Riverside City College Student Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Just like classes, you need to apply for financial aid each year — October 1st is
the first day FAFSA and California Dream Act applications are accepted. Applying is
free, and you can even apply before you have registered for classes. Submit your application
as soon as possible to increase your chance of receiving awards; some aid is first
come first served. Need help? Application workshops are held year-round. Everyone
should apply for financial aid, even if you do not think you are eligible.
There are different types of financial aid available. Apply using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application or the CA Dream Act Application. RCC will email you at your student email once your results have been received, with
initial awards and next steps. You can view any tasks you need to complete by visiting
Student Forms. Not all students will have required tasks. You can view your award letter on your
RCC Portal, under the financial aid link.
The 2025-25 FAFSA/CA Dream Act Application covers summer 2024, fall 2024, winter 2025, and spring 2025 terms.
Financial Aid Application | Additional Forms and Documents | 2024-25 FINANCIAL AID CHANGES |
Contact Financial Aid
The office of Student Financial Services is here to help you succeed in college and to guide you throughout the financial aid application, eligibility and disbursement process.
Location: Charles A. Kane Building 1st Floor
Email: studentfinancialservices@rcc.edu.
Phone: (951) 222-8710
Fax: (951) 222-8006
Understanding the Costs
Tuition and fees are only part of the story…books, housing costs, food, personal expenses, transportation…there are other costs in your daily life as a student that you may not have thought about. To get an idea of what the net price/costs to attend school could be, click the button below to visit the Net Price Calculator.
How to Pay for College
There are many types of financial aid to assist you with your educational expenses. Click below to learn more about the financial aid opportunities available to you at RCC.
Financial Aid Support for Your Educational Goals
Federal Grants
- Federal Pell Grant (Part of FAFSA application)
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG - Part of FAFSA application)
- Complete the FAFSA
State of California Grants
- California College Promise
- Cal Grant Program
- Student Success Completion Grant
- Chafee Grant Program for eligible foster youth and former foster youth
- California National Guard Education Assistance Award Program (CNG EAAP)
- CA DreamAct
Scholarships
Scholarships are a great way to help you pay for your college education — offered from diverse organizations for a wide array of interests. Sports, music, faith, business, hobbies, technology…there are many options for how you can connect with additional funding.
Your Steps to Financial Aid
- Complete Your Application Online
- Complete the FAFSA or the CA Dream Act Application each year beginning October 1st.
- The 2024-2025 FAFSA/CA Dream Act Application covers summer 2024, fall 2024, winter 2025, and spring 2025 terms.
- The 2025-26 FAFSA/CA Dream Act Application covers summer 2025, fall 2025, winter 2026, and spring 2026 terms.
- Complete the FAFSA or the CA Dream Act Application each year beginning October 1st.
- Enter our school code under the school section of your application
- FAFSA: 001270
- CA Dream Act Application: 00127000
Financial Aid Application Status
- It takes on average 1 week for RCC to receive your FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application results electronically
- We will email you at your RCCD student email with initial award information and possible additional tasks
- You can view preliminary awards on your award letter under the financial aid section of Web Advisor
- Not all students will have additional tasks to submit in addition to their FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application.
- If you are notified via email that you have additional tasks, you can access your task list through the FA portal at Student Forms
- Use your information as listed on your application to log into the FA portal
- If you are having problems accessing your tasks through the FA portal, it may be:
- You have not activated your RCCD student email or
- RCC has not received your FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application
Your personal deadline, which determines when your funds will be disbursed is determined by:
- Submitting all your required tasks on the FA Portal or
- When we received your completed application without required tasks
Disbursement Schedule
Revised award notifications are emailed to students based on the file processing deadline date you have been placed on.
Financial aid eligibility can be reviewed on the Financial Aid Award Letter on My Portal and WebAdvisor.
The amount of your award in My Portal and WebAdvisor is based on full-time enrollment (12 units); students who attend less than full-time will receive less financial aid.
