New and returning students who plan to work toward a program of study must complete the following admission procedures:

1. Submit a Northwest Indian College Application for Admission.
   Online applications are available for students to complete. In addition, an application packet may be obtained from the Office of Admissions on the Lummi Campus or at any Instructional Site. Applications may also be downloaded from the NWIC Web Site at www.nwic.edu or requested by phone, mail, fax or e-mail admissions@ nwic.edu.
2. Submit documentation of an earned High School Diploma or GED.
3. Submit documentation of enrollment in a federally recognized Tribe (if applicable).
4. Send a copy of your Tribal certification, Tribal enrollment card or letter of documentation from Tribe.
   • If you do not have a copy of your Tribal enrollment verification, contact your Tribal enrollment office and request verification be sent to the Northwest Indian College Admissions Office.

     NOTICE: Resident tuition rates apply only to students with Tribal certification on file or non-resident students who meet and can document the following criteria:

   • Demonstrated Indian ancestry and live on or near an Indian reservation
   • Spouse or dependent of a Resident student
   • Permanent full-time employee of Northwest Indian College or Tribal agency within the NWIC service area (must meet NWIC Personnel Policy requirements for Educational Benefits)
   • Spouse or dependent of Northwest Indian College or Tribal agency employee within the NWIC service area. Students who meet none of these criteria are considered non-resident students for tuition paying purposes.
5. Submit a completed application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA). Students must be accepted into the college before being eligible for financial aid.
6. Submit official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities (if applicable) as soon as possible but no later than the end of the first quarter of enrollment at Northwest Indian College (students requesting credit to be transferred must complete a Transfer Evaluation Request Form, available online through JICS, from
   the Office of Admissions, Enrollment Services, or from any Instructional Site), transfer credit is not automatically awarded. This process may take 6-8 weeks.

For priority consideration of financial resources, early application for Financial Aid and Admission to Northwest Indian College is strongly advised.

All new students pursuing a program of study at NWIC are required to complete a standard placement test.

The placement test is available by appointment or drop-in basis throughout the academic year. Directions for making an appointment to take a placement test are available on the NWIC website. The results of the placement test help students and their advisors select math and English courses appropriate to the student’s academic ability.

Adult Basic Education students working towards their GED, either at NWIC or other institutions, may take the GED at the NWIC Testing Center on the Lummi Campus. The GED
is available throughout the year. It is offered by appointment only; directions for registering to take GED subject tests are available on the testing agency’s website: www.GED.com.

Canadian First Nations students may study at NWIC as regular students under the provisions of the Jay Treaty and do not need to apply for special circumstances provided they submit their verification of enrollment (verification must indicate or verify at least 50% Canadian First Nations blood) with their Tribe or Band along with their application for admission.

Northwest Indian College is not a SEVP approved school and does not accept other non-immigrant students for regular admission. International students may take classes at NWIC under the following circumstances: They are already enrolled full-time at another SEVP approved school (F-1 or M-1 visa) and are not using NWIC credits to equal full-time enrollment OR, They are taking continuing education units (any visa) OR, They are visitors (B-visa) engaged in study that is merely avocational or recreational in nature. International students are not eligible for federal or state financial aid. International students are classified as non-residents for tuition paying purposes.

Students intending to complete a bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree, or certificate and who have completed a Program of Study form or who have indicated their intention on their admissions application are admitted as Program of Study students. They may pursue their academic goals on a part-time or a full-time basis. A full-time credit load is 12 or more credits. Program of Study students are assigned advisors who meet with them (usually once a quarter) to recommend classes that fulfill their academic or employment goals. Students must be enrolled in a program of study to be eligible for federal financial aid.

Non-program of study students are those students taking classes for reasons other than completing a college program of study such as in-service training, personal enrichment or high school students who are supplementing their high school program with college work. These students are not admitted as regular students and are not eligible for state or federal financial aid. High school credit retrieval students must complete the appropriate
credit retrieval paperwork and obtain approval/recommendations from their high school counselor or principal prior to enrollment. High school students must also work with an advisor prior to registration.

The Running Start Program is a partnership between NWIC and Washington state public high schools. The program offers eligible high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take NWIC classes that satisfy both high school and college credit requirements simultaneously, tuition free. Running Start allows a student to get a head start on earning college credits, seek a greater academic challenge, or take courses that are not offered
in their high school. Students may enroll concurrently in high school and college classes, or solely in college classes. While tuition for college-level classes is paid by the Running Start Programs, the cost of fees, books and supplies is paid by the
students.

To participate in NWIC’s Running Start program, students must take the NWIC placement tests and place at college-level English (English 100 or above). Other criteria and specific procedures for enrolling in courses as a Running Start student are available from the NWIC Office of Admissions.

Students continuing in the Running Start Program are required to submit paperwork quarterly. Students are not charged tuition if they stay within the Running Start eligibility criteria. Students are responsible for all fees.

Transferring credits from another institution to NWIC Northwest Indian College grants transfer credit for courses completed at other regionally accredited institutions of
post-secondary education. NWIC reserves the right to determine which courses are acceptable for transfer from other institutions. Courses must be from a regionally accredited institution and must be college-level to be applicable to an associate’s or bachelor’s program. Courses from non-accredited vocational or technical colleges might be applicable toward NWIC technical degrees.

Students must initiate the request to have their transfer credits evaluated. Credits will not be automatically evaluated.

Students must contact each of their previous college(s)and request that one official copy of their academic transcripts be sent directly to Northwest Indian College, Office of Admissions.

Students must obtain a Transfer Evaluation Request form from Northwest Indian College, Office of Admissions, or online through JICs, complete the form and return it to the Office of Admissions. The form must indicate the student’s program of study; should the student change programs, a new evaluation may be needed since credits may transfer differently depending on the degree program.

Evaluation results will be mailed to the student and usually takes 4-6 weeks. Once the evaluation is received, it is recommended that the student make an appointment with his/her
academic advisor to discuss how the transfer credits may apply toward their degree.

For transfer of military credits, students must complete the Transfer Evaluation Request form and submit an official copy of their AARTS or SMART transcript. NWIC follows the American Council on Education recommendations for transfer of military credit.

Students with international transcripts must request an evaluation from an outside professional foreign credit evaluating service. Official Evaluations must be submitted to NWIC.

The AAS degrees earned by students of Northwest Indian College are intended to meet the Washington State Direct Transfer Agreement in accordance with Intercollege Relations Commission (ICRC) guidelines. This means a student completing an AAS Direct Transfer degree with Northwest Indian College can potentially transfer to another Washington State higher education institution and transfer up to 90 credit hours toward a bachelor’s degree. In the event a student transfers outside of Washington State, each credit earned will be evaluated individually for transferability by the admitting institution in that state.