IMPORTANT UPDATE: As you may know, Rock Valley College has been going through a campus-wide data transition over the past year. As a result, our scholarship process has been delayed.
We are working closely with our IT team and software partners for a timely resolution. However, we are unable to check scholarship eligibility or award funds for the majority of our scholarships until this has been resolved.
We know how important this timeline is for you. We will update the dates below as soon as we know this has been resolved. Thank you for your patience as we work through this transition.

ATTENTION: Scholarship applications for the 2026 – 2027 academic year are currently closed. Please see the dates below to know where we are in the scholarship cycle.

Best Chance Dates and Deadlines:

• Applications accepted February 14, 2026 – April 1, 2026
• Preliminary award notices will be emailed between May 1 and May 21, 2026
• Post-acceptance tasks must be completed on or before July 23, 2026
• Final award notices will be emailed once you have completed the Post acceptance tasks and by July 24, 2026 at the latest

Last Chance Dates and Deadlines:

• Applications accepted July 29, 2026 – August 13, 2026
• Preliminary award notices will be emailed between August 17 and August 21, 2026 - DELAYED
• Post-acceptance tasks must be completed on or before August 27, 2026 - DELAYED
• Final award notices will be emailed once you have completed the Post acceptance tasks and by August 28, 2026 at the latest - DELAYED

How to secure an RVC Foundation Scholarship

1. Put all deadlines in your calendar so you don’t miss any important dates.
2. Complete the FAFSA Form and the financial aid process even if you know you don’t qualify for a Pell Grant. This could open up additional opportunities for a scholarship from us. International students, students under 18 and students who are not eligible to file are an exception as we recognize you are unable to receive federal funding. Everyone else is strongly encouraged to file the FAFSA.
3. Watch for emails regarding a Preliminary Offer from RVC-Foundation@rockvalleycollege.edu in your student email. This is our secure method of communicating with you. We may also contact you as deadlines approach or to remind you to submit your post-acceptance questions and thank you letter.
4. Activate your voice mail on your phone. Make sure your mail box isn’t full. We will leave you a message if we have any questions or critical information regarding your application. We may additionally send a text reminder of deadlines.
5. Work on writing strong Personal, Educational and Financial statements. Follow the instructions and examples shown in Section 3 under “How to Apply for RVC Foundation Scholarships” on the Scholarships page of the RVC website. Please be willing to share your story. Your personal statements are what brings your application to life for our application reviewers.
6. When you receive your Preliminary Offer, accept the offer from the link in the email and complete your supplemental tasks as soon as possible. In general, your supplemental tasks are: 1) write and upload a thank you letter to your donor; 2) register for fall classes; 3) complete the financial aid process. If a document is to be uploaded, please ensure that you have the right one. You will not receive your Final Offer and release of funds email until everything is done.
7. Before writing your thank you letter, study Section 5 under “How to Apply for RVC Foundation Scholarships” on the Scholarships page of the RVC website.
8. Remember, RVC Foundation Scholarships are paid directly to the college and cover tuition, books, fees and mandatory supplies. Any funds not spent will be returned to the Foundation to be awarded again next year.

Anytime you have any questions regarding the scholarship award system, please reach out to the RVC Foundation at (815) 2021-4500 or RVC-Foundation@rockvalleycollege.edu. We are here to help!