denied
- They appeal and fail to complete the Probation Acknowledgement by the date listed on their notification
- Their appeal is incomplete and it is not completed by October 8, 2026 or the date sent on their incomplete notice
- All students who did not appeal, appeals were denied, will have their hold codes lifted beginning October 7, 2026.
If You Do Not Have a Financial Aid Hold Code Or It Is Removed
Per the Student Financial Responsibility Agreement, it is your responsibility to ensure your tuition and fees are covered. You have several options:
- Pay in Full: You can pay all tuition and fees yourself.
- Start a Payment Plan: Enroll in a payment plan to spread out your payments.
- Seek Other Funding: Find alternative sources of funding (e.g., scholarships, WorkForce Education Funding, personal savings).
- Wait Until Next Quarter: You can choose to postpone your enrollment until the next quarter.
| Financial Aid Deadlines | Fall 2026 | Winter 2027 | Spring 2027 | Summer 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees Due | 9/14/2026 | 12/28/2026 | 3/22/2027 | 6/14/2027 |
| Financial Aid Disbursement | 9/28/2026 | 11/11/2027 | 4/5/2027 | 6/28/2027 |
| Suspension Appeals Due | 10/6/2026 at 12 p.m. | 1/19/2027 at 12 p.m. | 4/13/2027 at 12 p.m. | 6/28/2027 at 12 p.m |
| Financial Aid Census Date | 10/9/2026 at 11:59 p.m. | 1/22/2027 at 11:59 p.m. | 4/19/2027 at 11:5 p.m. | 6/29/2026 11:59 p.m. |
| Check Owing Balance & Pay Reminder | 10/13/2026 | 1/26/2027 | 4/20/2027 | 6/30/2027 |
BankMobile Refund Timelines:
- Vibe Card: 1-3 days after Financial Aid Disbursement
- Direct Deposit: 3-5 days after Financial Aid Disbursement
- Paper Check: 10-45 days after Financial Aid Disbursement
Submit the FAFSA
The FAFSA opens the door to a host of funding sources including federal and state grants, work-study jobs, scholarships, and loans.How to Submit FAFSA
Submit the WASFA
Undocumented Students
Students who are not eligible to submit the FAFSA because of their immigration status should submit the WASFA.HOW TO SUBMIT WASFA
Videos & Workshops
The 2025-26 FAFSA application is open, and we have a series of videos to assist with
the FAFSA application.
GETTING STARTED GUIDE
To be eligible for financial aid, you must meet certain requirements.
- Demonstrate financial need (for most programs);
- Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen;
- Have a valid Social Security number (with the exception of students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau);
- Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program;
- Be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for Direct Loan Program funds;
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress in college or career school;
- Sign the certification statement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) stating that:
- You are not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe money on a federal student grant and
- You will use federal student aid for educational purposes; and
- Show you are qualified to obtain a college or career school education by
- Having a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate;
- Completing a high school education in a home-school setting approved under state law (or, if state law does not require a home-schooled student to obtain a completion credential, completing a high school education in a home-school setting that qualifies as an exemption from compulsory attendance requirements under state law)
This calculator will give you an estimate of the type and amount of aid students in similar financial situations as you have received to attend Highline College.
The Federal Student Aid Estimator provides an early estimate of what your federal student aid (Federal Pell Grant) could be by using some initial data you provide. These estimates are based on the Student Aid Index (SAI), an index to determine federal student aid eligibility. This can help you make decisions about college.
The Washington College Grant (WCG), (previously known as Washington State Need Grant) is a grant that is available to Washington State residents with high financial need. Estimate your WA Grant award. This tool calculates potential awards from the Washington College Grant and Pell Grant programs.
These are only estimates. These calculations are not award offers from the college.
To receive federal and state financial aid, a student must be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program.
Eligible programs include:
- Associate Degrees
- Applied Baccalaureate Degrees
- Certificate Programs that are at least 24 credits and which lead to a professional career
Certificate programs that are less than 24 credits or stand-alone credentials are not eligible.
All financial aid awards are automatically used to pay your tuition and fees before the start of each term. If your award exceeds the cost of your tuition, you will receive the remaining balance of your funds through the option you choose. To avoid any delays in accessing your money, you must select a financial aid refund option.
Students can now check on the status of their Financial Aid Application 24/7. Using your myHighline login credentials, students can check the status of their application, what that status means, and what their next step should be in the process. Students can use this tool for the 2025-2026 FAFSA and WASFA.
The Census Date is the point at which your enrollment is locked for financial aid purposes. For example, if the student received aid at the beginning of the term based on full-time enrollment and then dropped credits, aid is then revised to match their eligibility based on the number of credits enrolled in as of the Census Date and types of aid that were awarded.
- Last day students can add/drop classes and have their aid adjusted to match the new enrollment.
- The Financial Aid Census Date is crucial because your enrollment status (the number of credits you are taking) at this exact time will be "locked" for financial aid purposes. This means that your financial aid eligibility will be based on your registered credits on that date at 11:59 p.m.
- If you add classes after your initial financial aid was disbursed but before the census date and those new classes count towards your degree, you can expect an increase in your financial aid award to be disbursed the week after the census date.
The date may be found on list of Academic Dates and Deadlines.
Questions? Contact Us.
Financial Aid
financialaid@highline.edu
Building 6, Floor 2
Financial Aid Office Hours
|
Day |
Hours |
|---|---|
|
Monday |
8 – 5 p.m. |
|
Tuesday |
8 – 6 p.m. |
|
Wednesday |
Closed to public |
|
Thursday |
8 – 5 p.m. |
|
Friday |
Closed |
Summer Office Hours: July 6 - September 6
Holiday Closures
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