How to Apply for Financial Aid and Application Deadlines

We strongly recommend that students submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) to the State Processor to the Federal Processor THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE QUARTER YOU WISH TO START. Most funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so apply early.

To apply for all available federal, state, and institutional financial assistance, students must complete the CPTC financial aid application process. Read the instructions carefully. The application instructions are available at the Student Aid & Scholarships Office and at www.cptc.edu/financial-aid.

  1. New students must apply for admission to the college and declare an eligible degree or certificate program.
  2. Create a Federal Student Aid ID. You must do this by visiting https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/sign-in/landing. The FSA ID allows you to sign the FAFSA or renewal FAFSA online as well as access other Federal Student Aid secure websites. If you are required to provide your parents’ information on the FAFSA, one of your parents will also need to create a Federal Student Aid ID.
  3. Complete one of the following and submit it to the Federal Processor on the web: FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov.

    After your FAFSA is processed, the Federal Processor will send you a paper Student Aid Report (SAR), an electronic SAR, or a SAR Information Acknowledgement, depending on how you submitted your FAFSA/WAFSA and whether or not you provided a valid email address on your FAFSA/WASFA. If you do not receive your SAR within two weeks of submitting your application, call the Federal Processor at 1-800-4FED-AID to check on the status of your application.

    Remember you can always check the status of your file on the Student Service Center, Financial aid tab in your CTC link profile.

  4. Both continuing and new students must submit all additional required documents by the deadline.

    After the Federal Processor and State Processor send the Student Aid & Scholarships Office a copy of your processed FAFSA data, we will post information in CTC link (To Do’s)  explaining what additional documents we need to complete your file and/or what actions you must take. Submit all additional required documents and take care of all required actions as instructed by the following deadline dates to ensure your application is reviewed prior to the start of the quarter you begin classes. If all required documentation is not submitted in a timely manner your financial aid may be delayed, and you may be required to pay your tuition, fees, books, and supplies until your file is reviewed. 

  5. Complete Direct Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note and required counseling.

    First-Time Borrower

    If you are new to the college, or have not received a Federal Direct Stafford Loan from Clover Park Technical College in the last year, you are required to complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN). To complete these steps, go to www.studentaid.gov. The school will be notified electronically within three to five business days from the time of completion. You can check your student portal to see when Clover Park has received notification that this requirement has been completed.

    Please Note: Students who are first-time borrowers at CPTC must serve a 30-day waiting period and will not receive the first disbursement of their loans until approximately the 35th day of the quarter. This applies only to the first quarter of attendance that student receives loan funds.

    Returning Borrower

    Continuing students must complete Financial Awareness Counseling every academic year by visiting https://studentaid.gov. The school will be notified electronically within three to five business days from the time of completion. You can check your student portal to see when Clover Park has received notification that this requirement has been completed. If you previously received a direct loan for a prior year, you do not need to complete an entrance counseling and Master Promissory Note. The Department of Education allows a borrower to receive additional direct loans on a single Master Promissory Note for up to 10 years.

    Federal Direct Parent Plus Loans

    To read more information about the Stafford Loans, please visit www.cptc.edu/financial-aid/stafford. Parent Plus Loans are federal loans to help you pay for the cost of your child’s education expenses. Parent Plus Loans are only available for Dependent Students. To apply for a Federal Parent Plus Loan, go to https://studentaid.gov and complete a Parent Plus Application and Parent Plus Master Promissory Note. The school will be notified electronically within three to five business days from the time of completion.

    Click “read more” under the “Apply for Federal Direct Stafford Loan” link.

    Students who are taking nursing (LPN or RN) academic prerequisites do not qualify for grant assistance. They qualify for student loans only, and only for a period of 12 consecutive months. (Nursing Assistant program is not eligible for federal student loans.)

    Student Aid & Scholarships Office:

    4500 Steilacoom Blvd SW

    Lakewood WA 98499-4004

    Building 17, Room 130

    253-589-5660, Fax: 253-589-5618

Federal School code: 015984