How to Pay for College: RMC Edition
Let’s be honest, college is a big investment—probably one of the biggest you’ll ever make. So it’s no real surprise that cost is the #1 thing most students (and their families) stress about during their college search.
The good news? We’re all about helping you make it happen. From merit scholarships and grants, to paid campus jobs and other kinds of aid—here’s a look at all the ways you’d be supported as a student at RMC.
Scholarships & Grants Decoded
Merit Scholarships
ALL admitted students are automatically considered for one of our generous merit scholarships—that means no separate is application required. These awards range from $16k to $32k, and are renewable. If you’d like to see the amount you’d be eligible to receive, complete this one-minute Merit Calculator.
Interest-Based Scholarships and Grants
This is how we’ll recognize your unique interests and hobbies. No matter if you’re a chemist or a choir soloist, we value what you’ll bring to our campus. These awards are offered in addition to your earned merit scholarship. For more, check out this full list of scholarships and grants offered at RMC.
Scholarship Days for Admitted Students
These special events offer invited students the chance to interview for an increased merit scholarship, up to full tuition. To be considered, you must first apply (and be accepted) to the College—invitations to Scholarship Day will be sent to qualified students starting in early October.
Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant
If you live in Virginia, you’re eligible for the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant—or, VTAG. This special grant is valued at $5,150, and can be earned up to eight full-time semesters. For consideration, you must send a VTAG application to RMC before the listed deadline, prior to your first semester of enrollment.
Other Types of Financial Support
File the FAFSA
There’s a lot of stigma around this one, so let’s break it down: FAFSA stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It will unlock your access to different kinds of need-based financial aid—including:
- Federal grants (Or, free money that you don’t have to pay back)
- Low-interest federal loans
- Work-study opportunities
- Grants from RMC (also free money that doesn’t need to be repaid)
The FAFSA opens on October 1, and we recommend you file as soon as you can. The earlier you send us this form, the earlier we can get you a complete aid notification. So schedule a good time to sit down with your parent(s) or guardian(s), and knock this important step out. Be sure to use our school code: 003733.
Oh, and one last (unsolicited, but important!) piece of advice: even if you think you won’t qualify, file the FAFSA anyway. It’s the only way to be 100% sure you’re getting all the money you can, so don’t miss out!
Work on Campus
An on-campus job isn’t just about the extra money—though, of course, that helps. It’s also about getting hands-on experience in an area that interests you. So think of it as a chance to cover some of those extra college expenses, while also building valuable skills (and connections) that’ll help long after graduation.
See It All Laid Out
I know this is a lot to take in, so here’s something that might help. Grab your parent or guardian, and fill out our Net Price Calculator. It will take 10-15 minutes to finish, and will offer an understanding of the kinds of aid you might be eligible to receive—including scholarships, grants, and other financial aid.
TL;DR
So if you take one thing away from all this, here’s what it should be: the number you see on paper isn’t what you’ll actually pay. Our generous combination of scholarships, grants, and other kinds of financial support make the true cost of attending RMC much more comparable to that of an in-state public college.
If you still have questions (or just want to talk through your options), we’ve got you covered. Schedule a visit to campus and meet 1:1 with your admissions counselor, or email us at admissions@rmc.edu.
When it comes to funding your RMC education, you’ve got so many possibilities to explore. Let’s dive in!
