Paying for College

Financial Obligations of Students

Payment dates for tuition, fees, and materials are published in the current class schedule and online. Due dates are based on when you register and regardless of when the class begins. Upon registration, either online or in person, you are required to sign a student payment agreement. By signing the agreement, you are agreeing to RRCC’s financial policies. You are financially obligated for full tuition and fees for all classes you have not officially dropped by the drop/refund date. A copy of the student payment agreement is located at www.rrcc.edu/tuition/payment-policy.

College Opportunity Fund (COF)

The College Opportunity Fund (COF) is for undergraduates and is a state-funded program that provides a per-credit subsidy for residents attending state-supported and participating private colleges and universities. This money, referred to as the COF stipend, is applied to an in-state student’s tuition, provided the student applies for and authorizes its use. The college you are attending will receive the money and it will appear as a tuition credit on your bill. COF rates are set annually by the Colorado General Assembly. If you do not apply for and authorize its use, you are responsible for both the student share and the state share of all tuition and fees. Please view your tuition bill each term to ensure the COF stipend has been correctly applied to your account. Apply online during the college application process or by going to www.rrcc.edu/college-opportunity-fund and clicking on "Sign up here!" and then "Apply for a Stipend." Be sure to authorize COF when you register for your classes.

Information: C OF@rrcc.edu or 303-914-6358

Financial Aid

More than half of our students receive some type of financial aid each year. Four types are available:

Grants are based on financial need and do not need to be repaid.
Loans must be repaid, with interest, unlike scholarships and grants.
Work-study allows you to work for the college while you are enrolled.
Scholarships are generally based on academic performance, accomplishments, and need, and require a separate application.

The Financial Aid Office can provide details for the following:

Local and regional scholarships
Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Colorado Student Grants, Colorado Career and Technical Education Grants, Federal Direct Stafford Student Loans, and Federal Direct Parent Loans (P.L.U.S.)
Federal and Colorado Work-Study Program

Once you have applied for financial aid, it can take several weeks to process your request. Although the application for financial aid (FAFSA) can be submitted throughout the year beginning October 1 the year before fall classes start, we recommend applying by April 15 to be considered for the best types of funding, which is often awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Submit the FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov. To send your FAFSA to RRCC, use federal school code 009543. Log into The Rock to track the status of your financial aid file. Use The Rock student portal to check for requests for additional information and to view and accept your offered aid. For complete financial aid information, see the Red Rocks Community College website.

Information: www.rrcc.edu/financial-aid or 303-914-6256. Arvada Campus Advising: 303-914-6010.

Priority Dates to Receive Financial Aid

Apply by April 15 to be considered for first-come, first-served funding that includes some grants and work-study. In order to have a financial aid award in time for the payment deadline, complete your financial aid file 1-2 months before the start of the semester.

Non-Resident Students

For tuition purposes, Colorado law determines whether a student is classified as in-state (resident) or out-of-state (non-resident), based on information provided on the application for admission.

To request a change to resident status, obtain a petition form for in-state status from the Admissions Office or online at www.rrcc.edu/sites/default/files/tuition-petition.pdf. The Colorado Higher Education Residency guide can be accessed online at http://highered.colorado.gov/finance/residency/faq.html.

Deadlines for submission of the petition are published each semester in the current class schedule. Petitions received after the deadline will not be considered until the following semester.

Changes in classification become effective at the time of your next registration. The final decision regarding tuition status is determined by the Executive Director of Enrollment Services.

