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.

Please review the FAFSA checklist and Dependency Status Sheet to gather the items needed to complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA and to determine if you are a Dependent student for financial aid purposes.

FAFSA Application   Schedule a Virtual or In-Person Financial Aid AppointmentFinancial Aid Document Upload Form

How-To Videos

Financial Aid for Applicants

How to Complete Entrance Counseling & Master Promissory Note:

How to Accept Your Student Loans:

How to View Your Financial Aid Status:

How to View Financial Aid Awards by Credit Level: