1. Paying for College at Whatcom
Whatcom Community College
Laura Pendleton, Financial Aid Director
Trish Onion, VP for Educational Services
December 10, 2008

2. Paying for College at Whatcom
How much does college cost?
How do students pay for college?
What are the financial aid challenges and opportunities?

3. What is the cost of instruction and support?
Resident Undergraduate
Nonresident Undergraduate
Total Instructional Cost per FTE Student
$7,041
$7041
Operating Fee
$2,189
$7,007
Net State Support per FTE Student
$4,852
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Source: SBCTC State Support of Higher Education

4. What do students pay at Whatcom?
Per Credit
Per Quarter
Resident
FT Student
1-10 credits
$78.10
10 credits
$781.00
11-18 credits
$30.40
5 credits
$152.00
$933.00
Non-resident and International
$249.80 $ $ $ $

5. What do students pay at Whatcom?
Per Credit
Per Quarter
Online Courses
(self-support fee)
$78.10
Example: FT resident
2 on-campus courses
10 credits $
1 online course
5 credits $ $
ABE/ESL
$25
High School Completion
$20.00
$200.00
Parent Education
$11.00
3 credits
$33

6. What if tuition increases next year?
15 credits/resident
Quarterly
Annually
Current Tuition
$933
$2799
7% Increase
$998
$2994
What if every credit pays?
15 $78.10 $ $

7. How do students pay for college?
Over 3000 degree-seeking students at Whatcom
79% of Whatcom degree-seeking students receive some type of assistance

8. How do students pay for college?
Family contribution and self-pay
Grants – free money!
Scholarships – free money!
Waivers – “no money” (waived)
Work study – earned wages
Loans – last resort

9. How many $$ are awarded to students at Whatcom?
# Students
Dollars
Federal Aid
1282
$2,704,280.00
State Aid
287
$1,896,703.00
Other Aid & Institutional
1086
$ 273,101.00
$4,874,084.00

10. How is financial need determined?
Student completes the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
Student and college receive a Student Aid Report with “EFC” calculation
Expected Family Contribution
College uses EFC to determine aid package
Cost of Attendance – EFC = Unmet Need
FAFSA is the first step
Grants
Work study
Loans

11. What is the “cost of attendance”?
Expenses
Quarterly
Yearly
Resident Tuition (15 credits)
$ 933
$2,799
Books/Supplies
$ 360
$1,080
Rent/Food/Utilities
$2,688
$8,064
Transportation
$ 534
$1,602
Personal/Miscellaneous
$ 746
$2,238
TOTAL - resident
$5,261
$15,783
What are hidden costs?
Unearned income – attending college instead of working
Internet connection and computer

12. What is work study? On- and off-campus jobs
Paid by state and federal funds
Work study jobs help students:
Gain skills and apply learning
Begin networking and build resumes
Strengthen transfer applications
At Whatcom, how many students have work study jobs?
74 on-campus
17 off-campus (school districts & environmental organizations)
6 placements in Community Service program

13. What loans are available?
Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan – no %
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan – low interest
Parent Loan (PLUS)
Alternative loans are not recommended
Whatcom 2006 Default Rate: 8.7%

14. Why is it important to apply early?
Early applicant, -0- EFC, $15,783 “need”
Pell Grant
$4731
SEOG (federal grant)
$1050
SNG (state need grant)
$2554
WCC Grant
$600
Work Study
$4290
Stafford-Sub
$2558
TOTAL AID
$15,783
Later applicant, -0- EFC, $15,783 “need”
Pell Grant
$4731
SEOG (federal grant) $0
SNG (state need grant)
WCC Grant
Work Study
$3500
Stafford-Unsub
$2000
Parent Loan
$5552
TOTAL AID
$15,783

15. How do veterans pay for college?
Benefits available for:
Veterans (separated from service)
Active Duty
Selected Reserve, National Guard
Spouse and dependent children of an “eligible” veteran
Veterans with service-connected disabilities (Voc Rehab)
Types of benefits:
Depends on “chapter” being used; monthly stipend
May also include tuition/fees/books, tutorial assistance
New benefit coming: Post 9/11 GI Bill, Ch. 33
Currently “under construction”
Will be implemented beginning August 1, 2009
How many attend Whatcom?
Fall 2008 – 84 (includes spouses, dependents, and veterans)

16. What are special eligibility programs?
Students 2007/08
Average $$ per student
Annual $$
Opportunity Grants 69
$4580
$281,800
Pathways to Health Careers 22
$690
$20,000
Turning Point 58
Free career class
Worker Retraining 41
$2581
$86,000
WorkFirst Tuition and Books
175
$460
$102,277
Specialized Support Services
Case management support
Additional funding for childcare and emergencies

17. What about our scholarships?
Students
2007/08
Average $$
Per student
Annual $$
Whatcom Community College Foundation Scholarships 74
$1131
$72,256
Outside Scholarships
119
$2631
$184,166

18. What are the challenges for students?
Student Academic Progress
Under-prepared students
Student Excess Credits – Early Intervention
Students transfer-in from multiple colleges
Many students don’t know what they want to do
Static Grants + Higher Tuition  Increased Borrowing

19. What are the opportunities?
Financial assistance creates opportunities
Scholarships make a difference in the lives of our students
Students’ lives are transformed
As a single mother with three boys, college was a very scary idea for me. I did not think I was good enough and I was unable to pay for it myself. Without this scholarship, I would not be able to make my dream of becoming a nurse come true. I am very grateful.
I escaped from to the United States from a country where I was physically tortured by the government. It took me ten years in the U.S. before I gained my self-esteem and began to believe that I could go to college so that my four children would not grow up in poverty. Currently, my GPA is 3.6 and without the Opportunity Grant, I would not have this success.