Important Financial Aid Information

• Grants/gift awards – will be automatically applied to your account on the disbursement date according to the number of credits you are taking
• Loans/borrowed awards – must be applied for and paid back. Please refer to your award letter for information about the three (3) steps needed to process your loans
• Work study/earned awards – paid out after timesheets are submitted. Information about work-study and how to find jobs are explained in your award letter if you were awarded work-study.

Sign up for direct deposit

• Log into eServices
• Click on the Financial Aid tab
• Choose Direct Deposit set-up
• Follow the prompts

For general loan information refer to Federal Student Aid, an official website of the United States government.

You will find information about current interest rates, loan limits, federal requirements for the student loan programs and much more.

After you apply for your loans, the money will be credited to your account if you are enrolled and still attending classes; if not the loan money will be returned to the U.S. Department of Education.

Tuition is due on the fifth business day of each semester.  Upcoming tuition due dates are:

• Fall Semester 2023:  Friday, August 25, 2023
• Spring Semester 2024:  Friday, January 12, 2024
• Summer Semester 2024:  Monday, June 3, 2024

Students are financially obligated for all classes they register for, and all tuition and fees need to be paid in full by the tuition due date. Payments can be made online, by phone, or in person at either campus.

Paper invoices are not mailed. Please review your account online at eServices.

Students may have their registration canceled unless at least one of the following requirements has been met by the tuition due date. A partial payment will prevent your courses from being dropped, however, an additional $30 payment plan fee may be added to bills not paid in full by the 15th day of the semester. (Full payment requires that the balance due on your account be at zero or you are on an active payment plan).

• Your tuition and fees are paid in full.
• You have paid 15% of the tuition and fees due or made a $300 down payment towards tuition and fees, whichever is less.
• You have applied for financial aid and an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) has been received by the College.
• You have submitted a Third Party Billing Authorization to the Business Office.
• You have enrolled in the Postsecondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) program.
• You have established a payment plan with Nelnet in eServices.
• You have completed and signed a VA deferment form.

PLEASE NOTE: While Ridgewater College does participate in the registration cancellation for nonpayment process (RCFN), the above factors can prevent this from happening. It is your responsibility to pay for the courses that you are registered for and, if you do not plan on attending, to cancel your registration within the timelines allowed. If these dates are not followed, you may be financially and academically responsible for those classes.

The student is responsible for the payment of all expenses, such as payments for tuition and fees, purchases of books and supplies, and other related items when billed. Late fees will be added, and you will not be able to register for the next semester until your account balance is at zero.