Apply for Financial Aid
Questions? Contact Us.
Financial Aid
Yakima Campus
Deccio, Building 8
finaid@yvcc.edu
509-574-6855
Grandview Campus
Building 56
finaid@yvcc.edu
509-882-7008
Financial Aid Portal
Located within the Student ctcLink Portal.
The Financial Aid Portal will give you access to messages from the Financial Aid office.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
Financial Aid Application Guide
Steps to Apply | Financial Need | Application Process |
Upcoming Workshops
Steps to Apply for Financial Aid
To qualify for financial aid, you need to complete a financial aid application. In Washington, there are two options—but you only need to submit one:
- (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): For U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens.
- (Washington Application for State Financial Aid): For students who are not eligible to complete the FAFSA due to immigration status.
Important: When completing your FAFSA, be sure to add Âé¶ąĘÓƵ using our Federal School Code: 003805.
If it’s your first time filing the FAFSA, you’ll need to create an at . Your parent(s) will also need an FSA ID if you're a dependent student. Write down your ID and password—you'll use them every year.
OtterBot is a free texting service that provides tips and reminders about financial aid and college planning. Text “Hi OtterBot” to 360-928-7281 to get started.
If you have not applied to Âé¶ąĘÓƵ yet, complete your application through .
- Check your regularly – This is how we’ll contact you about missing documents, awards, or next steps.
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Log in to the Financial Aid Portal to see what documents you need to submit or if there are updates to your application.
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Review your FAFSA at . Make sure everything looks correct. Fix any errors as soon as possible.
Need help navigating to the Financial Aid Portal? Watch our quick video showing a way on how to check your financial aid status in ctcLink:
After you’ve submitted all required documents, it can take 2–6 weeks for us to complete your file, depending on how many applications we’re processing.
During this time, the Financial Aid Office may make corrections to your FAFSA if needed.
Don’t make changes to your FAFSA while we’re reviewing it.
If you’re asked to provide documents, submit everything as soon as possible—all at once.
Make sure your full name and Student ID Number are on every page.
- We may still need to make corrections to your FAFSA during this step.
- Do not update your FAFSA yourself—this can cause delays.
- Corrections are processed by the Financial Aid Office and sent to the federal processor.
your YVC email and the Financial Aid Portal regularly to stay up to date.
Log in to the Financial Aid Portal to view your financial aid offer.
If you want to accept your aid, follow any instructions provided.
Some aid types, like grants, are accepted automatically. Others—like loans—require
extra steps.
To request student loans:
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Go to and complete:
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Entrance Counseling
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Master Promissory Note (MPN)
(If you've already done this before and your MPN is still valid, you can skip this step.)
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Complete YVC’s Loan Request Form and submit it to the Financial Aid Office.
If you're asking for more in the first quarter to cover extra costs (e.g., tools, uniforms), be sure to include a cost sheet.
If your financial aid is more than your tuition and fees, you’ll get a refund.
YVC sends refunds through , powered by BMTX, Inc.
To get your money, you need to choose how you want it delivered.
Make sure your mailing address and refund preference are up to date!
Learn the basics About Financial Aid
Financial Aid Terms Explained
What is financial need?
Financial need is the difference between how much college costs and how much financial help you might qualify for.
To figure this out, two key numbers are used:
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Cost of Attendance (COA): An estimate of your total school-related expenses for the year.
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Student Aid Index (SAI): A number based on your FAFSA or WASFA that shows how much money you might have access to for school—like savings, income, or family support.
Here’s the formula:
COA - SAI = Financial Need
Neither your SAI nor your COA are bills. You’re not expected to pay that those amounts—they are just number the used to help figure out what kind of aid you may qualify for.
Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of how much it might cost to attend college for one year. It includes:
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Tuition and fees
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Housing and food
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Books and supplies
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Transportation
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Personal and school-related expenses
This is not a bill—it’s just a number we use to help figure out how much financial aid you can get. The higher COA, the more space for aid a student has. Most students don’t pay the full COA.
YVC uses budgets made by the , and these are updated regularly.
Your student budget is part of your COA and depends on where you live (with parents, on your own, or in campus housing).
Your budget may be increased (with documentation) for things like:
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Childcare
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Disability-related costs
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Uninsured medical or dental expenses
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Program costs (like tools, uniforms, equipment)
If you feel like your COA is higher than the typical student, feel free to fill out a Budget Revision Request .
We can’t increase your budget for general living expenses, undocumented costs, or spending not related to school.
Your SAI is a number that helps schools figure out how much need-based aid you may qualify for. It’s based on your FAFSA/WASFA and includes your:
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Income
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Family size
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Assets and other financial info
A lower SAI = more financial need
A higher SAI = less financial need
Important: The SAI is not the amount you have to pay. It just helps us figure out what aid you’re eligible for.
See the Value
You deserve a college education that works for you—and your budget.
At YVC, you're not just getting lower tuition. You're getting real value:
- Degrees and certificates in high-demand fields
- Smaller classes and instructors who care
- A smart place to start—whether your goal is a career or a 4-year degree
See how YVC stacks up against other Washington colleges.
Real numbers, side by side. Discover how much you can save by starting here.
Important Application Details
Financial Aid Workshops
We have Financial Aid Workshops throughout the year to help student fill out their FASFA/WASFA.
If there are none scheduled, check out these videos that walk you through the process.
Questions? Contact Us.
Financial Aid
Yakima Campus
Deccio, Building 8
finaid@yvcc.edu
509-574-6855
Grandview Campus
Building 56
finaid@yvcc.edu
509-882-7008
Financial Aid Portal
Located within the Student ctcLink Portal.
The Financial Aid Portal will give you access to messages from the Financial Aid office.