Opportunity Grants
Opportunity Grants help low-income students enrolled in approved career training programs pay for tuition and books. Awards are a based on financial need.
Who is Eligible
- Washington residents
- Students who are enrolled (or who plan to enroll) in an Opportunity Grant-eligible associate degree or certificate program
- Low-income students
- Students who show financial need based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WAFSA)
- Students who maintain a 2.0 grade point average
- Students who have earned less than an associate degree
Note: Opportunity Grants are not available to students pursuing AA-Transfer degrees. To check for eligibility, visit the Start Next Quarter website.
What Qualifies as Low-Income
According to the federal guidelines used by the Opportunity Grant program, the chart below determines if a student meets low-income eligibility requirements.
Size of Family Annual Income Limit, 2025–2026
| Family Members |
Total Combined Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $31,300 |
| 2 | $42,300 |
| 3 | $53,300 |
| 4 | $64,300 |
| 5 | $75,300 |
| 6 | $86,300 |
| 7 | $97,300 |
| 8 | $108,300 |
What Programs Qualify
The following Pierce College professional/technical programs qualify for Opportunity Grants:
- Accounting
- Applied Business
- Business Information Technology (BTECH)
- Computer Network Engineering
- Construction Management
- Criminal Justice
- Database Management
- Dental Hygiene
- Digital Design
- Early Childhood Education
- Emergency Medical Services
- Health Informatics and Integrated Technology
- Kinesiology
- Medical billing
- Nursing
- Pre-nursing
- Project Management
- Social Service Mental Health
- Veterinary Technology
- Pre-Veterinary Technology