Take Charge!

To continue to receive financial aid, you need to maintain your eligibility. Find out how to do that in STEP 3.

The 3-Step Process

STEP 3: TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR FINANCES

RCC requires aid recipients to complete a certificate, degree, or transfer program within a maximum credit allowance as determined by the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy, maintain a 2.0 or higher cumulative GPA, and successfully complete a minimum number of attempted credits each term. Financial Aid staff review your academic progress at the completion of each term.

• Read the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy brochure sent with your first award letter. Understand the rights and responsibilities of accepting aid and if you have questions, please contact a Rogue Central Specialist for clarification.
  
• If you feel that you need more assistance with expenses for school, learn about your options. On and off campus jobs may be available (Student Employment Services). Student Loans may also be an option (although we recommend that you minimize your debt as much as possible). Always be sure to diligently pursue scholarships, especially during the January to early March peak application window.
  
• Budget wisely with your future in mind. Be aware of your monthly expenses and the best ways to match your lifestyle to your income.

Personal Budgeting Tools

Tools to help you with your own budget: EDWISE® Online Financial Planning Guide FinAid.org Calculators Wells Fargo Customer Service - Tools

ON TO THE BUSINESS OF BEING A STUDENT

Financial Aid is designed to assist eligible students in accessing an education. Similar to getting paid for work performed on the job, aid-eligible students may qualify to receive federal aid for participating in an academic program. Your job is to be admitted (see Enrollment Services for more information), declare an academic program (one-year certificates, two-year associate degrees, or transfer majors are generally aid eligible), enroll in classes that progress you toward program completion, attend and maintain satisfactory academic progress. If you submit official transcripts from other colleges for possible transfer to an RCC program (required if you already have a degree), request an official Degree Evaluation from the Records Office. If you already have a degree or have 135 net cumulative attempted credits at RCC and want to continue at RCC, further access to financial aid must be on an appeal basis (Degree Evaluation required). See the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy brochure for more information.

HOW MUCH DO I GET?

Once you’ve completed the application process described above, you’ve applied for financial aid at RCC. After it’s been determined that your application is complete and accurate, RCC will review your file in date-completed order to determine your aid eligibility and send you one of the following:

a) Award Letter – This lists the type(s) and amount(s) of term-based aid we estimate you are eligible to receive or to submit a supplemental application for, based on your actual and/or projected enrollment from your FAIR. As changes to your enrollment level may directly affect your eligibility for aid, we recommend that you talk with a Rogue Central specialist prior to changing your enrollment level. Notify a Rogue Central specialist immediately of any changes to your enrollment. An updated Award Notification will be issued whenever your aid is adjusted.

b) Eligibility Notification – This notifies applicants who are not eligible for need-based grant aid that they may submit a supplemental application for student employment and/or student loans.

c) Non-Eligibility Notification – We will notify you in writing if, for any reason, you appear to be ineligible for financial aid (default on a student loan, owe a repayment of federal funds, enrollment level too low to qualify, low financial need, late application, etc.)

Aid for which it is determined you are eligible is awarded up to your budgetary Cost of Attendance (COA) which includes allowances for tuition and fees, books and supplies, food and housing, transportation, and personal miscellaneous expenses. Adjustments to standard student budgets may be possible on an individual basis for special expenses associated with your educational endeavors such as certified disability accommodations, documented study-abroad or documented dual-enrollment expenses. These professional judgment decisions are specific to RCC on an annual basis and cannot be appealed.

Getting your money

Disbursements of aid occur only for those students that have received an Award Notification from the Financial Aid Office. The first disbursement each term is typically mailed 14 days into the term. If you have not been sent an Award Notification prior to the term, please check with our office should you have any questions.