Beginning with the 24-25 Pell Enrollment Intensity is the percentage of full-time enrollment at which a student is enrolled rounded to the nearest whole percent. It has replaced the full-time, three quester time, half time, and less-then half-time student enrollment. See below for a description of the Pell Enrollment Intensity:
Credit Hours (Units) | Enrollment Category (Old) | Enrollment Intensity (New) |
12+ | Full Time | 100% |
11.5 | Three Quarter Time |
96% |
11 | 92% | |
10.5 | 88% | |
10 | 83% | |
9.5 | 79% | |
9 | 75% | |
8.5 | Half Time |
71% |
8 | 67% | |
7.5 | 63% | |
7 | 58% | |
6.5 | 54% | |
6 | 50% | |
5.5 | Less than Half Time |
46% |
5 | 42% | |
4.5 | 38% | |
4 | 33% | |
3.5 | 29% | |
3 | 25% | |
2.5 | 21% | |
2 | 17% | |
1.5 | 13% | |
1 | 8% | |
.5 | 4% |
Pell Disbursement Calculation
- 2024-2025 Full Year Pell Grant Total: $___ Fall Units: __ Winter + Spring Units: __
- Fall Term Pell Grant Award: $__ Spring Term Pell Grant Award: $__
Term Calculation
Term Pell Award multiplied by % Pell Enrollment Intensity = New Term Pell Grant
- __ x __% = $__
Take the New Term Pell Grant amount and divide it by 2 to calculate the amount of each of the two disbursements per term:
- 1st Pell Disbursement is $__* and 2nd Pell Disbursement is $__*
* The disbursement amounts are approximate and may be rounded to the nearest $5
Student Example
Full Year Pell Grant Total: $7395 Fall Units: 11 Winter + Spring Units: __
Fall Term Pell Grant award: $3698 Spring Term Pell Grant Award: $3897
Term Calculation: 11 units is 92% enrollment intensity
Term award: $3698 x 92% = $3402
1st Pell Disbursement is $1701 and 2nd Pell Disbursement is $1701
Note: Amounts are subject to change due to your enrollment intensity. Winter enrollment is included as part of the Spring disbursement. The Enrollment Intensity Chart calculation ONLY applies to the Federal Pell Grant.
Cal-Grant and SEOG amounts are determined by your enrollment status
Units Enrolled Per Semester | Enrollment Status | % of Award Eligible for State-issued Grants |
12 or more units | Full Time | 100% |
9.0-11.5 units | Three Quarter Time | 75% |
6.0-8.5 units | Half Time | 50% |
5.5 or fewer units | Less than Half Time | (Not eligible for loans, or Cal Grant, or Chafee) |
* Eligibility is based on enrollment status prior to the start of the semester. Unit adjustments due to late registration and late start classes will be disbursed on the next fall/spring disbursement date after the start of the classes.
Our school delivers your refund with BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. Visit this link for more information https://bankmobiledisbursements.com/refundchoices/.
- New Students: Students new to receiving financial aid at RCC will receive instructions from BMTX, Inc. on how to select their refund preference. Visit the link above for more information.
- Returning Students: If you would like to make changes to the method of disbursement you previously selected from BankMobile Disbursements, you can log on to www.refundselection.com to update your choice.
Avoid delays in receiving your financial aid funds.
- Avoid changing your Home College selection (Riverside, Moreno Valley or Norco)
- Make sure your mailing address and contact information is up to date and accurate on Web Advisor
To view our third-party servicer contract for refund management, click here.
If your financial circumstances have recently changed and your FAFSA/Dream Application information does not reflect your current financial circumstances, you may request an Income Reevaluation (EFC Appeal).
An Income Re-evaluation (EFC Appeal) provides students/families the opportunity to address income changes that have significantly impacted their household financial situation such unemployment, layoffs or other special circumstances including situations related to the COVID-19 pandemic; to have their eligibility reevaluated. Please note: An EFC appeal does not guarantee a change in financial aid eligibility.
If your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) is "0" you have already been offered the maximum amount of aid you are eligible to receive. Therefore; an appeal request will not be granted.
