Income-Based Tuition Programs
YVC offers special funding options for current and prospective students interested in workforce education programs and training.
Workforce Education & Training Funding Assistance
Most students attending Yakima Valley College receive some type of financial aid. Below are a few options for workforce education.
- Receiving food assistance from DSHS? Read more about Basic Food, Employment, and Training (BFET) below.
- On unemployment? Check out the Worker Retraining options below.
- Low income student? Learn more about the Opportunity Grant below.
- Working at a daycare? You may qualify for the Early Achievers Grant.
- Eligibility for Working Connections Child Care through the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
- Eligibility to receive Basic Food Benefits (Food Stamps) while enrolled in college
- Financial assistance with college related expenses
- Support Services
Eligibility Requirements:
- Receiving or eligible to receive Basic Food Benefits (Food Stamps)
- Eligibility is based on household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty rate
- You must not be receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- You must be a US Citizen or Legal Resident
- You must be enrolled in a Professional/Technical program (Transfer degree programs are not eligible)
*Please Note: Enrollment in BFET is based on eligibility and availability of funds. Students must reapply each quarter.
Program Eligibility Criteria:
- Currently employed in a childcare program that participates in Early Achievers (Washington’s Quality Rating and Improvement System)
- must have been working a minimum of 10 hours per week
(or 40 hours per month) for at least 3 months
- must have been working a minimum of 10 hours per week
- A Washington State resident
- Studying with the intent of earning an Early Childhood Education certificate or AA degree.
Students who qualify for WorkFirst Financial Aid may be eligible for:
- Assistance with tuition and books
- Student Support
Program Eligibility Criteria:
- Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) pairs a professional or technical program with Adult Basic Education courses; including reading, writing, and math skills.
- I-BEST provides educational access and support for students to progress further and faster along career pathways.
- I-BEST students are paired with an Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language, or GED instructor, as well as a professional-technical program instructor for twice the support in each classroom.
- Opportunity Grant provides assistance with tuition, fees, and books to low-income students who are enrolled in specific, high-demand career pathway programs at YVC. I-Best (Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training) is an approved program for studies in Agriculture, Business Technology, Early Childhood Education, and Phlebotomy Certificate.
- Priority funding goes to students who are enrolled in one of the I-BEST programs.
- I-Best (Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training) programs: Agriculture, Business Technology, Early Childhood Education, and Nursing Assistant Certificate.
- Additional eligible programs include Allied Health, Nursing AAS, Business Technology, and Early Childhood Education.
Priority funding goes to students who are enrolled in one of the I-BEST programs. Must be a Washington State resident to qualify.
Students who qualify for WorkFirst Financial Aid may be eligible for:
- Assistance with tuition, books and fees (pending the availability of funds)
- Childcare assistance through Working Connections/Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
- Educational advising and personal support
Program Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be currently receiving TANF and meeting all participation requirements
- Students must be enrolled in a Workforce Education program through YVC
- Must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above and meet YVC’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy
- Must have a referral to YVC for training from your case manager at DSHS
- Eligible students may attend full time or part-time classes
YVC’s Worker Retraining offers training for a wide range of professional-technical certificates and degrees within the Workforce Education Division.
Eligible Worker Retraining students may receive tuition assistance and/or funds to cover the cost of books for one quarter at YVC.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Currently receiving Washington State Unemployment Benefits
- Have exhausted your Washington State Unemployment Benefits within the past 48 months
- Is employed in an occupation identified as “not in demand” (declining) on the region’s Demand-Decline List; and/or
- The individual has not reached the “tipping point,” which is defined as one year of college credits (45 credits) plus any certificate or degree related to their college course work; and/or
- In order to remain employed, the individual needs to obtain new skills (Individual must meet two of the three eligibility requirements to qualify)
- Have been determined to be a “Dislocated Worker” by WorkSource
- Have been self-employed within the past 48 months, operating your own business, and are now unemployed due to economic downturn
- Are an unemployed veteran who has been honorably discharged from the US Armed Services within the past 24 months
* Please note: Funding for qualified Worker Retraining students is contingent upon the availability of Worker Retraining funds. All applications are reviewed and processed on a case-by-case basis.