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).
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:
For current students, please view the How to Use the Financial aid Student Portal video before joining a Zoom session.
Mondays:
Tuesdays:
Wednesdays:
Thursdays:
Fridays:
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.
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.
Submit Supporting Documentation Online
During remote operations, we will also accept supporting documents using the drop box at the LWTech Library.
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.
Please note that the Financial Aid office will close at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday or Wednesday if it falls before a holiday.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
Submit Supporting
Documents Online
How to Use the Financial Aid Student Portal
Business Hours
Mon-Fri, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Campus Hours
Mon-Fri, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sat, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.