A Guide For Parents

Affordable Education | Financial Aid - Types | FAFSA | Scholarships Offered | Galileo Scholarship | EOF Program | Paying Tuition | NJ STARS | Cost of RVCC | Financial Aid Deadlines | Non-credit Courses | Part-time Students | Payback Grants? | Part-time Students | Paying for Books

Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) is the right choice for a high quality, affordable education. The College is committed to ensuring that financial hardship does not stand in the way of a student attending. A wide variety of financial aid opportunities are available to full- and part-time students.

Financial Aid
Numerous scholarship opportunities are available, including NJ STARS for students who graduate in the top of their high school class and the Galileo Scholarship for students majoring in math, science, engineering and technology. RVCC participates in all major federal and state financial aid programs including the Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Tuition Aid Grant (TAG), and Stafford Student Loans. The College offers a tuition payment plan to help you spread out tuition payments during the course of a semester.

RVCC offers a full range of financial aid options, including Federal Pell Grants, NJ Tuition Aid Grants, Federal Stafford Student Loans, academic scholarships and Federal Work Study.

FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is required for all need-based forms of financial aid, including Federal Pell Grants and Stafford Loans, NJ Tuition Aid Grants and some RVCC scholarships. Once the application is completed, students can apply for both federal and/or state aid. Applications are available at RVCC’s Financial Aid Office or can be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Applying online will reduce the processing time from four to two weeks. RVCC’s six-digit federal code for FAFSA is 007731.

RVCC offers more than 20 different types of academic scholarships, ranging in annual amounts from $250 to $2000. Scholarships are also available for dependents of September 11 victims and members of Phi Theta Kappa (International Honor Society). Scholarship applications are available on our website, www.raritanval.edu.

If financial need is a criterion for a scholarship, students must complete a FAFSA application.

For additional information, contact the Financial Aid Office, 908-526-1200, ext. 8273 or e-mail finaid@raritanval.edu.

The Galileo Scholarship is awarded annually to students who are interested in majoring in science, math, engineering and technology. The scholarships are based on academic potential and financial need.

RVCC provides both in-person and online academic support to the Galileo Scholarship recipients, who are assigned to faculty mentors/advisors in each discipline area. The College also assists in linking the Scholars with RVCC’s four-year partner institutions for seamless transfer opportunities to continue their higher education. In addition, a series of science- and math-related activities are held on and off campus to encourage student development in these areas.

The Galileo Scholarship Application is available on our website, www.raritanval.edu.

For additional information, call 908-526-1200, ext. 8273 or e-mail galileo@raritanval.edu.

The Educational Opportunity Fund Program (EOF) provides both financial assistance and support services to students from educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Students receive grant awards. To qualify for the EOF Program, applicants must demonstrate economic eligibility; have earned a high school diploma or GED; and have resided in New Jersey for at least one year. To qualify, a student must apply to a New Jersey college or university and file a FAFSA application.

For additional information, visit the EOF office at RVCC or call 908-218-8875 to set up an appointment.

RVCC participates in most of the federal and state financial aid programs, including the Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) and Stafford Loans. A FASFA application is required for all grants and loans.

Loans and grants are available for both full- and part-time students. Federal work-study is available for students who qualify. Students should apply for federal and state grants first by filling out the FAFSA application.

For additional information, contact the Financial Aid Office, 908-526-1200, ext. 8273 or e-mail finaid@raritanval.edu.

Yes. In order to reduce the burden of paying an entire semester’s tuition at one time, RVCC offers a TuitionPay Plan through AMS TuitionPay. The TuitionPay Plan is not a loan, so there are no interest charges—just an enrollment fee. Education bills are divided into manageable payments over the course of a semester. There are no eligibility requirements to participate. You can register for the AMS payment plan online at www.TuitionPay.com.

For additional information, call 908-526-1200, ext. 8258.

NJ STARS provides scholarships to top NJ high school graduates who attend their local community colleges, including RVCC.

For the latest information on eligibility requirements and scholarship awards, visit www.njstars.net.

Tuition at RVCC is a fraction of what it would cost to attend a four-year public or private college in New Jersey or anywhere in the country.

No. A student can apply for financial aid anytime during the semester in which he or she wishes to receive aid.

A student is eligible to receive aid for English as a Second Language programs or remedial coursework if he or she has declared a major. Students cannot receive financial aid for non-credit Continuing Education courses.

No. A student may receive the Pell Grant for taking as little as one credit. The Tuition Aid Grant and Student Loan programs require a minimum of six credits.

No. Students do not have to pay back grants.

Yes. If a student has excess financial aid funds beyond tuition and fees, the credit can be used to purchase books at the RVCC bookstore during the first 10 days of the semester. After the 10th day of the semester, the bookstore will no longer accept financial aid book vouchers.

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