FINANCIAL AID

Paying for college can feel complicated. The Northwest Indian College Financial Aid Office is here to help you understand your options, apply for financial aid, and complete the steps needed to receive your funding.

NWIC participates in federal, Washington State, institutional, tribal, and external financial aid programs.

Northwest Indian College does not participate in federal student loan programs.

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Apply for Financial Aid
FAFSA
NWIC School Code: 021800

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Check your Financial Aid
View requirements, awards, and forms in JICS.

GO TO JICS

View Your Costs
See the Cost of Attendance & Tuition

VIEW COSTS

Find Scholarships
Explore NWIC, Tribal, and external scholarships.

EXPLORE SCHOLARSHIPS

Priority Deadlines

Summer 2026
May 1, 2026

Fall 2026
June 15, 2026

Winter 2026
October 15, 2026

Spring 2027
February 1, 2027

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of aid are available?

Northwest Indian College’s Financial Aid office offers the following financial assistance:

Federal Student Aid	Washington State Aid	Institutional Scholarships
Pell Grant Federal Supplementary Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Federal Work Study	College Bound Scholarship* Washington College Grant* Passport to College Scholarship* State Work Study	NWIC Foundation Scholarships Emergency Aid American Indian College Fund TCU Scholarship
*Students must complete a Financial Aid Data Sheet for these funds to be released. This can be completed on the Financial Aid page on JICS under Online Forms.

Because we want our students graduating debt-free, we do NOT participate in any student loan programs. Many of our students utilize Tribal Higher Education scholarships, and the scholarships in the next section below.

How do I apply?

Students must use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for financial aid at Northwest Indian College. Apply online, or you can download the myStudentAid mobile app in the Apple App store (iOS) or the Google Play store (Android). NWIC’s school code is 021800. Students must apply (or re-apply) each year.

If you have never completed a FAFSA before, you must first create a FSA ID. Information on how to create one, can be found here.

The FAFSA becomes available October 1 each year for the next academic year. It utilizes tax information from 2 years prior. For instance, the 2021-2022 FAFSA will be available October 1, 2020 and will use information from tax year 2019. Students should complete their FAFSA as soon as possible, but no later than May 1 for priority consideration for funds-limited awards. Different scholarships have different deadlines, so be sure to apply early and pay attention to deadlines. You may need to submit a separate application for scholarships. Please refer to the list in the section above for more information.

Students who have questions regarding the FAFSA should access the FSA Help Center or contact our office directly. Our contact information is listed below.
What happens after I apply?

After you have successfully submitted your FAFSA, a Student Aid Report (SAR) will be sent directly to you by the Department of Education via email or mail. Please review the information on your SAR as soon as possible. A copy of the student’s SAR will be sent to the college within approximately 1 business day of the student’s receipt. Students can make corrections online by logging back into their FAFSA or by utilizing the myStudentAid mobile app.

Students who have questions regarding the FAFSA should access the FSA Help Center or contact our office directly. Our contact information is listed below.

Our office will send you a letter in the mail with your next steps and possibly additional documents that need to be completed. (During the COVID-19 related closure, we will send documents to your NWIC student email address.)
What is verification?

Verification is a quality control process triggered by the Department of Education in which the school collects and reviews student documentation to ensure that the student completed their FAFSA correctly. It helps to ensure that awards are going to the students for whom they are intended, in the correct amounts.

Students can be selected for verification based on application discrepancies or random chance. We encourage you to utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when you submit your FAFSA. This will minimize your chance of being selected for verification, as well as speed up the process in case you are selected.

Verifications may take up to 6-8 weeks to process. If you are selected for verification, please complete the verification worksheet provided with your letter, and submit all information requested on it. This may include tax transcripts, a copy of your birth certificate, a verification that you did not file taxes, or etc. If you no longer have your letter and verification worksheet or do not know if you’ve been selected, you can view any missing information on your JICS account under Financial Aid. You can also contact our office directly. Our contact information is listed below./p>
How am I awarded?

