Tuition Waivers & Discounts

The Seattle College District (SCD), as directed by the Board of Trustees, will provide a program of tuition and fee waivers as authorized by the Washington State Legislature and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. If a student is eligible for more than one waiver, the Registrar’s Office will apply the one waiver that is most financially beneficial to the student.

You may be eligible for a tuition waiver under the following circumstances:

Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language and GED® Preparation students pay $25 per student per quarter.  Colleges may waive the $25 charge for students who are unable to pay.  All ungraded course fees are operating fees and are subject to the requirements in RCW 28B.15.031 – "Operating fees"- Defined – Disposition

The college will waive all tuition (operating and building fees) and services and activities fees for the children and surviving spouses of deceased or disabled law enforcement officers or firefighters. 

Eligible children must begin their course of study at a community college within 10 years of high school graduation.

The officers and firefighters must have died or become totally disabled in the line of duty while employed by a public law enforcement agency, full-time or volunteer fire department in this state. Totally disabled is defined as totally and permanently disabled for life by bodily injury or disease and thereby prevented from performing any occupation or gainful pursuit.

The college will waive all tuition and fees for a child/spouse/domestic partner of an eligible veteran or National Guard member who:

  • Became totally disabled as a result of active federal military or naval service;
  • Is determined by the federal government to be a prisoner of war or missing action; or
  • Lost his or her life as a result of active federal military or naval service

"Eligible veteran or national guard member" means a Washington domiciliary who was an active or reserve member of the United States military or naval forces, or a national guard member called to active duty, who served in active federal service,  in a war or conflict fought on foreign soil or in international waters or in another location in support of those serving on foreign soil or in international waters, and if discharged from service, has received an honorable discharge.

"Totally disabled" means a person who has been determined to be one hundred percent disabled by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.

"Washington domiciliary" means a person whose place of habitation is the state of Washington. "Washington domiciliary" includes a person who is residing in rental housing or residing in base housing.

 https://wsac.wa.gov/student-residency#new-requirements

In July 2021, a new law replaced 2003's HB 1079 making it easier for all Washingtonians, including undocumented people, to get resident tuition and state financial aid. This law makes college more affordable, and many people who didn’t qualify before are now eligible. 

To qualify, students must meet all of the following requirements:

  • Earn a high school diploma, GED, or diploma equivalent before their first term at the college determining residency.
  • Maintain a primary residence in Washington for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before their first term at the college determining residency.
  • Sign an affidavit saying they meet the above requirements and that one of the following is true: 
    • They will file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States (green card) as soon as they are eligible to apply. And that they are willing to engage in activities designed to prepare them for citizenship, including citizenship or civics review courses or
    • They are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident.

For more information on eligibility, please contact  residencysouth@seattlecolleges.edu

The college will waive tuition charges (operating, building, and services and activities fees) for students 60 years or older who are enrolled for audit or credit. The waiver is not available to students using the course credits for increasing credentials or salary schedule increases.

To utilize the waiver, students must meet the following conditions and submit the completed Senior Citizen Space Available Waiver form for official course registration between the 6th and 10th day of the quarter (5th through 8th in the summer quarter).

Conditions:

  • The student must be 60 years or older
  • The student must be a Washington State resident whose domicile has been within the state for at least one year prior to the intended quarter of enrollment. 
  • The waiver funds up to two courses per quarter. The cost is $5 per course plus all associated course and class fees.
  • Classes must have seats available at the time of registration. 
  • Meet course pre-requisites prior to registration or waived by the instructor.
  • The waiver cannot be used for Continuing Education or WAOL courses. 
  • The waiver cannot be used to apply for degrees or certificates if it was used for program requisites.
  • Officially register for courses between the 6th and 10th day of the quarter (5th through 8th in Summer). 
  • Students who enroll prior to the sixth day of the quarter (fifth for summer) will forfeit their waiver eligibility.

Note: Students using this waiver may not be moved ahead of students on class waitlists or added to a waitlist. Additional class sections cannot be created to accommodate waiver students. Waiver students may not overload a class capacity.

Permanent Washington state employees employed 50 percent full-time equivalency (FTE) may register on a space-available basis using the State Tuition Waiver. The cost is $20 for the first six credits and is non-refundable. Students are responsible for any additional charges such as class and course fees, books, photo ID, transportation fee, Universal Technology fee, etc.

Students attempting to use the waiver will go to class on the first day of instruction and let instructor know you are planning to enroll using a space available wavier. If they feel space may be available you can request permission to visit the class until you can officially register.

To utilize the waiver, students must meet the following conditions and submit the completed Certification of Enrollment Form along with instructor signed enrollment form for official course registration between the 6th and 10th day of the quarter (5th through 8th in the summer quarter).

Note: Students using this waiver may not be moved ahead of students on class waitlists or added to a waitlist. Additional class sections cannot be created to accommodate waiver students. Waiver students may not overload a class capacity.

Conditions

  • Using the standard registration form, obtain instructor’s signature if space is available and submit it to the Enrollment Services Office beginning the sixth day (fifth day for summer) of the quarter through the tenth day (eighth day for summer) of the quarter.
  • The waiver cannot be used for Continuing Education or WAOL courses. 
  • Classes must have seats available at the time of registration. 
  • Meet course pre-requisites prior to registration or waived by the instructor.
  • A new certification of employment form must be presented each quarter.
  • Students enrolled in over 6 credits will be charged at the regular tuition rate for all credits in excess of 6.

Higher Education Employees—Employed at 50 Percent or More 
SCD will waive 100 percent of the nonresident Building, Service & Activity, and Operating fee for students, their spouse, and dependents that are employed half-time or more at a public higher education institution. Students must reside in the state.

Employees in K-12 system 
Employees in the K-12 system are eligible for the Washington State Employee Waiver with verification that they are teachers or certificated instructional staff employed at public common and vocational schools, holding or seeking a valid endorsement and assignment in a state-identified shortage area. Non-instructional classified staff employed at K-12 public schools and working half time or more, may use the waiver when the employee is taking courses relevant to their work assignment.