Last updated March 2026 using Clark College, Washington Student Achievement Council, and Federal Student Aid sources. Clark has posted 2026–27 financial-aid application guidance, but the newest published Clark tuition and standard cost-of-attendance figures currently visible on its official site are still for 2025–26, so this guide uses those latest posted Clark numbers and notes where students should recheck the live pages for updates.

Paying for college is not just about finding one scholarship. At Clark College, most students who get help pay through a mix of federal aid, Washington state aid, Clark scholarships, work opportunities, and sometimes loans or special workforce programs. Clark’s own financial-aid office says its goal is to help students understand grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study options and build a payment plan that works.

For high school seniors, the biggest takeaway is simple: if you want Clark College to build an aid offer for you, you need to complete either the FAFSA or the WASFA, not both. Clark states that the 2026–27 FAFSA and WASFA opened on October 1, 2025 for the aid year running July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, and that your application is typically sent electronically to Clark within 5–7 business days. Clark’s published guidance also says processing usually takes 4–6 weeks after all required documents are submitted.

Clark College financial aid quick facts

Clark College’s federal school code is 003773. The Financial Aid Office is in Gaiser Hall, Room 101, and Clark lists finaidmail@clark.edu and (360) 992-2153 as the main contacts. As of the live Clark page available in March 2026, the office lists in-person and phone hours Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., plus a Zoom room Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Clark also lists “Financial Aid Tuesdays” help labs in GHL 101 on March 17, April 21, May 5, May 25, June 2, and June 16, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m..

Clark says financial aid can include grants, student employment, scholarships, and student loans. In Clark’s own guide, grants are described as need-based aid that usually does not have to be repaid unless you withdraw, student employment lets you earn money while working part-time, scholarships are outside or institutional aid to help cover costs, and loans must be repaid with interest.

How much Clark College costs

For students and families, the most useful number is usually cost of attendance, not just tuition. Clark’s published 2025–26 standard cost of attendance for a 9-month, full-time Washington resident is $19,264 if the student lives with a parent and $28,026 if the student does not live with a parent. In both of those budgets, Clark lists $5,040 for tuition and fees and $528 for books and supplies; the difference comes mostly from housing, food, and transportation estimates.

Clark’s same published cost-of-attendance sheet lists non-resident totals of $25,404 for a student living with a parent and $34,166 for a student not living with a parent. That is one reason residency status matters so much at Clark.

On Clark’s official 2025–26 lower-division tuition schedule, a Washington resident or qualifying Oregon border-county student taking 12 credits is billed $1,515.08 for the term, and 15 credits is $1,728.80. By contrast, the published lower-division rate for a non-resident or international student is $3,605.44 at 12 credits and $3,844.60 at 15 credits.

That price difference is especially important because Clark sits near the Washington-Oregon border. Clark’s waiver page states that students from qualifying Oregon border counties may qualify for the Oregon Border Waiver if they have lived in the county for at least 90 days before the first day of the term, provide proof of residence, and submit the waiver form. Clark also says students who are not yet legal Washington residents may qualify for a Washington Non-Resident Waiver if they are domiciled in Washington by the first day of the term, and may later seek Washington residency reclassification after 12 months in the state.

How Clark College decides financial need

Clark explains financial need using two big numbers: Cost of Attendance (COA) and Student Aid Index (SAI). Clark says COA includes direct costs such as tuition, fees, books, and supplies, plus indirect estimates such as transportation, housing, food, utilities, and personal expenses. Clark also notes that its default housing estimate assumes the student is living off campus and not with a parent, but students living with a parent can ask for a recalculation.

Clark and Federal Student Aid both explain that the SAI is a formula-based number used by financial-aid offices to determine eligibility. It is not a bill and not your final aid offer. Clark’s guide and the federal SAI explainer both show the range as –1500 to 999999, with a lower or negative SAI generally signaling higher financial need. Clark’s basic formula is straightforward: Cost of Attendance minus Student Aid Index equals financial need.

