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First Time in College

Congratulations! You’ve taken the first step towards continuing your education and developing the skills you need for your career. But don’t stop now – click on the links below to get a step-by-step guide of what to do next in the enrollment process. 

Questions? Connect with a member of our admissions team by referencing the contacts on the left. Whether you’re ready to register or still need information to decide the best program for you, we’re here to help.

Choose the student type that best describes you to complete the right application.

Domestic

North Seattle College uses the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges Online Admissions Application Portal.

Apply Today!

**Out-of-state students, new Washington residents and undocumented students: review residency requirements.

International

English as a Second Language (ESL) 

Adult Basic Education (ABE)/General Education Development (GED)

High School Students

  • Under 18 and have not earned a high school diploma or GED? Apply for Running Start.
  • Or continue your application process AND, if not enrolled in Running Start, request an exception to the NSC admissions policy by Applying as an Underage Student.

Health, Medical and I-BEST Programs

  • Health and Medical and I-BEST programs may require acceptance into their programs prior to enrollment.
  • Visit I-BEST for more information.
  • Students interested in these programs may apply to the college at any time.

Apply for college funding including financial aid and scholarships as early as possible to help determine your options for paying for college.

Financial Aid
Visit the Financial Aid Office. Applying early increases your chances of receiving an award. The financial aid deadline for fall applies for the whole year, so meet the priority deadline even if you don't plan to enroll until winter or spring.

Financial aid staff can assist you in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) or answer any questions along the way. If you need help applying, please join one of the Virtual FAFSA & WASFA Workshops. 

Scholarships
Scholarships are a great resource to help pay for college. There are no limits to how many scholarships you can apply for or be awarded. The key is to apply. Check out our Foundation scholarships, the Seattle Promise scholarship for graduates from Seattle Public High Schools, the WashBoard resource for all Washington students or search the web for more. 

Employer or Worker Retraining Funding
If your employer or another agency will be paying your tuition, contact the Financial Aid Office before registering.

To determine your eligibility for worker retraining support as a displaced worker, contact Workforce Education.

Tuition and Fees
Estimate your tuition and fees. Tuition and fee tables are available from the Tuition & Fees section.

Payment Plan Options
Need to pay your tuition in installments over time? Enroll in an online deferred payment plan provided by a partnership between North and nelnet Business Solutions. Learn more about setting up a tuition payment plan.

Private Educational or Alternative Loans
Private Education Loans, also known as Alternative Education Loans, can help cover the cost of your education. Private loans are offered by private lenders and no federal forms are required. Terms may vary from lender to lender. For private education loans students must meet the lender’s credit criteria. Creditworthy cosigners may help you qualify for a lower interest rate. Private education loans may be less expensive than credit card debt, so it is important to check the rates of each before deciding.

Finding the right English and math classes for you is important to your success. To determine if you need to placement, visit the placement for classes page.

No prior college experience? Attend new student orientation. 

Register for Classes

After orientation (and your English and math placement for classes have been verified), you will be able to move forward and register for your first quarter classes.

Here are a few tips as you register:

  1. Read Policies: We recommend reading North's Admissions/Registration policies before you register for classes.
  2. Consult the Online Schedule. To help you decide what courses to take, visit the class schedule for the most accurate and up-to-date version of the quarterly schedule.
  3. Register online or in person. With your ctcLink ID number (EMPLID) and your class numbers selected from the course schedule, you are ready to register. You have two options:
  • Online registration: Go to Register/Add/Drop Classes
  • In-Person Registration: Get personal assistance at the Admissions/Registration Office on the second floor of the College Center building or use the registration kiosks available there to register online.

See Campus Map for campus and visitor parking information.

Your registration is not complete until tuition and fees have been paid in full or you have enrolled in the tuition payment plan.

Tuition Payment Deadline

If you register when registration opens and prior to the tuition deadline, you must pay your tuition and fees or enroll in the tuition payment plan by the tuition deadline.

If you register on or after the tuition deadline AND prior to the beginning of the quarter, you must pay your tuition and fees or enroll in the tuition payment plan within 7 business days of your registration or prior to the start of the quarter, whichever comes first. If you register on or after the first day of the quarter, tuition and fee payment is due immediately upon registration. Students who do not pay tuition by the corresponding payment deadlines of enrollment will be dropped from classes for non-receipt of payment.

How Tuition and Fees are Determined

Tuition is determined by the number of courses you take and your residency status. Fees are determined by the number and type of courses you take. These fees do not include classroom expenses like art supplies or course-specific equipment that may be required by the instructor.

The average student will take 10-18 credits per quarter. Full-time is 12 credits. An advisor can help you estimate your typical tuition and fee payments. See the Tuition and Fees pages for full details on tuition and fee charges.

How to Pay

You can pay your tuition and fees by credit card online or by deferred payment plan without coming to campus, or in person, at the Cashier’s Office, on the second floor of the College Center Building. In-person payments can be made by cash, check, American Express, VISA, MasterCard, Discover, debit card or financial aid award.

Checks must be written for the exact amount and must be drawn on banks located in the United States. A handling fee of $30.75 is charged for any returned checks. Students will be automatically dropped from classes if checks written for tuition are returned for insufficient funds. Students who are dropped for insufficient funds must pay tuition and fees in cash or by credit card.

Financial assistance must be arranged with the Financial Aid Office prior to registration.

Photo ID

To obtain your student photo identification card, you will need to first go to the Cashier’s Office, located on the second floor of the College Center building, and pay the Student ID Card Fee. Then take your receipt to the ID card window, located on the same floor, to get your picture taken and receive your ID card.

Get your Books

The Seattle Colleges utilize an online bookstore. For information about the bookstore and to order your books, please visit the Bookstore’s webpage.

Congratulations

You are a registered student at North Seattle College!

Remember to attend the first day of classes or communicate with your instructor in advance if you are unable to attend. Registered students who are absent on the first day without prior approval of the instructor or department may be withdrawn from classes.

Unsure how many units to register for? Click here.