Once our office has determined that your financial aid file is complete and that you are eligible for aid, we will send you an award letter detailing your award package. Awards may change depending on the student’s eligibility throughout the academic year. Awards can also be viewed on your JICS account under Financial Aid.
How and when do I receive my money?

If you have been awarded financial aid, your aid will be disbursed the third Friday of every quarter (second Friday for Summer quarter). Any recent changes in enrollment may delay a student’s disbursement. In order to receive a disbursement on time, you MUST have completed your financial aid file and received an award package the business week prior to disbursement

Students MUST attend all classes they are receiving aid for to earn a disbursement. Attendance is entered by instructors online. If attendance is not entered, it may delay the student’s disbursement. Please contact your instructor if you have been attending/participating in a class, but do not have attendance logged for that class.

Once you are disbursed, you will receive a notification via your NWIC student email. Your disbursement will be applied to the balance on your student account.* If there are any credit(s) on your account as a result of your disbursement, you will be given the credit(s) in the form of a check. Checks are processed by NWIC’s Accounting department. Inquiries regarding check processing can be directed to studentaccounts@nwic.edu. If you did not receive a disbursement notification via email, please contact the Financial Aid office instead. There may be a problem with your disbursement. Our contact information is listed below. Please note that outside scholarships may be disbursed at different times. Please contact those agencies for information on when you will be disbursed.
What is satisfactory academic progress?

All students who receive financial aid are required to make satisfactory progress towards the educational program they have selected. See the Financial Aid Handbook for a breakdown of the credit and GPA requirements for satisfactory progress. A review is done at the end of each quarter to ensure that the standards of satisfactory academic progress are being met.

Federal Aid

Each quarter, students who receive federal financial aid must complete at least 67% of their cumulative and quarterly attempted credits and maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA. This applies to Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), and Federal Work Study.

Warning Status: Students who do not meet satisfactory academic progress for federal aid are placed on Warning status for the next quarter. During the warning quarter, eligible students still qualify for aid. A second quarter of unsatisfactory academic progress will result in suspension of aid.

Suspension Status: Students who do not complete the Warning quarter successfully, will have their financial aid funds suspended for the succeeding quarter. Students who have not made satisfactory progress for the year will be suspended from receiving aid. These students may have the right to petition for reinstatement. Students may be advised to enroll for less that full-time, if their records indicate difficulty in completing 12 credits per quarter. Students will again be eligible for aid after completing one quarter that results in a return to Good Standing with their own resources.

State Aid

Each quarter, students who receive state financial aid must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 and complete at least 100% of their credits for which they received state aid. If a student completes less than 100%, but at least 50%, the student is in Warning status. If the student completes less than 50%, they are in Denied status. This applies to Washington State Need Grant, College Bound Scholarship, State Work Study, and Passport to College Scholarship.

Warning Status: Students who complete less than 100% of the credits for which their aid was based on, but more than 50%, are placed in Warning status, and must complete the following quarter in Good Standing.

Denied Status: Students who complete less than 50% of the credits for which their aid was based on, will be placed in Denied status. Students who do not complete a Warning quarter in Good Standing by completing 100% of the credits for which their aid was based on, will also be placed in Denied status. These students may have the right to petition for reinstatement. Students may be advised to enroll for less that full-time, if their records indicate difficulty in completing 12 credits per quarter. Students will again be eligible for aid after completing one quarter that results in a return to Good Standing with their own resources.
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Can I appeal my suspension?

Yes! Any student placed on suspension or in denied status may appeal this decision. Any student who can produce evidence that failure to maintain satisfactory progress was due to special mitigating circumstance (such as illness or death in the immediate family), may appeal for a review of their case. The Director of Financial Aid may reinstate the student on a probationary basis, and may impose credit limitations consistent with the student’s history of completion. To submit an Appeal for Reinstatement, click here.

