Rochester College is committed to providing you with all the financial aid resources available to assist you and your family in making a quality Christian education a reality. Rochester College participates in State and Federal financial aid programs and our financial aid staff is prepared to assist you in the application process. These aid programs are need based and are determined by family income. Rochester College awards over $2,300,000 in academic and leadership scholarships to students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements and exceptional church and community leadership skills. Rochester College awards over $11,700,000 in financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships and loans.
Financial aid is available from many sources and our commitment is to assist you in obtaining all aid for which you are eligible. We have included information on Federal and State financial aid programs as well as Rochester College scholarship opportunities. It is important to apply as early as possible for both Federal/State aid and Rochester College scholarships. Financial aid is available in three forms:

• Grants and scholarships, which do not have to be repaid.
• Work-study provides aid in exchange for work, usually as employment on campus.
• Loans, which must be repaid.

By completing the following process, you will maximize the amounts and timing of the financial aid process.

• You must submit an Admissions Application (accompanied by the fee) before you will be considered for RC scholarships.
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon after January 1 as possible. The priority deadline is April 15. Return it to the Rochester College Student Financial Services office. The FAFSA can be completed online at www.FAFSA.ed.gov or they can be mailed in. Be sure to include RC’s Federal school code (002288) in step 6 of the FAFSA .
• Shortly after we have processed your FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail. You should get a response with in 2 weeks of completing the form. Please read it carefully. If everything is correct, the SAR is for your records. If there are any errors on the SAR, make corrections on Part 2, sign it and return it to the FAFSA so that corrections can be made. Signatures are required.
• Once your FAFSA has been received by SFS, you will be packaged with the maximum financial aid eligibility. You will receive electronic communication from our office that your financial aid award is available on your student portal. If you do not yet have access to your student portal, you will receive an email with an attached paper award letter. You may also receive a verification worksheet that will be required to be completed. If a credit results from accepting your financial aid, SFS will email you a valid bookstore voucher to purchase your textbooks via our online bookstore www.mbsdirect.net. For more information on bookstore vouchers, visit
• Upon receiving the financial aid award letter, review the information carefully. Please initial the awards where indicated and return it to the Student Financial Services office by the stated deadline (a postage paid envelope will be included for this purpose). If additional information has been requested please submit it at this time also.Please note that award letters are valid only for the current school year. A renewal FAFSA application must be completed for subsequent years.

Financial Aid Packaging

Policy background: To ensure the packaging criteria and accuracy for need and non-need based federal, state and institutional aid for prospective and returning students.

Financial Aid Model: combination of active and inactive models. Packaging will be based on students’ maximum eligibility for grants/scholarships/loans within the cost of attendance. Students will be given payment options to pay for remaining net costs which include but are not limited to; parent loan, payment in full, payment plan, third party provider. Returning students will then go online to accept/deny aid. If students choose to have parent apply for loan, eligibility and application requirements are on website/student portal.

If a student/parent applies for the parent loan and is declined, the student will automatically be packaged with the additional unsubsidized loan. For more information please visit http://studentaid.ed.gov.

An email will be sent to the returning student informing them of aid to be accepted/denied on their student portal and the availability of their billing statement and option to choose a payment intention.

Any student that has a credit balance after maximum awards are packaged will receive a bookstore authorization. Students will receive an email with instructions on how to purchase textbooks using this voucher from our MBS direct online bookstore. If a student would like to opt out of the bookstore voucher, an email would be required to be sent to their Financial Service Advisor. At that point, the Financial Service advisor will cancel the voucher and the student will receive a refund check once all aid has been posted to their student account. Traditional students with parent loans will be packaged with $500/semester for books. CEL students will be packaged with maximum eligibility each semester.

Financial aid is available from many sources and our commitment is to assist you in obtaining all aid for which you are eligible. We have included information on Federal and State financial aid programs as well as Rochester College scholarship opportunities. It is important to apply as early as possible for both Federal/State aid and Rochester College scholarships. Financial aid is available in three forms:

Summer Instructions

Traditional Students planning to take summer courses must contact their financial service advisor for information on financial aid to pay for summer tuition/fees. Please note, many students use their entire eligibility during the fall and spring semester, however, students eligible for Pell grant, may be eligible for summer Pell grant funds. Students may also apply for a loan/grant/scholarship from outside lenders. Outside lenders may be found at www.finaid.org. CEL students will be packaged based on the hours submitted on their “CEL-Intent to Register” form.

Any Questions?
Contact the Student Financial Services office:
Phone: (248) 218-2034
or toll-free (800) 521-6010
Fax: (248) 218-2065