Information: 303-914-6348

Tuition Payment

Methods of Payment

Pay in full online: Go to www.rrcc.edu and log in to "The Rock" using your student ID#. Click the Student Finance tab and under Payment Options, choose the "Pay online with a credit card" link. Only MasterCard and VISA are accepted online. To pay with American Express or Discover, please contact the Cashier's Office at 303-914-6222
Pay in full in person: You can pay by cash, personal check, MasterCard, Visa, Discover Card, or American Express at the Cashier’s Office at the Lakewood campus or online using MasterCard or Visa. The Arvada campus does not accept student tuition and fee payments. Pay in full by mail: Be sure to list the student S# and full student name on the check or money order. Mail a check or money order to:

Red Rocks Community College

Cashier’s Office, Box 2

13300 W. 6th Ave.

Lakewood, CO 80228-1255

Current term payment plan: If you would like to set up a payment plan throughout the term see the information below or go to: www.rrcc.edu/tuition/payment-plans.
Financial aid: If you are receiving financial aid, it will pay into your student account the Monday after the full term census date (there is a 30-day waiting period for loans for first-time federal student loan borrowers). If you have been awarded a scholarship, it will be posted to your student account after the census date. Scholarships payable to international students have specific IRS requirements. If you are an international student, a portion of your scholarship may be withheld to pay US federal taxes.
VA Benefits: If you plan on using VA benefits to pay your student account, visit our Veteran Office for additional information and to get started. Depending on the type of benefits you fall under, it will determine if the VA will pay RRCC directly or if you will receive payment and then need to pay RRCC.
If you are sponsored by a third party: If an employer, another agency or a High School will be paying your bill, bring a check made payable to RRCC to the Cashier’s Office from the sponsor or a letter stating that the sponsor will pay upon receipt of billing and before grades are released before the tuition due date. For more information visit www.rrcc.edu/tuition/third-party-billing.

Returned Check Charge/Credit Card Chargeback

The charge for a returned payment (check or credit card) is $25. If your check is returned by your bank, you will be required to pay in cash, by certified funds, or with a credit or debit card, at the Cashier’s Office at the Lakewood Campus.

Monthly Installment Payment Plan

If you are unable to pay your tuition in full by the due date, RRCC is happy to offer you a monthly payment plan to assist with your budgeting needs and will help you pay your account in full by the end of the term. You must enroll in the plan at the beginning of each semester. Monthly payments may be made using Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, or by automatic withdrawal from a checking or savings account.

This payment plan can only be utilized for the CURRENT semester. It cannot be used to pay a past due balance, or a collections balance.

There is a $35.00 non-refundable enrollment fee per semester.

Simple steps to enroll:

Go to www.rrcc.edu

Log into your “the Rock” account
Select the Student Finance tab
Under Payment Options & Refunds tab select “NBS Payment Plan”
Select “Sign up for a Payment Plan”
Follow the instructions to get set up

Once you have your account set up, you can access it anytime by following the same steps you used to sign up for a payment plan via the Rock. Once you’ve logged in, you can access the following tools:

You can view your balance due, payments made, increases or decreases to your tuition and fee amounts, and other account information.
If someone will be paying tuition and fees on your behalf, you can add an “Authorized Party” to your account. If you would like to make a payment towards your tuition and fees in addition to your scheduled payment, you can do so by using the “Make a Payment” option of your NBS account. This payment will reduce your next scheduled payment by that amount.
If your account is in good standing, you will not be subject to late fees or holds.
If your account is NOT in good standing, a hold will be placed on your account and will not be removed until the account is brought current or until the balance due has been paid in full.
If your payment plan is terminated due to non-sufficient funds or non-payment, your student account will be placed on hold and assessed additional late fees.
Check the website at www.rrcc.edu/tuition to familiarize yourself with the plan and to enroll. If you are under 18, your parent or legal guardian must sign up for the plan.

When to set up the Payment Plan

The sooner you sign up the better! The payment plan will be open at the start of the registration period and throughout the term. Your total charges will be divided into multiple payments and the number is dependent on when you sign up for the plan. The longer you wait the larger your payments will be and a 25% down payment will be required. Payment plans that require a down payment will have those payments processed immediately.

Be sure to check your account online throughout the term to ensure your payments are correctly posted to your student account. If your financial aid is delayed for any reason, sign up for the payment plan to avoid financial holds, late fees and potential collection action. Any amount your financial aid pays above what you owe, will be refunded.

