Welcome to the Paying for College page! It might seem overwhelming to decide if college is an option for you, especially if funding your education out of pocket is not doable. Don't worry, there are plenty of ways to make college affordable! From Workforce Education programs that help you earn while you learn, to scholarships that reward your hard work and achievements, we've got options to help you cover tuition and more. Whether you're looking for financial support through jobs, grants, or merit-based awards, there's something for everyone at GRC. Explore the opportunities that can make your dream of going to college a reality!
Green River College offers many ways to help students and their families afford college!
The Financial Aid Office processes grants, loans, and work study funds from the federal and state government to assist students with their college expenses. To receive Financial Aid, students must apply using either the FAFSA or WASFA for the 2025-2026 award year. If you're not quite sure which application you should use, visit this website!
The Financial Aid Priority Processing Due Date for Fall 2025 is April 30th.
- Priority processing means students are placed at the front of the line for awarding, with the goal of having them awarded before the quarter start. Meeting the priority processing date allows our Financial Aid office to place a hold on your account so your classes won't be dropped for non-payment while they are processing your aid.
After students submit their FAFSA or WASFA, it may take several weeks and sometimes months for aid to be processed and receive an estimate of how much money they can expect to receive. Check your email regularly along with the Tasks, Message Center, and Financial Aid tiles in the student homepage in ctcLink for updates on your aid. If additional information or verification is required to complete your application, Financial Aid CANNOT determine your eligibility for aid until you have resolved those requests with our office.
If you qualified for the Washington State College Bound Scholarship (CBS) in middle school, the Financial Aid office will automatically review your eligibility to receive CBS as a part of your overall aid. For more information about College Bound and to find out whether you will meet the requirements, view the Washington Student Achievement Council's flyer. To receive the College Bound Scholarship, students MUST apply for financial aid using either the FAFSA or WASFA, continue to meet the income eligibility requirements, and must enroll in college within 1 year of their high school graduation.
Have questions about your Financial Aid?
Contact David Jackson | Financial Aid Outreach Specialist
Email: david.jackson@greenriver.edu
Phone: (253) 931-6458
Workforce Education Services provides financial support to help connect students with a path into a high-demand, high wage career through grants. Each program has different criteria and requirements. To find out if you qualify, contact the Workforce Education Office.
Email: workforce@greenriver.edu
Phone: (253) 931-6550
Website: Workforce Education
Location: GRC's main campus [12401 SE 320th St., Auburn, WA 98092], Student Affairs (SA) building, Room SA-270 [second floor]
There are more than 300 Green River College Foundation scholarships available to students, and can be used for tuition, fees, books, and required supplies at GRC.
By submitting the one application, you're applying for all GRC scholarships. Our system will match you with all the scholarships that you qualify for, which means less work for you!
What are the Requirements?
The scholarship application will require:
- Application questions be completed
- Upload of your most recent unofficial transcripts
- Short essay questions about your educational journey so far
- Recommendation letters are not a requirement but are highly encouraged and will strengthen your application
When Should I Apply?
GRC has two scholarship cycles each year - the main round opens each January and closes on April 30th. The majority of scholarships are awarded this round. The secondary round is only for students who did not apply in the first round, and generally opens early September and closes in mid-October.
New students who are not yet at GRC will need to:
- Create an account with the GRC Foundation before submitting a scholarship application.
- Apply for GRC Scholarships
Questions?
Contact GRC's Foundation
Email: foundation@greenriver.edu
Phone: (253) 288-5566
Budgeting for college can be a challenge. GRC wants to help! We offer an easy Payment Plan to assist students to pay their tuition and fees in three manageable payments, following the payment due dates listed below.
- 1st payment of 1/3 tuition and fees
- 2nd payment of 1/3 tuition and fees
- 3rd payment is total balance due
The Payment Plan is also an option for students waiting for their Financial Aid to be awarded. However, being enrolled in the Payment Plan is NOT a tuition deferment hold. A tuition deferment hold is a situation where a college temporarily postpones your obligation to pay your tuition and fees. This can occur if you've applied for Financial Aid and they can put you on a tuition deferment hold, but when a student enrolls in our Payment Plan, they are responsible for making payments by the scheduled deadlines.
How to sign up and pay
- Enroll in classes
- Enroll in the Payment Plan [tutorial available here]
- This will add the $25 non-refundable Payment Plan enrollment fee to your account
- Follow the published payment due dates
What if I miss a payment?
If any payments are missed, you will need to catch up all the missed payements by the 3rd payment due date.
Refund Procedure
- $25 Payment Plan enrollment fee is non-refundable.
- 100% refund of tuition and fees (minus $25 Payment Plan enrollment fee) if the student withdraws from classes by the fifth instructional day of the quarter.
- 100% refund of tuition and fees when a course is cancelled by GRC.
Payment Schedule
| Quarter | 1st Payment Due | 2nd Payment Due | 3rd Payment Due |
| Summer 2025 | June 9, 2025 | July 9, 2025 | August 9, 2025 |
| Fall 2025 | September 9, 2025 | October 9, 2025 | November 9, 2025 |
To view all quarter payment schedules, visit the Payment Plan website.
Questions?
Contact Student Financials
Email: cashiers@greenriver.edu
Phone: (253) 288-3399