Types of Financial Aid

Types of Financial Aid Photo

Financial Aid can come in many different forms including Grants, Loans, Scholarships, or Student Employment.

Grants

Federal, state and institutional grants for undergraduate students provide financial aid funding that does not need to be repaid.

Loans

Loans, unlike grants or work-study, are money that must be repaid, with interest.

Scholarships

Grays Harbor College offers a variety of scholarships generously donated by various organizations and individuals in the community through the Grays Harbor College Foundation.

Student Employment

The Financial Aid Office, in conjunction with Job Placement services, administers the GHC on-campus and off-campus work programs. Work-Study employment is meant to be a productive experience for everyone involved: the student, the employer, and the institution as well as the community.

Heerf (Cares) Funding

Many GHC students have received the Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEERF) award (also known at our institution as CARES). HEERF funds are intended to help students meet emergency costs that arise due to COVID-19, including costs related to food, housing, course materials, technology, healthcare, and childcare. Students will determine how they use this emergency financial aid grant.

The awarding of these funds has evolved since they began in 2020. During the last distribution, funds were issued directly to students as a direct payment. The funds are accessible to the students through their chosen refund method (BankMobile, direct deposit, or a check by mail).

Please note that if you choose to receive the funds directly or as a credit on your student account, you will be billed for your tuition for the quarter you were awarded. You will see both a credit for the HEERF funds and a debit for your tuition on your student account. 

If students wish to pay their tuition and fees with the HEERF funds, they must complete a consent form available through GHC's Financial Aid Office. If a student has questions about this process, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the Financial Aid staff.