FAFSA or WASFA: which one should you file?

Clark repeatedly tells students to complete only one application: FAFSA or WASFA. The FAFSA is the federal form used for federal grants, federal loans, and many school and state programs. The WASFA is Washington’s state financial-aid application for students who are not eligible to file the FAFSA but may still qualify for Washington aid. Clark specifically says students who cannot complete the FAFSA because of citizenship status, defaulted loans, or federal grant overpayments may apply for state aid through the WASFA instead.

Federal Student Aid also reminds students that filing the FAFSA is free and that schools, states, and some scholarship providers use FAFSA information to award aid beyond federal programs. For the 2026–27 FAFSA process, Federal Student Aid says students should be ready with a StudentAid.gov account, contributor information, tax-return access, child-support records if relevant, asset records, and a list of colleges they are considering.

How to apply for Clark College financial aid step by step

First, apply for admission to Clark College. Then complete either the FAFSA or WASFA and make sure you include Clark College school code 003773. Clark says your file will then appear in ctcLink, where you should watch your Financial Aid tile, Message Center, and To-Do list carefully for missing documents or next steps.

Clark says students should respond quickly to requests for extra documentation, because missing verification documents can delay the aid offer. If your application is selected for verification, Clark may ask for items such as income verification forms, family-size forms, tax documents, and identity verification. Clark specifically warns that it cannot finish processing your aid until verification is complete.

Clark also publishes priority processing dates by term. On the current live page, the posted dates run through Spring 2026: Summer 2025 April 7, 2025; Fall 2025 July 7, 2025; Winter 2026 September 22, 2025; Spring 2026 January 5, 2026. Clark also notes that meeting the priority date does not guarantee your aid will disburse by the first day of the term, so early submission still matters. Students entering summer or fall 2026 should check the live Clark priority-date page for updated dates as they are posted.

The biggest aid programs Clark students should know

Federal Pell Grant

Clark says the Federal Pell Grant is for students with financial need who have not completed a bachelor’s degree, and that award amounts depend on need and enrollment intensity. Federal Student Aid likewise describes Pell as the main federal grant for undergraduates and says the amount depends on financial need, cost of attendance, and other enrollment factors.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

Clark says FSEOG is aimed at students with the highest need, specifically those with an SAI from –1,500 to 0 who are Pell-eligible, and that Clark requires at least 6 credits per term to receive it. Clark also warns that funding is limited, so not every eligible student will receive an award. Federal Student Aid likewise describes FSEOG as a grant for undergraduates with exceptional financial need.

Washington College Grant

This is one of the most important Clark-specific aid sources for Washington residents. WSAC states that the Washington College Grant is state money to help pay for career training, college, or apprenticeships, and that students access it by completing the FAFSA or WASFA. WSAC also states that for 2025–26, an eligible student in a family of four with income of $78,500 or less could receive a full award, and that even some families with income up to about $131,000 may still receive partial help.

Clark’s own aid guide says Washington College Grant is for students who have not completed a bachelor’s degree, is based on financial need, income, and family size, and can still be awarded below full-time enrollment, though Clark says students generally need at least 3 credits to qualify.

College Bound Scholarship

For Washington high school seniors, the College Bound Scholarship can be a major benefit. WSAC says students must have enrolled in the program earlier, graduate from a Washington high school, homeschool, or GED pathway, and complete the FAFSA or WASFA during senior year and each year in college. WSAC also notes an important Clark-relevant rule: students going to a community or technical college do not have a College Bound high school GPA requirement, while students going directly to a four-year public or private college need at least a 2.0 GPA. Students must also meet the enrollment deadline and income and residency requirements.

Clark’s guide explains that College Bound is awarded in combination with Washington College Grant and is prorated for lower enrollment intensity, with a minimum of 3 credits to qualify.

Passport to Careers

WSAC says Passport to Careers helps former foster youth and unaccompanied homeless youth prepare for and succeed in college, apprenticeship, or pre-apprenticeship programs. WSAC states that through Passport to College, funds can be used for tuition, fees, books, housing, transportation, and some personal expenses. Clark’s guide similarly says Passport to College Promise is available to former foster youth or students ages 18 to 24 with an unaccompanied homeless youth designation, with Clark requiring at least 6 credits each term.

Clark College grants, waivers, and scholarships

Clark says it reserves a portion of tuition revenue for institutional grants and tuition waivers for Washington residents or students eligible for in-state tuition. Clark also says institutional grants are need-based and generally require at least 3 credits, while tuition waivers reduce tuition charges and are not refunded directly to students.

For scholarships, Clark’s biggest internal point is strong: the Clark College Foundation distributes more than $1 million each year in scholarships, awards, emergency grants, and related support to hundreds of students. Clark’s catalog also says scholarship applications are generally available January through April for the following academic year, so high school seniors should not wait until summer to look.

Special programs that can matter a lot at Clark

Clark’s Workforce Education Services (WES) is especially important for students in career, technical, certificate, and other workforce-focused pathways. Clark says WES can help students with tuition, fees, books, and access to public benefits, and lists eligibility categories including low-income students, TANF recipients, SNAP/EBT recipients, unemployment recipients, displaced homemakers, recent veterans, former foster youth, and unaccompanied homeless youth.

Clark’s Opportunity Grant is one of the strongest examples. Clark says eligible low-income Washington residents in approved high-wage, high-demand professional/technical programs may receive assistance with tuition, books, and mandatory fees for up to 45 credits within three years, subject to available funds. Clark specifically lists programs such as accounting, computer technology, dental hygiene, EMT, health information, human services, mechatronics, nursing, pharmacy technician, surgical technology, web development, and welding.

Clark’s Worker Retraining Program may help students who are unemployed, underemployed, displaced homemakers, or recently discharged veterans. Clark says eligible students may receive help with tuition, fees, books, and required supplies, plus advising and support.

Clark also lists a Dreamers Grant for low-income non-citizen students who meet program requirements, and WorkFirst support for students receiving TANF, including help with tuition, books, fees, childcare support, advising, and work-study options.

Student employment and loans

Clark says Work Study and Institutional Hire jobs are available on and off campus and are meant to help students pay school costs through part-time employment. Clark highlights the benefits as extra money for living and educational expenses, job exploration, and on-the-job training. Another Clark page says work-study jobs are available only to students who qualify for financial aid, are Washington residents, and are registered for at least 6 credits in order to receive a work-study referral.

Clark also offers Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans. Clark says loans begin repayment after graduation or after you stop attending at least half-time, and to borrow a Direct Loan at Clark you must be enrolled in at least 6 credits of financial-aid-eligible coursework each term and accept the loan in ctcLink. Clark also recommends exhausting grant and work-study options before borrowing.

How aid is disbursed, refunded, or delayed

Clark says grants, scholarships, and accepted loans are usually disbursed 1–2 business days before the first day of classes and are first applied to your tuition and fees. If aid exceeds those charges, the remaining balance is sent to you as a refund through Clark’s BM Technologies disbursement system. If aid does not fully cover tuition and fees, the student is responsible for the remaining balance.

This matters because Clark also says students can be dropped for non-payment if no funding indicator is in place and a balance remains after the tuition deadline. If your aid is late, incomplete, or not enough, you need to watch ctcLink closely and either pay the balance or set up another payment method.

For students who need more time, Clark’s Student Tuition Easy Payment Plan (STEPP) allows installment payments during the term. Clark says STEPP is interest-free during the term but charges a $25 non-refundable fee each term you enroll in the plan.

How to keep your aid after you get it

Getting aid is only step one. Keeping it is just as important. Clark says students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) by keeping at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA, completing at least 67% of attempted credits, and finishing the degree or certificate within 150% of the credits required for the program.

