Financial Aid
PLEASE NOTE: Lake Washington Institute of Technology has moved to remote operations to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Due to unprecedented volume of work, Financial Aid applications are delayed in processing.
It can take 18 weeks or more after your file is complete to award aid. Emergency Grants
can take up to 6 weeks to process.
Please check the status of your award at the Student Portal Login before attempting to contact the office with any questions. You will need your social
security number or taxpayer ID number or WAFSA ID number to log-in.
The Financial Aid office helps students seeking financial assistance meet their educational expenses at LWTech. Students need not be low income to qualify for some types of financial assistance. Students may apply for most types of financial aid by completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid, see information below).
Virtual Financial Aid Lobby
Current and prospective students will have the opportunity to speak with a Financial Aid Specialist without an appointment during virtual drop-in Lobby Hours held on Zoom. This is designed for questions that can be addressed in 15 minutes or less. Examples of questions appropriate for Zoom sessions are as follows:
- Help with navigating our webpage or companion webpages (i.e., Studentaid.gov)
- Assistance or clarification on completing forms
- Single item FAFSA or WASFA help (please note that due to the length of the FAFSA/WASFA application, we are unable to assist with the entire application process).
For current students, please view the How to Use the Financial aid Student Portal video before joining a Zoom session.
Hours
Mondays:
- Phones from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Zoom from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tuesdays:
- Zoom from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Phones from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesdays:
- Zoom from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Phones from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Thursdays:
- Zoom from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Phones from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
- No customer service available from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. due to weekly department staff meeting
Fridays:
- Phones from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Customer service not available rest of the day so staff can focus on award packaging
Zoom Information
Using Zoom
- Zoom can be used on a computer, tablet, or smartphone or you can call in.
- Zoom does not require registering for an account.
- Visit Zoom.us/resources or Zoom help and how-tos for more information and help videos.
Apply Early
Because the FAFSA must be submitted each academic year (summer through spring), it is advised that students apply as soon as possible after October 1, before the year they will be attending LWTech (for example October 1, 2019 for attending during the 2020-2021 academic year). The Application Process page has detailed information on how to apply for financial aid.
Apply by or before the priority deadline date for the quarter you wish to attend. Due to the tremendous volume of applications each year, processing time has been as long as 12 weeks or more from the date an application is completed. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Supporting Documentation
If a Financial Aid staff member asked for additional paperwork to process your application, you can submit that documentation here. You will be asked to login using your LWTech email and password.
During remote operations, we will also accept supporting documents using the drop box at the LWTech Library.
- You can park under the Tech Building, head up the stairs to the second floor and the drop box is to the left outside the Library doors.
- Please label your documents for FINANCIAL AID to make sure they are directed to the right office.
- We are not open to see students in person currently.
Email Notifications
Financial Aid sends notices and communications by email to your LWTech e-mail address. If you want to opt out of electronic communications, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
Holiday Hours
Please note that the Financial Aid office will close at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday or Wednesday if it falls before a holiday.
Workshops
FAFSA/WASFA Online Workshop
PLEASE NOTE: While we are operating remotely, we will be unable to have the FAFSA/WASFA workshops. Workshops will resume after we reopen. More information will be posted as soon as possible. Meanwhile, if you need assistance with your financial aid application, feel free to contact us by phone or email. You can also contact the Federal Processing Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID for help with the FAFSA, or the Washington Student Achievement Council at (360) 753-7800 for help with the WASFA.
What You Need:
2020-2021 Application: Summer quarter 2020 through Spring quarter 2021
- 2018 tax return
- 2018 W2s
- Parents' tax information if dependent
- Non-filers may need to report 2018 untaxed income totals; please bring documentation with you
- Students who are permanent residents will need to bring their permanent resident card.
Non-citizen students unable to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), due to immigration status may be eligible to complete a Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) if they meet one of the two criteria listed below:
- Completion of a high school diploma or GED or equivalent in Washington State, and have lived in Washington State for three years prior to and continuously since earning a high school diploma or GED or equivalent, or
- DACA (whether status is current or expired) students who meet Washington State residency
requirements
Readysetgrad.org is a project of the Washington Student Achievement Council. For more on financial aid and college readiness, visit readysetgrad.org, your resource to find, pay for, and complete the educational path that’s right for you.
Financial Aid FAQs
Please refer to the Aid Disbursement for more information.
If your projected income for last year will be substantially reduced as compared to your income from the previous year, you may submit a Request for Reevaluation for the current academic year, along with supporting documentation noted on the form.
The federal government and the Department of Education determine the process used to calculate a student's eligibility. The student's and their spouse's income (or parent's income, if the student is considered a dependent student by federal guidelines) from 2018 (for the 2020/2021 year) is used as the basis for determining a student's "EFC" or Expected Family Contribution. This figure helps determine the need and amount of aid a student may receive. If a student feels their financial circumstances have changed significantly from the preceding year (i.e. loss of job, etc.) the student should contact the Financial Aid office.
Tax Credit Eligibility
The federal government allows you to claim tax credits for certain educational expenses through programs known as the Lifetime Learning tax credit and the American Opportunity tax credit. After the end of each tax year, Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) sends the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) form 1098-T to students who may qualify for federal tax credits. The form lists out-of-pocket tuition and related expenses.
It is the responsibility of the student or other taxpayer to determine actual eligibility for tax credits.
As a college, we cannot provide you with tax advice. You may wish to find out if you might be eligible by reading information on these websites:
- IRS Frequently Asked Questions for Child Care Credit/other Credits
- IRS Frequently Asked Tax Questions and Answers
- IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education
You may also wish to consult the IRS or a tax accountant for help. Your own check receipts, credit card statements, or copies of receipts showing tuition and fees paid at the time you registered may support your claim.
Verifying the Amount of Your Qualifying Expenses
You can view your IRS form 1098-T statement [student ID and PIN required] online starting at the end of January each year.
However, the form that is printed and mailed to you may not reflect up-to-date information on student loans or other data.
Therefore, we strongly encourage you to double-check the dollar amount on the 1098-T form.
Some students may be eligible for emergency funding if an unexpected circumstance or event financially makes it difficult to attend classes. Please visit the Financial Aid form webpage to apply.
