Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial Aid And Scholarships

We award financial aid to 99% of our full-time students. Every year, Rockford University students receive more than $10 million in scholarships, grants, and other financial aid. We believe an education should be affordable. Through our scholarships, grants, and other financial aid, we work individually with prospective students and their families to determine the most beneficial financial aid package for them.

Rockford University recently announced a locked-in tuition rate for new students. For more information on this head here.

Here are a few guidelines to help you understand financial aid. As always, our financial aid staff and your admission counselor are willing to answer any questions you may have and to help you through the process.

• Federal and state funds are awarded to U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens; part-time day or evening enrollment (two courses per semester (6 credit hours)) is necessary for eligibility for these funds.
• Institutional Rockford University funds are awarded to full-time U.S. students and international students in the traditional undergraduate program. Full-time enrollment is equivalent to 12 credit hours.
• If you are enrolled less than full-time and are receiving no state or federal aid, you may be eligible for a part-time grant.

Rockford Promise

Horizon Grant

RU’s new Horizon Grant helps students attend RU for just $5,000 per year. More information on the Horizon Grant can be found here. 

Financial Aid Formula

How is financial eligibility determined? The following formula is used:

Cost of Education – Expected Family Contribution = Financial Need

• Cost of Education. Includes tuition, fees, room and board charges. These costs are determined each academic year by the University’s Board of Trustees. In addition to these costs, students should plan to spend an additional $1,000 – $2,000 for books, transportation and personal expenses.
• Expected Family Contribution. The amount the family can contribute annually toward educational expenses based on a federal formula mandated by congressional law. Financial data provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is analyzed to produce the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which determines eligibility for federal, state and institutional funds. The six major factors considered in calculating the EFC are student income, student assets, parental income, parental assets, number in family, and number of family members attending a college or university.
• Financial Need. The maximum amount of need-based financial assistance a student may receive. Eligibility is conveyed to the student by a financial aid award notice that lists the types and the sources of aid the student is offered.

Important Next Steps

• Apply to Rockford University.
• Fill out and submit your FAFSA – priority filing date is March 1. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available after October 1.  You can usually find it in your guidance counselor’s office. Or, you can visit studentaid.gov to file electronically. (Filing your taxes before you fill out the FAFSA can help avoid any delays in processing your financial aid.) The FAFSA code for Rockford University is 001748.
• After completing the FAFSA form, it takes about two weeks for Rockford University to get your information from the FAFSA processor. Once you are admitted to Rockford University and we receive your FAFSA results, we’ll notify you of your financial aid package.
• Once you get your financial aid award letter from Rockford University, you have 30 days to accept the award.
• Although Rockford University accepts students on a rolling basis, the sooner you apply, the better your chances of receiving financial aid.