Clark says students who fall below the GPA or pace standard may be placed on Financial Aid Warning for one term, but students who fail to recover, fall below a 2.0 GPA after the sixth term, or hit maximum timeframe can be moved to Financial Aid Suspension, which makes them ineligible for future grants, work-study, and loans until they regain eligibility or win an appeal. Clark also posts separate priority dates for SAP and maximum-timeframe appeals.

Students also need to be careful about dropping classes. Clark warns that dropping or withdrawing after aid disburses can reduce eligibility and may leave the student owing money back. Clark’s return-of-aid policy says official withdrawals can trigger recalculations, returned federal funds, and outstanding charges billed by the college.

Best strategy for a high school senior planning to attend Clark

The smartest Clark College financial-aid strategy is to treat aid like a system, not a one-time form. Apply to Clark first, file the FAFSA or WASFA as soon as the aid year opens, check ctcLink constantly, turn in every requested document quickly, apply for Clark Foundation scholarships in the January-through-April window, and ask whether you qualify for Washington College Grant, College Bound, Passport, Opportunity Grant, WES, or waiver programs. Students near the Oregon border should check residency and waiver rules early, because those rules can change the total price dramatically.

For many families, Clark can be one of the more affordable college options in the Pacific Northwest, especially when a student combines low community-college tuition with Washington state grant aid, Clark scholarships, and targeted workforce or basic-needs support. But affordability only happens when deadlines, forms, residency classification, and enrollment choices are handled carefully.

Official Clark College and government links

• Clark College Financial Aid — main office page, contact info, hours, workshops, and aid links.

• Clark College Steps to Apply for Financial Aid — FAFSA/WASFA steps, school code, ctcLink process, and disbursement overview.

• Clark College Priority Processing Dates — term-by-term priority dates.

• Clark College Scholarships — Clark Foundation scholarships and scholarship guidance.

• Clark College Tuition and Fees — published tuition schedules.

• Clark College Tuition Waivers — Oregon Border Waiver and Washington Non-Resident Waiver rules.

• Clark College Net Price Calculator — estimate your likely net cost.

• Clark College Workforce Education Services — WES, BFET, Opportunity Grant, WorkFirst, and Worker Retraining.

• FAFSA — federal aid application.

• WASFA — Washington state aid application for students who should not file FAFSA.

• Washington College Grant — Washington’s main state grant page.

• College Bound Scholarship — eligibility and senior-year steps.

• Passport to Careers — support for former foster youth and unaccompanied homeless youth.

Frequently asked questions

Do I fill out FAFSA or WASFA for Clark College?

Clark says you should complete one or the other, not both. FAFSA is for federal aid and many school/state programs. WASFA is for Washington students who are not eligible to file FAFSA but may qualify for state aid.

What is Clark College’s FAFSA school code?

Clark College’s federal school code is 003773.

How much does Clark College cost for a Washington resident?

Clark’s latest published 2025–26 9-month full-time cost of attendance is $19,264 for a Washington resident living with a parent and $28,026 for a Washington resident not living with a parent. Clark’s published lower-division tuition for a resident at 12 credits is $1,515.08 per term.

When does Clark apply financial aid to my bill?

Clark says aid is usually applied 1–2 business days before classes start, first to tuition and fees. If money remains after charges are paid, Clark sends the balance through its refund system.

Can I still get aid if I am not full-time?

Yes, often. Clark says Pell Grant, Washington College Grant, and College Bound Scholarship can still be available below full-time enrollment, though award amounts are prorated by enrollment intensity. Clark also says some programs, like FSEOG and Direct Loans, require minimum credit loads.

Can Oregon students pay less at Clark?

Yes, some can. Clark says students in qualifying Oregon border counties may be eligible for the Oregon Border Waiver if they meet the residency and documentation rules.

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