Payment Policy

Each term the official due date is listed in the academic calendar. Payment in full or approved alternative payment arrangements such as the payment plan, financial aid or third party sponsor (company or high school) need to be in place by the official due date.

If registration occurs before the full term drop date, payment is due by the full term drop date regardless of when the class starts.
If registration occurs after the first official due date, payment is due in full by the first of the following month.

All accounts not paid in full by the due date are subject to late fees. All accounts not paid in full by the last day of the term are subject to collection action. Late fees are based on when you register, not when the class starts.

Refund Policy

A refund is initiated when the account is at a credit balance. Refunds are processed at the beginning of each week and availability of your funds depends on the refund preference you have selected.

Refunds of payments made by credit card are first refunded to the original payment credit card.
All remaining refunds are processed according to the refunding preference you selected on the BankMobile website: https://redrocks.vibeaccount.com. Make sure you select a preference as soon as possible and keep your demographic information current with the refund company.

Through BankMobile, you may select an electronic deposit to your existing checking or savings account or you may choose to set up a new bank account with BankMobile.
You may also choose to receive a paper check in the mail directly from BankMobile, at your address on record with Admissions. Be sure to keep your address up to date by logging into your BankMobile account.
If you do not choose a refunding preference, you will receive your refund via paper check mailed to your address on file with RRCC, approximately 21 days after your batch refund posts to your student account.
For more information about the BankMobile refunding process and your options, visit: www.rrcc.edu/tuition/refund-policy.

Your refund will not include Barnes and Noble bookstore charges for items you purchased at the bookstore. Please check with the bookstore regarding any refunds for items purchased there.
The $35 Installment Tuition Payment Plan fee is non-refundable.
Only classes dropped by the course drop/refund date are eligible for refund. If you withdraw from a class you are still responsible for the charges.

Understanding your student account

See the Academic Calendar for important payment, late fee, and hold dates.

Unless you are on a payment plan through our third party payment processor, expecting financial aid or a third party sponsor is paying your bill; payment in full is due no later than the due date listed in the calendar regardless of when your class starts. If your balance is not paid in full or arrangements have not been set up by the scheduled due date, you will be subject to late fees and account holds.

Do not wait for a bill in the mail to make a payment. Paper bills and email bills may be sent each term. However, your current, up to date student account information is available online so you can check your account balance, make payments or set up a payment plan in the portal 24 hours a day. Several paper bills may be sent each term as a courtesy only. Your current, up to date student account information is available online in the portal 24 hours a day.

Log in to "The Rock" using your student ID#. Be sure to activate your student email address and check it regularly. Your student email address is the primary method we will use to communicate with you regarding your student account.

Please feel free to email: cashiers.office@rrcc.edu with any questions regarding your account or stop by the Cashier windows at the Lakewood campus.

Financial Holds

Accounts that are not paid in full or have payment arrangements set up, will have a financial hold added on the date listed in the schedule. A financial hold will prevent you from registering for other classes and keep you from withdrawing or dropping from classes online.

If you have a hold you will only be able to drop or withdraw from classes for the current term by sending an email to: admissions@rrcc.edu or going to the admissions counter to complete a form PRIOR to the published deadline. No drops are processed by phone. A hold will also prevent you from receiving an official transcript or receiving your diploma. If you do not drop your course(s) by the scheduled drop date and then choose to withdraw, you will still be responsible for paying the course charges in full. A hold will affect you at RRCC as well as all colleges within the Colorado Community College System (CCCS).

Late fee policy

Late Fees: Accounts that are not paid in full or do not have alternative payment arrangements set up by the due date are subject to monthly late fees. The initial late fee will be $40 and an additional $10 late fee will be charged each month your bill is outstanding. Alternative payment arrangements include: fully approved Financial Aid in place, a current term Payment Plan set up or a voucher for a Third Party Payor turned into the Cashier’s office. If your alternative payment arrangements (Financial aid or Third Party Payor) will not cover your balance in full, then you should pay your portion in full by the due date or set up the payment plan.

COF: If your College Opportunity Fund stipend is delayed, pay your entire balance in full and once the stipend posts to your student account you will be issued a refund.

Late Financial Aid: If your financial aid is delayed and not set to pay within the same month of the official due date, your account is subject to late fees.

Consortium: If you are attending RRCC and another institution but receiving financial aid from the other institution you will need to pay your balance in full or be set up on a payment plan by the due date in the academic calendar to avoid late fees. It is your responsibility to make payment to RRCC once you receive the funds from the other school which may occur after our payment due date.

Partial pay by FA 3P or VA: If financial aid or your third party sponsor is not going to cover your balance in full you need to set your portion up on the payment plan or pay the balance in full. You do not need to wait for your sponsor to pay their portion in order to pay yours. If you need help determining what you will owe, please contact the Cashier’s office.

High School Concurrent Enrollment: If your high school does not cover the balance in full, you will need to pay your portion before the due date or your account will be subject to late fees. If you need help determining what you will owe, please contact the Cashier’s office.

Tuition Credit: If you have been awarded a tuition credit, you will need to pay the fees and your portion before the due date or your account will be subject to late fees. Tuition credit will be applied after the due date. If you need help determining what you will owe, please contact the Cashier’s office.

Late fee appeal: If you feel you have been charged a late fee in error, send a message to the cashier’s office email. Late fee appeals will not be reviewed unless the balance is paid in full. If it is found that the account was charged in error, it will be removed and refunded.

How to avoid a hold and late fees:

Sign up for the monthly installment payment plan. All accounts in good standing will automatically have the hold removed.
Turn in your third party voucher early.
Pay your account in full before the due date.
Pay your portion before the due date.

Drop for Non-Attendance

Do not assume you have been dropped from a class for non- attendance.

You are responsible for dropping a class before the drop date or you will be responsible for full payment. If you do not attend the first day of class, or any class sessions between the start of the course and the drop (census) date of the course, you will be identified as a "no-show" student by the faculty member and dropped from the course. Being dropped as a no-show student can have significant negative consequences for students using financial aid and/or veterans benefits. Students who are dropped for non-attendance will not be permitted back into the course.

You may drop a class online or by emailing admissions@rrcc.edu from your college-issued student email account or by coming in person to the Admissions office. Drops may NOT be made over the phone.

Drops/Withdrawals/Cancelled Classes

You will not be dropped for missing payment deadlines and outstanding balances are subject to late fees.

RRCC does not drop for non-payment.
You are responsible for dropping your classes and drop dates vary by class. Please review the schedule to ensure you know the specific date applicable to each course in which you are enrolled.
If you do not drop your class by the date noted in the schedule, you may be responsible for the full cost of the course.
If you withdraw from a course after the drop date, you are responsible for the charges associated with that course.
If a course is cancelled by the college, you are eligible for a 100% refund of the tuition and fees you have paid for that course. Your refund will be issued per the refund policy.
Drops and withdrawals can impact your eligibility for financial aid.

Past Due Accounts at the end of term

By the end of the term if your account is still outstanding you will have a hold and late fees. You will not be able to register for classes at RRCC or any of the colleges in the Colorado Community College System. You will not be issued an official transcript or receive a diploma until your account is brought current.

Outstanding accounts will be turned over to a collection agency in accordance with Colorado law and you will be required to make payment arrangements with the agency. Collection costs of up to 40% will be added to your account balance and your account may be subject to interest charges at 8% per year in accordance with Colorado law. Your delinquency will be reported to national credit bureaus.

Collection Payments

If your account has been sent to collections, you will need to pay the collection agency directly. Once you have paid the account in full the Cashier’s office is notified the next business day. Once this notification is received the financial holds will be removed from the account. If the payment is made by check the collection agency may notify the college after the funds are verified.

For more information you can contact the cashier’s office at: 303-914-6222 or cashiers.office@rrcc.edu.