Opportunity Grant

The Opportunity Grant helps eligible low-income students pay for college while preparing for high-wage, high-demand careers.

Created by the Washington State Legislature in partnership with the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, the Opportunity Grant is available at all 34 community and technical colleges in Washington, including Bates Technical College.

Eligible students may receive:

• Tuition and mandatory fees for up to 45 credits
• Up to $1,000 per academic year for books and supplies
• One-on-one support with college navigation, community resource referrals and individual student coaching at Bates Tech

You may be eligible for Opportunity Grant funding if you:

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA, for undocumented students); demonstrate unmet financial need.
• Are a Washington state resident student as defined by law.
• Have a household income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (see the US Department of Health & Human Services Poverty Guidelines).
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as described in the Financial Aid SAP Policy.
• Enroll in one of the high-demand career education programs offered at Bates Technical College. See the most up-to-date approved program inventory here.
  • Please note: Students completing prerequisite courses for career training programs (ex: LPN, MRI Technology, OTA, Invasive Cardio Technology, etc.) are not eligible for funding through Opportunity Grant. Students are encouraged to submit a new WES application once they are enrolled in courses specific to their career training programs of choice.

How to Apply

For more information about the Opportunity Grant program, please contact Katie Highsmith, Opportunity Grant Specialist, 253.680.7607 or opportunitygrant@batestech.edu