Financial Aid News

Financial Aid was released into eligible students' tuition and fees balances on Monday, February 8th.  Refunds are being sent to eligibile students through the refund preference that you set up with BankMobile this week, and should arrive electronically within 1 week.  Paper checks can take up to 10 business days to be received.  You can verify if you have a refund on the way using the Student Account link in The Rock student portal.  Contact the Cashier's Office if you have questions about your refund preference.
 

Most student services are currently being offered remotely.  Schedule a virtual appointment with a staff member through Navigate.  Log into The Rock student portal, click the Navigate button, and then click on "Appointments."  Select the RRCC-Virtual location.  In-person appointments are available on Thursdays starting February 4, 2021.  Select the Arvada Welcome Desk location in Navigate to schedule an in-person appointment.

In-person assistance with the FAFSA financial aid application is available on Mondays and Thursdays at the Arvada campus!  Schedule at the Arvada Welcome Center location using the Navigate app in The Rock student portal, or request a virtual appointment for FAFSA assistance HERE.

You may email documents to us at rrcc.financialaid@rrcc.edu.  Please use your student email account if you have one.  To avoid being charged a $40 late fee, be sure to submit documents at least 2 weeks before the payment deadline.  If you are completing your financial aid file during the month that classes start, we recommend that you set up a payment plan to ensure you are not charged late fees.  You will not be dropped from your classes due to non-payment.

You can also call us at 303-914-6256.  If you need to leave a voicemail for us, we will call you back as soon as possible, and we'll send you an email if we can't reach you over the phone.  Our call may come from an Unknown number.

Help with books - To use up to $750 of your expected financial aid refund at the campus bookstore before classes start, make sure you have the Bookstore Authorization Form (TIV) on file at the Financial Aid Office, available here.

Thank you very much for your patience during this busy time.

Stay safe, study hard, and we'll see you soon!
 

Financial Aid can help you apply for grants, loans, and work-study to help you pay for college.
 

Click here to apply for financial aid for Fall 2020 through Spring/Summer 2021 (20-21 FAFSA) and/or Fall 2021 through Spring/Summer 2022 (21-22 FAFSA).

The last day to submit a FAFSA for the 2019-2020 aid year (Fall 2019, Spring/Summer 2020) was June 30, 2020. No new FAFSAs can be submitted after June 30, 2020.  Student loan requests cannot be processed after the last day of classes/after you have stopped attending classes for the semester.  Submit all requested financial aid documents at least 2 weeks before the end of the semester to improve your chances of being offered aid.

Fall 2020 past due balances have been sent to collections.  If you are waiting for financial aid, you may need to pay off any past due balance, and register for 6 or more credits for Spring 2021 in order to possibly qualify for aid at this point.  Contact the Cashier's Office with questions about a past due balance.

Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (ASSET-eligible students)

We encourage ASSET-eligible, international, and undocumented students to complete the CASFA state aid application and to apply for RRCC scholarships to seek financial assistance.

Link to the 2021-2022 Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA): https://highered.colorado.gov/colorado-application-for-state-financial-aid

Scholarship resources: https://www.rrcc.edu/scholarships

Student Resources and Emergency Funds

RRCC cares about your ability to thrive as a student and in your personal life.  We are committed to providing as many services as possible to help you succeed and meet your highest potential.  Visit the Student Resources webpage for a comprehensive list of campus and community resources. 

RRCC's Housing and Food Insecurity Council provides a limited amount of emergency funding for our students as well.  Request funds here. 

Financial Aid Process and Timeline - most types of financial aid require that you take at least 6 credits. 

Important Dates & Deadlines

You must submit all completed documents to the Financial Aid Office by the following dates to be considered for an award. Don't delay! Submitting documents on or near these deadlines does not guarantee that aid will be available.
Fall deadline:  December 1
Spring deadline:  May 1
Summer deadline:  August 1

Spring 2021 classes start:  January 19
Tuition deadline:  February 3
Last day to drop full-semester spring classes:  February 3
Spring financial aid disbursement date:  February 8
Spring financial aid refunds released through BankMobile:  February 12
Loans for first-time borrowers disbursement date:  February 22

Refunds
If your financial aid is more than your tuition/fees balance, you could qualify to receive some funding in the form of a refund. Refunds are typically made available via BankMobile the Friday after your aid has paid into your RRCC student account balance. To check your refund preferences, click on the BankMobile button in The Rock student portal.  Contact the Cashier's Office with questions about BankMobile. 

If you have childcare or computer purchase expenses, or if you need to request additional loan funds than you were initially awarded, please contact Financial Aid to discuss your options.

Job opportunities on campus - RRCC is now hiring student employees!

Contact the Financial Aid Office to find out if you are eligible for work-study. If you are not initially offered work-study, you may request a work-study award.

Click here to view on-campus student job listings

Payment Deadlines
If your financial aid is not enough to cover your tuition bill, you will need to establish a payment plan with the Cashier's Office by Census Date or you will be charged a late fee.

Spring 2021 payment is due by Wednesday, February 3.  If your authorized financial aid isn't enough to cover your balance in full, and you have not set up a payment plan online through The Rock student portal or paid your balance in full, you will be charged a $40 late fee.  You will not be dropped from your classes due to non-payment.  To set up a payment plan, which requires a portion of your tuition to be paid, follow the steps listed here.

Click here to read RRCC's Payment Policy.

Estimated cost of attendance*

*Note: Tuition, fees, and books are direct costs and vary depending on the total number of credits you take. Other listed fees are estimates provided by the State of Colorado and the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) and are not paid directly to RRCC. The amounts above are based on estimates from the 2019-2020 aid year. Your financial aid award cannot exceed your cost of attendance. However, you may request an increase of your cost of attendance if you have documented childcare expenses and for a one-time computer purchase.

Information on RRCC policies and procedures can be found throughout this website and in the Financial Aid Handbook. It is every RRCC financial aid applicant's responsibility to be familiar with the contents of this document.

To be eligible to receive any type of federal student financial aid, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident, or other eligible non-citizen.*
• Register with the Selective Service Administration (unless exempt). See the Selective Service website for more information or to register: https://www.sss.gov/
• Be working toward a degree or a financial aid approved certificate (click here for programs that are not eligible for financial aid).*
• Meet RRCC's Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.
• Not owe a refund on any federal grant, must not have borrowed federal student loans in excess of annual or aggregate loan limits, and must not be in default on any federal student loan.
• Most types of financial aid require that you take at least 6 credits to qualify to receive the funds.

*State financial aid is available for ASSET recipients and students enrolled in short certificates that don't qualify for financial aid. You must be able to document financial need. Contact Financial Aid to apply, or submit the 2020-2021 State Aid Application available here. 

All documentation requested by the Financial Aid Office must have been completed and processed by our office by the published deadlines. Availability of funding is subject to state, federal, and institutional regulations, and many funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.  Financial aid cannot pay for a class that you have already taken twice if you passed the first attempt.

Tuition Disclaimer

During the 2020-21 academic year, some or all of the instructional formats may change due to an emergency situation affecting college operations, public safety, or public health, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Tuition and fees are charged at the beginning of the semester and will remain in place regardless of any changes in instructional format. Tuition and fees will not be refunded in the event the curriculum delivery format changes for any part of the 2020-21 academic year. 

If you have a class canceled, your financial aid may need to be adjusted, and you may owe a balance to the college. 

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