New Student Orientation = Crimson Day
Crimson Day, RCU’s orientation for new students, is your first step to becoming oriented to the RCU community. You’ll learn more about your new home, talk to financial aid and schedule classes.
Before you can submit your Crimson Day registration, you must pay a $100 non-refundable deposit, which will be applied to your New Student Orientation fee and added to your student bill. This fee covers Crimson Day, Warrior Week, and specific new student events throughout the year.
The next Crimson Day is Wednesday, Dec. 9.
Actively participating in the new student orientation experience is an important aspect of facilitating your transition to RCU.
What to Expect
- Plan your first year at RCU
- Review and make changes to your class schedule with an academic adviser.
- Meet with Student Financial Services to review your financial aid offer and billing statement.
- Stop by the Center for Student Life to have your Warrior ID photo taken (no hats please!) and pick up your parking tag.
- Take a deeper dive into your new community by being introduced to the resources available across campus.
FAFSA If you intend to use financial aid (federal and state grants and/or loans) and did not already complete your FAFSA for the 2026-2027 academic year, you must complete the form at www.studentaid.gov
Award Letter Once the FAFSA form is complete, you will receive a financial aid offer in your RCU email. You may accept/deny financial aid awards via your student portal under Financial Services—>“My Financial Aid Offer”
New Loans If you are a new loan borrower, you will need to complete a master promissory note and entrance counseling online at www.studentaid.gov. All borrowers must also complete the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement on the same website.
Transcripts If you are a first-time college student receiving federal or state financial aid awards, you must submit your official high school transcript within your first semester of attendance, or you will be ineligible for these awards. If you have not submitted your transcript at the time of fall registration, a hold will be placed on your account. Official transcripts must be submitted by Jan. 15, 2027, in order to keep you on track with your academic schedule.
If you are a transfer student, you must submit your official college transcript(s) for all transfer work applied toward eligibility for college-level of loan amounts. If you do not provide the transcript(s) for your transfer hours, the loan amounts will be based on a freshman college level. Official transcripts must be submitted by Jan. 15, 2027, in order to keep you on track with your academic schedule.
Visit RCU.edu/textbooks to get started. The site takes you through the process, step-by-step, using Barnes & Noble College, which offers:
- Used: Like-new condition (marked on five pages or less) printed textbook
- New: Printed textbooks
- Digital: A more cost-effective, convenient option
- Marketplace: Books from outside vendors
Save money with BNC’s Guaranteed Buyback program. Keep an eye out for books marked “Condition Verified.” These books are identified at the time of purchase and can be sold back to BNC at the end of the semester.
Questions? Barnes & Noble College Customer Contact Center
- 1-800-325-3252
- bncollege.com
View your billing statement in the student portal at https://my.rcu.edu/ under “My Billing Ledger.” If a balance is due after financial aid awards are applied, you are not required to make payment during initial registration. The payment plan due dates are outlined below.
Of any balance due after all financial aid awards have been applied.
Parent Loan See instructions at https://my.rcu.edu/ portal under Student Financial Services—> Parent Plus Application Process
Third-Party Send documentation to Student Financial Services describing any outside scholarship(s) or loans not awarded through RCU.
Pay in Full | Credit Card Payment may be called in to the Business Office at 248-218-2053, or may be made online on your student portal under “My Billing Ledger.”
Pay in Full | Check/money order Make payable to Rochester Christian University. Mail or bring to the Business Office.
Semester Payment Plan RCU offers a payment plan that allows you to pay one-third of the total semester bill on the due date and the remainder in three equal monthly payments, due on the 15th or 20th of each month. There is a one-time fee, per semester, for the use of the payment plan. Late payments are subject to a fee.
Spring 2027
- Jan. 4
- Feb. 15
- March 15
- April 15
Summer 2027
- April 26
- May 20
- June 20