Students who have more than two successive quarters of non satisfactory academic progress or have already received an approved appeal in their NWIC career may not appeal and must successfully complete a quarter of at least 6 credits on their own. Students must be able to qualify for probation upon the completion of this quarter, which may mean enrolling in more than 6 credits. Please contact our office if you are not sure how many credits you need to be reinstated. Our contact information is listed below
How do I contact the Financial Aid Office?

Email us at financialaid@nwic.edu or you can call us directly at (360) 392-4206.

During the COVID-19-related closure, we are communicating via email. If you would like to connect via phone, we can use Zoom to contact you. Zoom offers video and audio connection, and is a free application available on the Apple App store (iOS) and the Google Play store. Please email us to schedule a Zoom appointment. Appointments can be made Monday-Friday 8am-5pm.

Apply for Financial aid at studentaid.gov

FAFSA Federal Student Aid

Download Financial Aid Handbook

NWIC Student Financial Aid Handbook 2021-2022.

Cost of Attendance/Budget

A student budget is an estimate of student need during a nine-month school year, based on a student survey and budgets at similar schools. Several basic budgets are used, based on whether you are living with your parents or living on your own. Each budget is designed to provide a modest but adequate lifestyle. The full-time budgets below are based on state norms will be used by NWIC during the 2026-2027 academic year. Resident/Non-Resident tuition rates are defined in the catalog and can be found in the Tuition section of the Admissions webpage. To estimate your costs, please see the Net Price Calculator.

Student budgets are pro-rated for students attending less than full time (12 credits per) quarter. Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Students are not able to receive need-based grants and scholarships in excess of their budget. If a budget adjustment is needed, please complete a Budget Modification Request available on JICS under Financial Aid.

Resident/Non-Resident Tuition
Resident students are defined as those students who (1) are enrolled as members of a federally recognized Tribe or Alaska Native Corporation, or (2) a biological child of a federally registered Tribal member-living or deceased, or (3) are covered by the Jay Treaty. All must provide Northwest Indian College with documentation of proof.

Non-Resident students meeting one of the following criteria will also be considered Resident students for tuition paying purposes once documentation has been provided to the College:

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

Spouse or dependent of Northwest Indian College or Tribal agency employee within the NWIC service area

All other students are considered Non-Resident students for tuition paying purposes.

*Tuition rates are subject to change upon Board approval.
Quarterly fees

Laboratory or materials fees: Certain courses carry laboratory or materials fees. All students are required to pay an enrollment fee and technology fee, and activity fee depending on the number of enrolled credits.

1-5 credit hours:

$35 non-refundable enrollment fee, $50 technology fee. Total fees = $85/qtr

6-11 credit hours:

$35 non-refundable enrollment fee, $50 technology fee, and a $20 student activity fee. Total fees for part-time enrollment = $105/qtr

12-18 credit hours:

$35 non-refundable enrollment fee, $50 technology fee and a $50 student activity fee. Total fees for full-time enrollment = $135/qtr

* An additional $35 non-refundable late enrollment fee may apply
Tuition and Fee Refunds

Students who leave the College without an official withdrawal will forfeit all claims to credits in courses and refunds of tuition and fees. A 100% refund of tuition and fees (excluding the $35 non-refundable enrollment fee) will be made for official withdrawals through the third Thursday of the quarter (second Thursday for summer quarter). After that date, no refund will be given. Specific dates can be found online.

Refunds for short courses or seminars less than the full duration of the quarter will be made only for official withdrawals submitted to the Enrollment Services Office no later than the first day of the start of the class or seminar.
Account Receivables and Transcript Holds

The purpose of the Account Receivable (AR) and Transcript (TR) holds is to insure student debt is minimized and maximize payment of tuition and fees. All tuition is due, in full, before early registration opens for the following quarter (by the 7th week of the quarter). Students with a balance of $500 or more after the due date for tuition has passed will have an AR hold applied to their account. Students with a balance under $500 will have a TR hold applied to their account. Students with an AR hold will not be able to register for classes. Students with either an AR or TR hold cannot receive their diplomas or receive official transcripts. For more information, students may contact the Business Office.
Book Order Codes

Northwest Indian College utilizes an online bookstore system. Students may order textbooks online through ECampus.

