ADMISSIONS
First-Year & Transfer Students: Paying for College
First-Year & Transfer Students: Paying for College
Earning your undergraduate degree is an investment in your future, and Rochester Christian University is committed to making it affordable and accessible. Through scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study opportunities, we help students like you reduce costs and maximize financial aid so you can focus on your education and calling—without overwhelming debt.
Let’s find your best financial aid package!
How Much Aid Can I Get?
Financial aid is different for everyone, depending on factors like family income, academic achievements, and enrollment status. To get an early estimate, use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to see how much you may qualify for before you even apply.
How to Apply for Aid
The first step to receiving financial aid is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application determines your eligibility for:
✔ Federal & State Grants
✔ Student Loans
✔ Work-Study Programs
Once your FAFSA is processed, you’ll receive a financial aid offer detailing your options.
Steps to Apply for Aid
Step 1: Create Your FSA ID – Go to studentaid.gov and click on “Create Account.”
- Both the student and one or both parents need their own FSA ID (username and password).
- You’ll need your name, date of birth, Social Security number, email, and contact info.
- Confirm your email to activate the FSA ID.
- Note: One phone number or email can only be linked to one FSA ID.
Step 2: Gather Tax Information – Collect federal tax information from two years prior to the academic year you’re applying for (called the Prior-Prior Year).
- For the 2024–2025 FAFSA, use your 2022 tax return.
Step 3: File the FAFSA – Visit studentaid.gov and file the FAFSA as soon as possible after it becomes available.
- The 2024–2025 FAFSA is for Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and/or Summer 2025.
- It became available in December 2023.
- TIP: Choose the “Renewal” FAFSA if available—it saves time by using last year’s data.
Step 4: Complete Your Section First – Students should complete their portion of the FAFSA before inviting parents to contribute.
- Do not start the FAFSA using a parent’s FSA ID.
- After your section, invite your parent(s) via email to complete theirs.
Step 5: Invite the Right Parent(s) – Depending on your family situation, invite:
- One parent if single or parents filed jointly in 2022.
- Both parents if they are married but filed separately in 2022.
- For other cases, follow FAFSA instructions.
Step 6: Include RCU’s School Code – In the FAFSA section titled “Enter the schools…,” add Rochester Christian University’s federal school code: 002288.
- Place it in the #1 spot to ensure maximum aid eligibility.
Step 7: Provide Consent and Sign – Everyone contributing to the FAFSA (student and parent(s)) must:
- Use their FSA ID to access and sign the form.
- Provide consent to allow the IRS to share tax info with the Department of Education.
- Consent is required—even for non-tax filers—to calculate your eligibility for aid. The form won’t be processed until all contributors sign and consent.
Step 8: Review Your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) – After submitting your FAFSA, you’ll receive a FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS).
- Review it for accuracy and make corrections online if needed.
Step 9: Watch for Communication from RCU – RCU will receive your FAFSA info 3–5 business days after submission.
- Starting March 2024, RCU will begin processing 2024–2025 FAFSA data.
- You’ll get an email from sfs@rcu.edu if more info is needed.
- Once approved, you’ll receive a Financial Aid Offer outlining your aid package and costs.
Are you in the
right place?
Important Financial Aid Dates
FAFSA Opens | October 1st (for the following fall) |
Priority Deadline – State of Michigan Aid | July 1st |
Early Admission Deadline | May 1st |
Crimson Days | June 17th & 26th July 22nd August 7th |
Registration Deadline | August 1st |
Types of Federal & State Aid
Eligibility: Need-based grant for low-income undergraduate students. Awarded to students with exceptional financial need who are also Federal Pell Grant recipients.
Amount: Maximum $500 per award year, pro-rated based on enrollment. RCU receives a limited amount of funds each year, so early application is important to receive this grant.
Deadline: June 30, 2024 for the 2024-2025 award year.
Apply: Complete FAFSA with school code 002288 Rochester Christian University listed first.
Eligibility: Need-based loan available to undergraduate students enrolled at least half-time.
