Financial Aid

What Is Financial Aid?
Financial aid is money to help pay for college. Financial aid comes in three main forms:
- Aid you don’t repay (grants and scholarships)
- Aid you must repay (loans)
- Aid you earn (work-study and military assistance)
There are many different types of financial aid available to students. They all are unique and offer distinct benefits to those who qualify. All students considering financial aid should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and enter Ridgewater’s college code 005252.
FAFSA Application Schedule a Virtual or In-Person Financial Aid Appointment
Cost of Attendance
Ridgewater College uses Cost of Attendance (COA) figures to calculate your financial aid eligibility. Actual costs may differ from the chart below depending on your program, enrollment level, and personal spending choices. If you do not receive financial aid, you can still use the chart below to estimate your costs.
The total amount of financial aid offered to a student, including all scholarships, grants and student loans, cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance at Ridgewater College for that financial aid year. Financial aid offers (loans, work-study, scholarships, and/or grants) may be reduced for students whose total aid exceeds the Cost of Attendance.
Cost of Attendance 2023-2024
The following amounts are Ridgewater’s estimated Cost of Attendance Budget amounts for a full-time student. Actual costs may differ from the chart below depending on your program, enrollment level, and personal spending choices. The COA Budget listed is for a full-time (15 credits) student; if a student is enrolled less than full-time, their COA is adjusted accordingly.
These are budget estimates, not your actual billed costs.
2023-2024 Cost of Attendance for Students Living with Parents
COST OF ATTENDANCE CATEGORY | FALL | SPRING | ANNUAL |
---|---|---|---|
Tuition & Fees | $3,056 | $3,056 | $6,112 |
Books & Supplies | $618 | $618 | $1,236 |
Housing & Food | $1,839 | $1,839 | $3,678 |
Transportation | $1,756 | $1,756 | $3,512 |
Miscellaneous Personal Expense | $1,155 | $1,155 | $2,310 |
Loan Fees | $42 | $42 | $84 |
TOTAL | $8,466 | $8,466 | $16,932 |
2023-2024 Cost of Attendance for Students Living Off Campus/On Own
COST OF ATTENDANCE CATEGORY | FALL | SPRING | ANNUAL |
---|---|---|---|
Tuition & Fees | $3,056 | $3,056 | $6,112 |
Books & Supplies | $618 | $618 | $1,236 |
Housing & Food | $4,839 | $4,839 | $9,678 |
Transportation | $1,756 | $1,756 | $3,512 |
Miscellaneous Personal Expense | $1,155 | $1,155 | $2,310 |
Loan Fees | $42 | $42 | $84 |
TOTAL | $11,466 | $11,466 | $22,932 |
Note: Housing & Food, Loan Fees, Miscellaneous Personal Expenses are not included in the budget for students enrolled less-than-half-time.
If you have expenses that are not taken into account in the standard budget, you may submit a Cost of Attendance Budget Increase Form. Your Cost of Attendance (Budget) will be reviewed and your financial aid eligibility will be re-evaluated.
Special and Unusual Circumstances
Ridgewater College Financial Aid understands that students and their families may at times experience unique situations. The Financial Aid Office may adjust, with appropriate documentation, the FAFSA or cost of allowances that are specific to a student’s situation. There are two categories of unique situations: special and unusual circumstances.