Financial Aid

Application Procedures

In order to determine eligibility for financial aid at Rock Valley College, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students must apply for aid yearly, as soon as possible after October 1st for the following year’s fall/spring/summer semesters to ensure full consideration for all grants.

Applications are considered on a “date received” basis. For example, students should complete their 2022-23 FAFSA for the Fall 2023 semesters on or shortly after October 1, 2021. Students are encouraged to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when completing the FAFSA.

For “priority consideration” deadlines students should refer to the RVC Financial Aid Handbook. Students are encouraged to file online at: https://StudentAid.gov. RVC’s school code for FAFSA purposes is 001747. Over 50% of the FAFSA applications received last year contained errors. To avoid lengthy delays in processing, please complete forms accurately.

Maximum Timeframe Requirement

Students may receive financial aid for the first 150% of the published length of their program credit hours attempted at Rock Valley College, even if financial aid was not received for all attempted courses. For example, if a student is attempting an Associate of Arts Degree, the published length of program is 64 credits. Applying the 150% maximum timeframe rule on this program would limit a student to 96 attempted credits (64 credits x 150% = 96 maximum credits). Please note that this maximum timeframe is specific to the student’s chosen program, and in some cases may be more or less than 96 attempted credit hours.

Attempted hours include:

• Any Developmental/Remedial courses (less than 100 level – i.e., MTH 093) beyond 30 attempted credits

• Repeated courses

• Withdrawn courses (after the tuition refund period)

• Non-completed courses (incompletes – grade of I)

• Transfer courses accepted for credit at RVC

• Courses with grades of A, B, C, D, F

Evaluation Requirement

At Rock Valley College, academic performance must be evaluated before a student can receive financial assistance. Academic performance is evaluated after each fall and spring semester. (The fall evaluation will include any summer courses in the overall completion rate.)

Repeated Courses

A student may receive financial assistance one time for a repeated course. Third attempts will not be counted in the calculation for federal student aid.

Helpful Websites

• U.S. Department of Education, (800) 4 FED AID: StudentAid.gov
• FinAid.org
• Mapping-Your-Future.org
• Illinois Student Assistance Commission, (ISAC) (800) 899-ISAC CollegeIllinois.org

Students can obtain printed copies of The Student Guide from the
U.S. Department of Education at: StudentAid.gov.

Developmental Course Requirements

While taking developmental courses (i.e., MTH 096A) a student must also be enrolled in and attending an eligible 100 level class. Please note that Title IV funding is limited to a maximum of 30 developmental course credits.

Note: Financial Aid will only consider payment for a class repeated two times.

These requirements are subject to change and may be updated.

Academic Standards of Progress for Recipients of Financial Aid

In accordance with the U.S. Department of Education and State of Illinois regulations, Rock Valley College established Standards of Academic Progress applicable to all financial aid recipients. These standards apply to all students receiving federal and state funding, including students using military education benefits and students receiving student loans or federal/RVC work-study employment.

Please note that all communication pertaining to academic standards will be conducted through the RVC student email account.

For a copy of the entire policy, students can contact the Financial Aid Office for the Financial Aid Handbook or view online at: RockValleyCollege.edu/FinancialAid.

Completion Rate Requirement: A student must achieve a 67% cumulative completion rate for all course work attempted at Rock Valley College. This applies whether or not the student previously received financial aid. In addition, the student must achieve a 67% cumulative completion rate for all course work attempted within a given semester.
a. Credit hours completed are defined as completion of a course by the end of a given semester in which a student is enrolled and receiving a grade of A, B, C, D, or P.
b. Credit hours attempted include all credit classes in which the student is enrolled after the last day to drop for refund. Course withdrawals after the last day to drop as well as courses with grades of “F” and “I” count as hours attempted for financial aid purposes.
c. Audits, proficiency tests, and non-credit courses are not included in the total number of credit hours attempted.

Grade-Point Average (GPA) Requirement for 2023–2024:
A student must maintain a minimum GPA requirement in order to continue receiving financial aid. Students can receive financial aid while on a Financial Aid Warning Status.

Course Eligibility

To be considered for Financial Aid Eligibility, students must register for each course prior to the school’s Financial Aid course registration deadline. Please review the Financial Aid course registration deadlines for each term. Any courses not added to a student’s schedule by the term specific dates below, will not count towards Financial Aid eligibility.

The most up-to-date Financial Aid Registration deadlines or “Census Dates” can be found at: RockValleyCollege.edu/FinancialAid.

Federal Refund Policy & Repayment of Financial Aid

Students receiving Title IV funds (Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, and Federal Student Loans) who withdraw and/or fail all classes will be subject to the Federal Return of Title IV Funds Policy. This policy states a student may retain only the amount of aid that they have earned. It is the student’s responsibility to return any aid that was not earned and pay any tuition balance resulting from the refund(s).

Further details can be obtained from the Financial Aid Office or the Financial Aid Handbook located at: RockValleyCollege.edu/FinancialAid.

RVC Foundation Scholarships Are Here to Help You!

To apply for, or learn more about the many RVC Foundation Scholarships that are available each academic year, please visit RockValleyCollege.edu/Scholarships.

Military Education Benefits

Rock Valley College offers priority registration to all students using military education benefits (service member, veteran, spouse and dependent). Students interested in using military education benefits, federal and/or state, should contact the Veterans Services Offices at (815) 921-4163. For more information or review of eligible military programs visit: RockValleyCollege.edu/Veterans.

As of August 1, 2019 per 38 USC 3679 (e), Rock Valley College will not take the actions listed below, against any student using Post 9/11 (Chapter 33) or Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31) and Survivors and Dependent Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) while pending payment:

• Prevent their enrollment;
• Assess a late penalty fee
• Require they secure alternative or additional funding;
• Deny their access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution

These provisions will be made once eligibility for the benefit has been established (ex: Certificate of Eligibility, written request to be certified, or see the VA School Certifying Official located on the second floor of the Student Center for all other requirements).