Amount: Determined by student’s grade level, dependency status, financial need and cost of attendance. Freshman up to $3,500, Sophomore up to $4,500, and Junior/Senior up to $5,500. There are aggregate (lifetime) limits.
Details: The government pays the interest while student is enrolled in college at least half-time and during a six-month grace period. Repayment begins six months after graduation or when the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. There is a time limit on how long a student can receive loans.
Apply: Complete FAFSA with school code 002288 Rochester Christian University listed first.
Eligibility: Loan available to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at least half-time regardless of financial need.
Amount: Determined by student’s grade level, dependency status, and cost of attendance Freshman/Sophomore maximum $6,000 and Junior/Senior maximum $7,000. There are aggregate (lifetime) limits.
Details: Student is responsible for paying the interest during all periods. Interest payments are the responsibility of the student for the duration of the loan. Repayment begins six months after graduation or the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time.
Apply: Complete FAFSA with school code 002288 Rochester Christian University listed first.
Eligibility: Provides part-time jobs for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses.
Amount: Varies (at least minimum wage) – student receives a paycheck.
Details: Work-study funds listed on a student’s award letter are not applied directly to the student’s bill. In order to receive funds, students must apply and be hired in a student worker position.
Apply: Complete FAFSA with school code 002288 Rochester Christian University listed first and submit work-study application on the RCU student portal. Complete work study application.
Eligibility: The Michigan Tuition Grant is available to undergraduate Michigan residents with financial need who plan to attend or are attending a Michigan degree-granting, nonprofit independent college.
Amount: Awards pay up to a maximum of $3,000 for the 2024-25 award year.
Details: Current and future awards are subject to available and approved funding.
Deadline: July 1, 2024 for the 2024-2025. Only eligible if eligible prior to 2024-2025.
Apply: Complete FAFSA with school code 002288 Rochester Christian University listed first prior to the state deadline of March 1.
Eligibility: Need-based award available to eligible students enrolled in an associate degree program (Phase I) and/or a bachelor’s degree program (Phase II). TIP application must be completed prior to August 31 of the year the student graduates from high school.
Amount: Phase I maximum is $131 per credit hour (up to 80 hours) and Phase II maximum is $1,000 per award year (up to $2,000 total lifetime benefit).
Details: Only students who were identified by the Michigan Medicaid Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) as having met the Michigan Medicaid eligibility requirement may apply for TIP.
Deadline: July 1, 2024 for 2024-2025. $131 per credit hour for 2024-2025.
Apply: The TIP application may be completed online in the MiSSG Student Portal or by calling 1-888-447-2687 prior to the application deadline and complete FAFSA with school code 002288 Rochester Christian University listed first.
Eligibility: To be eligible students must be undergraduate and must complete a FAFSA and demonstrate need by having a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $30,000 or less. Students must graduate from high school in Michigan with a diploma or a high school equivalency in 2023 or after. Students must enroll at an eligible institution within 15 months of graduation. Students must enroll at their University full time and must be a Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year. If the student is dependent, their parent must also be a Michigan resident since July 1 of the previous calendar year. The student must be a US citizen, permanent resident or approved refugee and not be incarcerated. Students must not be in default on federal students loans and must be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
Amount: Up to $5,500
Details: Awards are based on the first Michigan college choice listed on the FAFSA
Deadline: May 1
Apply: FAFSA
Eligibility: A student must complete the annual MI Future Educator Fellowship application and file a current-year FAFSA. The student must be a high school graduate and be admitted into an eligible Educator Preparation Program. The student must be working on their teacher certification and be enrolled in enough coursework to be considered full-time during the academic year. The student must have reached junior grade level and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. The student must have been a Michigan resident as of July 1 of the previous calendar year. If the student is dependent, their parent must have been a resident of Michigan as of July 1 of the previous calendar year. The student must complete a “Commitment to Teach in Michigan” Agreement, which requires that the recipient teach in Michigan in a public school or qualifying public preschool program for a specific number of years, depending on the number of years they have received the MI Future Educator Fellowship.
Amount: $10,000 per academic year
Details: If the recipient does not fulfill their “Commitment to Teach in Michigan” Agreement, the MI Future Educator Fellowship converts to a 0% interest rate loan which must be repaid within ten years of the loan conversion, plus any periods of deferment as approved by the Treasury.
Renewal: Students may receive the Fellowship for up to three years. Annual applications are required. To continue to receive the Fellowship, students must meet the requirements discussed above plus they must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and have participated in relevant academic and career advising programs offered by the institutions.
Deadline: Dec 31
Apply: A student must complete the annual MI Future Educator Fellowship application and file a current-year FAFSA.
Eligibility: Students must complete the stipend application on the MiSSG portal at Michigan.gov/missg. The student must be admitted into an eligible Educator Preparation Program (EPP) and be working towards teacher certification. They must be participating full time and not be employed by the district as a teacher of record. Student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Amount: $9,600 per semester
Details: Institutions are to pay the student student teacher the award amount in full and it is not to be counted towards regular financial aid eligibility. Students are limited to one MI Future Educator Stipend, unless their EPP specifically requires they complete more than one semester of student teaching in order to become a certified teacher.
Deadline: Fall – May 1, Spring – November 1, Summer – April 1
Apply: Students must complete the stipend application on the MiSSG portal at Michigan.gov/missg.
How to Apply for Scholarships
Scholarships are one of the best ways to lower your tuition costs because they don’t have to be repaid! RCU offers a variety of merit-based, need-based, and special-interest scholarships to help make your education more affordable.
To apply for scholarships:
Step 1: Complete Your FAFSA – Some scholarships require FAFSA completion to determine eligibility.
Step 2: Fill Out the RCU Scholarship Application – Apply for RCU’s institutional and private scholarships.
Step 3: Apply for Outside Scholarships – Explore community, faith-based, and academic scholarship opportunities.
Find scholarships that fit you!
Merit-Based Awards
Exceptional students may also qualify for Merit-Based Awards. Students may receive no more than one merit award.
All institutional merit scholarships are reviewed on an annual basis. Modifications for future incoming classes will not change your merit award. All institutional scholarships are available for the Fall and Spring semesters only. Awards shall be applied directly against the recipient’s educational expenses at a rate of 50% for the Fall semester and 50% for the Spring semester.
Transfer scholarships are based on the student’s college transfer GPA and may not change throughout their time as a student at Rochester Christian University. “First time at any college” students’ academic scholarships are based on their high school GPA and ACT scores and will remain unchanged throughout their time as a student at Rochester Christian University.
Note: While many colleges only offer their scholarships for four years, Rochester Christian University offers their scholarships for up to five years. So if you change your major or want to add a minor which takes you more than four years to complete, our scholarships will be there for you in year five.
Athletes, Women of Tomorrow, Detroit Promise Scholars, and Trustee Scholars are not eligible for these discounts / scholarships. Students may receive no more than one of the following discounts:
Christian Academy/School Graduate Discount
Eligibility: Awarded to first-time RCU students under age 24 who graduated from an accredited Christian High School
- Amount: $,5000/year
- Renewal requirements: 2.0 CPGA
- Applied automatically, discuss with your admissions adviser
Family Tuition Discount
Eligibility: Awarded if two or more dependent children or a parent and child are concurrently enrolled full time
- Amount: $2,500 per year
- Renewal Requirements: Continued enrollment of two or more immediate family members as verified by the registrar. Minimum of 2.0 CGPA.
- Applied automatically, discuss with your admissions adviser
Children of Ministers Scholarship
Eligibility: First time RCU students under age 24 who are dependent children of full-time ministers (pulpit, youth, worship) or foreign missionaries (working under the supervision and support of a Christian Church in the United States, letter from supporting congregation required annually) and who have served in that capacity for at least 3 years. Discount application form as well as youth census list (9th-12th) from your home congregation must be submitted annually.
- Amount: $3,000/year
- Renewal Requirements: Discount application form as well as youth census list (9th-12th) from your home congregation must be submitted annually. Must remain full-time boarding student and maintain 2.0 CGPA.