Request Income Re-evaluation (EFC Appeal)
- Submit a Free application for Federal Student Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA).
- Must have received an offered award for the current 2022-23 academic year.
- Contact the Student Financial Services office via email at studentfinancialservices@rcc.edu or via phone at (951) 222-8710 to discuss your circumstances and consideration for an EFC Appeal.
- If eligible for an EFC appeal, log on to your Financial Task Portal at Student Forms and submit all required documentation.
- Once all requested documentation is submitted, you will receive a notification via your RCC email of the outcome of the review.
Documentation requirement
- Federal 1040 Tax Returns including all schedule for applicable years.
- Detailed statement outlining your and/or family’s situation.
Additional requirements
- Must be attending courses for the current academic year.
- Must be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
You are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), in order to continue receiving your funds — this will be true for all forms of aid. These measures may include:
- Cumulative grade point average - 2.0 GPA
- Complete 67% of units attempted
- Complete program of study within a specific time frame
Each type of aid may have its own specific requirements — know what you must attain in order to avoid losing future funding or being required to pay back what you’ve already received.
All students are evaluated for SAP at the end of each semester.
RCC Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Standard Policy
You are required to maintain a cumulative 2.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).
There are two aspects of the quantitative standard:
- Pace of Progression, you must complete 67% of the units you attempt. For example, a student who attempts 20 units, and successfully completes 12 of those units, would have a 60% Pace of Progression (12 / 20 = .60).
- Maximum Time Frame: The Maximum Time Frame for completion of a degree or certificate is 150% of the published length of the program. All units attempted at RCCD as well as any transfer units will be included since the Maximum Time Frame is based upon units attempted. A student can receive financial assistance for a maximum of 150% of the published length of the program. For example, if the published length of a degree program is 60 units, the student may receive financial assistance for up to 90 attempted units (60 units x 150% = 90 units). If the published length of a certificate program is 40 units, the student may receive financial assistance up to 60 attempted units (40 units x 150% = 60 units). If students are unable to finish their program within the Maximum Time Frame, as explained, they may lose eligibility for Title IV aid.
If you fail to meet the Maximum Time Frame SAP funding will end without a warning period.
If you are determined to be SAP Ineligible, you can appeal for additional aid if there is a documented reason/circumstance which led you to not meet your SAP. If you have previously appealed and lost that appeal, you can only appeal again if you have “new” circumstances that occurred in the term you lost your appeal.
Before starting an appeal, review the SAP Policy to understand the SAP evaluation and appeal process.
RCC Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Standard Policy
If you’ve received a warning or ineligible status for financial aid, you should attend the next workshop. We’ll review the requirements that need to be met to receive aid, how the appeal process works and what you need to know to submit your appeal.
- View Workshop Information
- Read RCC's SAP Policy
- Appeal Your Status Online
Financial Understanding
Workshops and Events
Whether you need answers to questions you already have or you don’t know what questions to ask — there are workshops that can help prepare you for financing your college career while also increasing your financial literacy.
Financial Aid TV
RCC’s Financial Aid TV has short videos of relevant topics that can help shape your college experience — like walking you through completing applications or logging into a web portal. Search for specific content or general topics.
Community Outreach
Throughout the year Financial Aid Services hosts information sessions on campus, but we also reach out to K-12 schools and other organizations to promote the financial aid available to current and future RCC students. Where will we be next?
Helping Riverside Students Fulfill Their Promise
The RCC Promise program is part of a state and nationwide effort to provide affordable education. Full-time eligible students who hold to their “promise” receive free no-fee tuition, support for textbooks, priority registration, access to educational and faculty advisors, activities and a dedicated community. Certain restrictions apply.
Additional Forms and Documents
- 2024-2025 CCPG Application
- 2024-2025 Consumer Guide
- 2024-2025 Disbursement Schedule
- Agency Verification Form
- CCPG Appeal
- Chafee Resources
- College Disclosure List
For student loan information and forms, email us from your RCCD student email account to studentfinancialservices@rcc.edu. Please include your student ID number.