Financial Aid Forms

RMC scholarships are renewable and are available for four years, based on satisfactory academic progress.  We require all returning Rocky Mountain College students (i.e., sophomores and older) to complete the RMC Grant & Scholarship Renewal Form by April 1 every year.

RMC Grant & Scholarship Renewal Form

To apply for federal financial assistance students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Be sure to enter RMC's school code (002534). The FAFSA should be completed as soon as possible after January 1 for every year you are seeking federal aid. We strongly encourage families to use the current year’s taxes when completing the FAFSA to eliminate errors and avoid processing delays.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Verification for Dependent Students

If your application was selected for review, RMC will be comparing information from your application with tax return transcripts for you and your parent(s) or other financial documents. The best way to verify income is by using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool that is part of FAFSA on the Web. If the student and parent(s) have not already used the tool, go to FAFSA.gov, log in to the student’s FAFSA record, select “Make FAFSA Corrections,” and navigate to the Financial Information section of the form. From there, follow the instructions to determine if the student and parent(s) are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to transfer 2011 IRS income tax information into the student’s FAFSA. If the student and/or parent(s) is unable or chooses not to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool in FAFSA on the Web, the student and parent must submit a 2011 IRS tax return transcript—not a photocopy of the income tax return. To obtain an IRS tax return transcript, go to www.IRS.gov and click on the “Order a Return or Account Transcript” link, or call 1-800-908-9946. Make sure to request the “IRS tax return transcript” and not the “IRS tax account transcript.” You will need your Social Security Number, date of birth, and the address on file with the IRS (normally this will be the address used when the 2011 IRS tax return was filed). It takes up to two weeks for IRS income information to be available for electronic IRS tax return filers, and up to eight weeks for paper IRS tax return filers.

Complete this verification form and submit to the RMC financial assistance office as soon as possible, so that your financial aid won't be delayed.

Verification for Independent Students

If your application was selected for review, RMC will be comparing information from your application with tax return transcripts from you (and your spouse's, if you are married) or other financial documents. The best way to verify income is by using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool that is part of FAFSA on the Web. If you have not already used the tool, go to FAFSA.gov, log in to your FAFSA record, select “Make FAFSA Corrections,” and navigate to the Financial Information section of the form. From there, follow the instructions to determine if you are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to transfer 2011 IRS income tax information into your FAFSA. If you are unable or choose not to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool in FAFSA on the Web, submit a 2011 IRS tax return transcript(s)—not photocopies of the income tax return. To obtain an IRS tax return transcript, go to www.IRS.gov and click on the “Order a Return or Account Transcript” link, or call 1-800-908-9946. Make sure to request the “IRS tax return transcript” and not the “IRS tax account transcript.” You will need your Social Security Number, date of birth, and the address on file with the IRS (normally this will be the address used when your 2011 IRS tax return was filed). If you are married and you and your spouse filed separate 2011 tax returns, you must submit tax return transcripts for both you and your spouse.  It takes up to two weeks for IRS income information to be available for electronic IRS tax return filers, and up to eight weeks for paper IRS tax return filers.

Complete this verification form and submit to the RMC financial aid office as soon as possible, so that your financial aid won't be delayed.

If you and/or your spouse will not and are not required to file a U.S. federal income tax return, please complete this form in lieu of submitting a tax return transcript.

Legal Dependent Form

Complete this form if your application indicates that you have at least one dependent child and you would not otherwise meet the federal qualifications to be an independent student. To claim a child as your dependent for financial aid purposes, you must be currently providing at least 51% of the child(ren)’s support. You must also continue to provide at least 51% of their support throughout the 2012-2013 school year. You must attach any supporting documentation required.

Four Year Appeal

If you are a regular full time undergraduate student at RMC receiving institutional financial assistance in the form of scholarships and/or grants and you are making Satisfactory Academic Progress, your institutional assistance will remain in effect for either eight or ten semesters depending on the length of your program of study. The intent of this policy is to assure students understand their responsibility in planning and completing their first bachelors degree in a timely manner. Occasionally a student has planned carefully and successfully completed 15 to 16 credits each semester but still needs an additional semester or two in order to complete their first bachelors degree. Please complete and return this form to the Financial Aid Office in order to appeal the continuation of your institutional assistance.

Military Education Benefits

Complete this form if you will receive education benefits from the military in order for us to be able to provide you with a financial aid package that is in accordance with federal regulations and RMC policy.

VA Yellow Ribbon Program

Complete this form if you are eligible to receive VA Chapter 33 Post 9/11 benefits at the 100% level and wish to use your benefit to attend RMC.

Consortium Agreements

Consortium agreements will be made available to students on a case-by-case basis. The consortium agreement allows a student to maintain full-time status while enrolled at two institutions on a less than full-time basis, thereby maximizing their federal financial aid eligibility. (For example, a student may be enrolled at RMC for 9 credits and at another institution for 3 credits, for a total of 12 credits, making them a full-time student.) The consortium agreement also clarifies to the institutions involved which school will award and disburse financial aid. Institutional scholarships will be prorated to reflect enrollment status at RMC if a student's overall enrollment status is full time. No institutional scholarships are awarded if a student is less than full time between schools. To be eligible to participate in a consortium agreement, students must:

  • Enroll in at least nine credits at Rocky Mountain College
  • Exercise all academic options at Rocky Mountain College before taking credits at another institution (i.e., students may not enroll in a class at another institution if the same class is offered at Rocky Mountain College).
  • Have completed at least 90 credits toward their degree.
  • Complete the Application for a Consortium Agreement.
  • Application for Consortium Agreement (PDF)

Special Considerations

Student/Family Income - Students wishing to have their financial aid evaluated based on special financial conditions within their family can appeal to have their financial aid award recalculated. Special financial conditions include the death of a parent or spouse, loss of employment, divorce, and unusual debt or expenses. Students must submit the completed Appeal of Special Financial Consideration no later than April 1st (Spring semester) of the year in which aid is received.

Dependent/Independent Student Status - Many students also feel they are independent because they currently live on their own or because their parents no longer claim them on their income taxes. Others feel they should be considered independent because their parents refuse to provide information on the FAFSA or because their parents cannot afford to help with college expenses. However, these reasons are not sufficient for an appeal. The Financial Aid Office is required to consider parent information and expect parental contribution for students who are not independent according to the FAFSA definition. Specific instructions and a description of who may qualify for independent status is outlined on the Appeal for Independent Student Status form.

 
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