- Discuss with your admissions adviser about applying for this award
Warrior Legacy Scholarship
Eligibility: At least one parent must have attended Rochester Christian University and must have earned a minimum of Rochester Christian University 24 credit hours
- 50% off tuition, including any academic awards, for up to 5 years (not stackable)
- Renewal Requirements: 2.0 CGPA
- Applied automatically, discuss with your admissions adviser
Athletes, Women of Tomorrow, Detroit Promise Scholars, and Trustee Scholars are not eligible for these discounts / scholarships.
Nonprofit Management Major Scholarship
Eligibility: Through generous funding provided by the Stewart Team Real Estate, Rochester Christian University offers a scholarship for students who are current Nonprofit Management majors, or who have been accepted to Rochester Christian University and have declared Nonprofit Management as their major.
- Amount: RCU awards $5,000 annually to one or more individuals that meet the criteria of the scholarship.
- Apply For Scholarship
Pure Oakland Water Scholarship
Eligibility: Through generous funds provided by Pure Oakland Water, Rochester Christian University offers an annual scholarship for students who are currently biology majors, have a 3.0 GPA, are sophomore status or higher, and preferably an Oakland County resident.
- Amount: $3,000
- Apply For Scholarship
Additional Scholarship Opportunities
All RCU financial aid offers are customized to each student based on their specific needs. This can include considerations for single parents, caretakers, students who have been or are currently in the foster care system, and more. Speak to your admissions recruiter directly to determine your final financial aid offer.
SAGE Scholars – Tuition Rewards
- To help make a Rochester Christian University education financially accessible to more families, RCU is an active participant and member in the Tuition Rewards program, sponsored by SAGE Scholars (Savings and Growth for Education), an independent organization.
- By investing or saving with participating banks, credit unions, 529 Plans, and other financial institutions, family members can earn “points” to provide students with guaranteed minimum scholarships at a national consortium of participating independent colleges, including Rochester Christian University. Starting with the freshman year, the points can be redeemed for up to the full cost of base tuition and spread evenly over four undergraduate years. Tuition Rewards are provided regardless of the income or assets of the student or the student’s family.
- The student’s Tuition Rewards statement must be submitted through the Account Statement page at the time the student applies for admission to Rochester Christian University. Statements submitted after RCU has prepared a financial aid package for the student may invalidate the use of Tuition Rewards.
- Learn more about SAGE Tuition Rewards
Additional Financial Aid Resources
- Parents of dependent students may apply for a federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan at studentaid.gov to help pay for their child’s educational expenses. If approved for the loan, the parent must complete the PLUS Master Promissory Note (MPN) and the loan must be accepted on the student’s portal. Note, there is one MPN for Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans and a different MPN for Direct Parent PLUS Loans.
- When a parent is denied for a PLUS loan, the dependent student may then be eligible for additional unsubsidized loans. The student may be awarded as much as an independent student at the same grade level. Independent students in their junior or senior year are eligible to receive up to $12,500 per year in federal Direct loans, with a limit of $5,500 in subsidized loans.
- Students may apply for a private, or alternative, student loan. Private loans available from private lenders and vary in their interest rates, terms and eligibility requirements. Find more information here.
- Students may pay the out-of-pocket cost in full by the due date.
- RCU offers a payment plan option, breaking down the balance into affordable monthly payments. Students are required to enroll or re-enroll in the payment plan ($75 enrollment fee) each semester. Students are never penalized for paying off the balance early.
Current students who refer a new student to RCU stand a chance to earn $250 for themselves and for the referred student. You can refer an unlimited number of applicants. To qualify, the new students must successfully complete their first semester at RCU. Both you and the referred student will receive your $250 award the semester following their first semester.
The RCU Pledge
The RCU Pledge is a loan repayment assistance program designed to help graduates manage student loan payments if their income is below a certain threshold.
✔ We Help Cover Loan Payments – If your earnings after graduation are modest, RCU provides loan repayment assistance.
✔ Included with Enrollment – No extra cost or separate application—it’s our commitment to you.
✔ Freedom to Pursue Your Calling – Focus on your career and purpose without overwhelming financial stress.
