Awarding and Disbursement Process
In order for the awarding process to begin, it is important the Financial Aid office has received all requested documentation. All correspondence will be sent via mail so students should ensure that Red Rocks Community College has your most current contact information by updating it in "The Rock" student portal.
Your Financial Aid Awards
Financial Aid awards for eligible students consist of a combination of scholarships, grants, work- study and student loans. Award amounts from each program vary depending on the need and eligibility of each student. Awards are based on the assumption students will enroll full-time for both the Fall and Spring semesters. If you enroll less than full-time, some awards will be pro-rated based on the actual credits hours you are enrolled in. If you choose to enroll in the Summer semester, please stop by the Financial Aid Office to obtain a Summer Application.
If you are enrolled in a class that starts later in the semester and it is cancelled, the class will not count toward the number of credit hours you are enrolled in for that term. Your financial aid award will be adjusted to the actual hours you are attending.
The financial aid packaging process ensures effective use of funds available and ensures fair and equitable treatment of all aid applicants. For information about enrollment requirements for each type of award, see Types of Grant Aid and Student Loans.
Click here for information
on other factors affecting your eligibility.
The Office of Financial Aid will post your award offer online to your student
account via "The Rock" student portal. The award offer details the
amounts and types of financial aid for which you are eligible. Once you receive
your award notification, please read all instructions and maintain a copy for
your records.
- All offers are based on full-time attendance and may be pro-rated if you attend less than 12 credit hours.
- Disbursement of financial aid is made in equal amounts over the semesters of enrollment.
- When awards are offered, they are for the entire academic year. If you apply by April 1st for financial aid, you will be awarded for the Fall and Spring terms for that academic year. There is no need to file a separate FAFSA for each semester.
- Financial assistance received from sources outside the college may affect aid eligibility. Other financial assistance includes but is not limited to: private scholarships, tuition benefits from an employer, vocational rehabilitation benefits, and scholarships.
- Student loans are only "offered" on your award notification. A loan will not be valid until a student actually applies for it. Click here on steps to applying for a student loan.
Disbursement of Financial Aid
Disbursement of funds begins after the census date for the respective term.
This is typically
two weeks after the start of classes for the respective term. Financial aid
funds will be paid into
a student's account to pay tuition, fees, and books first.
Then, if there is a credit balance after payment of a student bill, a refund
will be delivered via the option selected when activating your CCCS Refund Card
through Higher One. Click here for more information about Higher One and
RRCC's new system for processing Refunds for students. It is
imperative that students keep their addresses updated with the Office of
Admissions and have current email addresses as all correspondence from Higher
One will to those locations.
Effective as of the 2009/10 academic year, any single-term loan periods will have a two-disbursement requirement. New direct student loan borrowers will be subject to a 30 day delay in releasing student loan funds (from beginning of term).