Students must use their current username and password to log-in to ECampus. Once a student is registered for classes, an access code must be requested at https://books.nwic.edu to receive a credit (it takes approximately 24-48 hours to receive a code). The code can be used to purchase up to $300 of books and school-related supplies, which will then be billed to their student accounts.

Students are responsible for paying for their textbooks and supplies. Students may also wish to explore other websites for textbooks.

Book Refunds

Students are able to return books to ECampus for a refund within 30 days of the date of order. They can log in through their virtual bookstore account, which is created upon purchase and select the return for a refund section. More Information is available
through ECampus. Students may also consult with an NWIC bookstore representative for information and assistance on returning textbooks.

Student Scholarship Information

Scholarship Information

Northwest Indian College and the NWIC Foundation offer a variety of scholarships to assist students. New information about upcoming scholarships is sent to student email accounts, so be sure to check yours regularly!

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

Federal Student Aid FAFSA Form
American Indian Services Scholarships
“Education is the key that will open the door of opportunity for the Native Americans.”
– Spencer W. Kimball

Guidelines

The AIS Scholarship program is to help undergraduate Native American students with financial support to attend college, maintain enrollment and graduate through scholarships. Awards are based on up to one-half of tuition and need for the term the student is applying for and are allocated directly to the school for the student. Students will need to have their own email account in order to apply.

Read our requirements to ensure that you are eligible to apply.

Complete the online application.

Submit all required documents by the specified deadline.

If awarded, submit a thank you letter.

Incomplete applications will not be processed. Late documents will not be accepted. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks AFTER the deadline for applications to be evaluated and updated online. If your application has been approved, your application status will be updated and you will receive an email. Students will be required to write a thank you letter if approved, which needs to be submitted by the specified deadline. Scholarship checks will be sent to the school after receipt of thank you letters.
AIS Scholarships for Native Americans
The WashBoard (Scholarship Clearinghouse for Washington Students)

Looking for scholarships? theWashBoard.org makes it simple.
AIS Scholarships for Native Americans
The College Board (Scholarship Search Engine)

Find scholarships, other financial aid and internships…
College Board’s Scholarship Search
American Indian College Fund

TCU DEADLINE:
Tribal College Scholarship applications due September 27 for fall, February 15 for Spring,

FCS DEADLINE:
Full Circle scholarship applications are accepted every year from Jan 1 – May 31.
American Indian College Fund Student Resources
Full Circle Scholarship
Eligibility

Any Native American U.S. citizen that is a member or descendant of a state or federally recognized tribe with at least a 2.0 grade point average, and enrolled as a full-time student can apply for a scholarship.

What You’ll Need

Digital photo – please provide a professional looking picture

Tribal affiliation – your proof of tribal enrollment (or CIB), or your parent/grandparent’s enrollment with your birth certificate

Transcript – Most recent high school or college (official not needed)

For more details about the applications, and tips for success, please review resources on the Application Tips Page or the Application FAQs Page.

APPLY NOW (APPLY ONLINE)

All applicants will be emailed an award or denial notice by August. If you have additional questions about the scholarship application, or your status, please contact a member of our Student Success Services team at scholarships@collegefund.org, or at (800) 776-3863.
WECU Scholarship
The deadline is May 31,2021. Please keep in mind that financial aid process needs analysis Wednesday and Friday’s.

Please review the general requirements and include all the required forms when submitting to financialaid@nwic.edu

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

Member in good standing of Whatcom Educational Credit Union for at least one year

Full-time student, taking a minimum of 12 credit hours in Fall 2021 and working toward a degree

Demonstration of financial need as indicated by needs analysis completed by the NWIC Financial Aid Office (Must have 2021-2022 FAFSA completed).

Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75

INCLUDE WITH APPLICATION:

2021 WECU Scholarship Form (PDF DOWNLOAD)

2 letters of reference from faculty

Current transcripts showing 2.75 GPA and pursuit of a degree

NWIC Scholarships

Lummi High School Graduate Scholarship

PDF DOWNLOAD

Veterans Benefits Information

Veterans Administration (VA) Information

Northwest Indian College offers degree programs approved by the Washington State Approving Agency for enrolling eligible students under the Veterans Administration (VA) Education Benefit programs. Eligible veterans or dependents that plan to apply should visit www.gibill.va.gov to begin the process. New students should contact the certifying official as early as possible before enrolling. A certified copy of a registered original or copy #4 of the form DD-214 is required for application. Other requirements may apply depending on the Chapter of benefits under which the student is eligible.

Certification for VA benefits will occur upon acceptance to a VA approved degree or certificate program and when all pertinent documents are on file. A student can only be certified for courses applicable to the degree program. VA benefit recipients are required to maintain adequate progress and to report any change in degree program, credit load or marital or family status if applicable.

Monthly progress reports by telephone to the VA are the responsibility of the student. Failure to comply with VA regulations may result in termination from the VA educational benefit program or repayment of benefits.

VA Standards of Progress

A veteran under VA educational benefits is required to make satisfactory progress towards completion of an approved educational program he/she has selected. To remain in good standing a full-time student must complete a minimum of 12 credits per quarter with a minimum grade point average of 2.00 (C). Credit Completion Standards for students enrolled for less than 12 credits will be based on prorating of full-time standards.
VA Probation
VA Termination

A veterans benefit recipient who fails to complete at least one-half of their required credits in any given quarter will be terminated from aid. Students placed on probation for a second quarter in an academic year will have their VA benefits terminated. A student who has been terminated may petition to the VA for reinstatement if failure to maintain satisfactory progress was due to extraordinary circumstances.

Veterans Administration
Government Website

VA Benefits Website

Accounts Receivable (AR) Hold Assistance

Come Back and Finish Your Degree!

Limited Time Only: Accounts Receivable Hold Assistance

AR HOLD APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR 2026-2027

Accounts Receivable (AR) Hold Assistance

Northwest Indian College offers assistance for students with past debt that prevents them for registering for classes.

The primary goal of the AR Assistance is to encourage former students to complete their college degree at NWIC by waiving the AR Hold or paying down the past due debt and allowing them to register for classes.

If you are interested in participating in this opportunity, please complete and submit the 2026-2027 AR Hold Scholarship Application.

If you or someone you know are interested in returning to NWIC to complete your college education but have been hindered due to an AR Hold, then we encourage you take advantage of this unique opportunity today! For additional questions, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

AR Hold Scholarship

DUE FIRST DAY OF THE QUARTER

The AR Hold Scholarship is intended for students who want to continue or re-enter a program of study at Northwest Indian College but have past debt preventing registration. This scholarship is offered so that a student can register, attend classes and get back into good academic standing to complete their degree or certificate. There is limited funding so this will be available on a “first come, first serve” basis.

AR Hold Scholarship Application

What is an Accounts Receivable (AR) Hold?

Your current balance exceeds $500, and you will not be able to register until your balance is below this amount. Common reasons this happens include not having submitted a copy of your tribal ID or CDIB information when you submitted your application, or not completing verification for financial aid.

AR Hold Waiver Application

PDF DOWNLOAD

Financial Aid

Northwest Indian College administers a broad range of financial aid, scholarships, and work-study programs for students who can demonstrate financial need.

Learn More

Student Life

NWIC students are encouraged to engage and integrate into the life of the institution. Students are offered opportunities to participate in enrichment activities through Student Affairs, student government, and residence life.

Explore Now

NWIC Extended Campus Locations

Northwest Indian College’s main campus is located at the Lummi Nation. The College also has five full service extended campus sites located at Muckleshoot, Nez Perce, Nisqually, Port Gamble S’Klallam and Tulalip. Please use the location links to view details for each extended campus site.

Muckleshoot Campus

Nisqually Campus

Nez Perce Campus

Port Gamble S’Klallam Campus

Tulalip Campus