Applying for Aid
For Undergraduate First-Year Students (Starting College for the First Time)
To get financial aid, you need to fill out a form called the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This form helps us figure out how much money your family can contribute toward college costs, and how much help you may need.
Those applying to begin college in the fall (August): Submit your FAFSA as early as possible after October 1, but no later than March 1.
Those applying to begin college in the spring (January): Submit your FAFSA by November 1.
We strongly suggest filling out the FAFSA at the same time you apply to RWU. That way, if you're accepted, we can quickly send you a letter showing exactly how much financial help you'll receive.
Fill out the FAFSA at studentaid.gov.
For Undergraduate Transfer Students (Already Attended Another College)
The same steps above apply to you! For spring enrollment, ideally, fill out the FAFSA by November 1. For fall enrollment, fill out the FAFSA after October 1 and no later than March 1 — ideally at the same time you apply to RWU.
Fill out the FAFSA at studentaid.gov.
RWU's FAFSA School Code: 003410
You'll need this number when filling out the FAFSA so your information is sent to us.
To qualify for financial aid, you must:
- Be accepted into a degree program at RWU (meaning you've been officially admitted to earn a certificate or diploma)
- Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen (for example, a permanent resident — if you're unsure whether you qualify, contact our office)
Already a student at RWU? You need to reapply for financial aid every year — it doesn't renew automatically. Submit your FAFSA by March 1 each year. You'll also need to stay in good academic standing to keep receiving aid.
Questions? We're here to help!
Office of Student Financial Aid
Roger Williams University
One Old Ferry Road, Bristol, RI 02809
(401) 254-3100
For Graduate Students
Some of our graduate programs offer scholarships (free money based on your achievements), assistantships (part-time work opportunities that help cover costs), and research stipends (a small payment for helping with research projects). Availability varies by program, so reach out directly to the program you're interested in to ask what's available.
To apply for federal financial aid as a graduate student, you must:
- Be enrolled in a degree program
- Be taking at least 2 classes (6 credits) per semester
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
If you're only taking 1 class (3 credits), you may still be able to get a private loan to help with costs.
Your first step: Fill out the FAFSA at studentaid.gov.
Your Financial Aid Portal
The Financial Aid Portal is your online hub for everything related to your financial aid. Think of it as your personal dashboard where you can:
- Check the status of your financial aid application (see where things stand — is it being reviewed? Do we need more from you?)
- See what aid you've been offered — things like grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study
- Accept or turn down your aid offers
- Upload documents we need from you
- Read important messages from our office
Everything is secure, and updates happen in real time.
How Do I Log In?
New students: Once you've told us you're enrolling, you'll get your Roger Central login information by email. Roger Central is RWU's student account system.
- Log in to Roger Central
- Click Financial Information (on the left side of the screen)
- Click Financial Aid — this takes you straight to your portal
Returning students: Same steps! Log in to Roger Central → Financial Information → Financial Aid.
Need help? Call us at 401.254.3100 or email finaid@rwu.edu
Common Questions (FAQ)
How do I get into the portal? Log into Roger Central, click Financial Information, then click Financial Aid. You're in!
Is the information up to date? Yes, the portal updates in real time. But keep in mind that our staff needs some time to review documents after you upload them. Please don't email us your documents - always upload them directly through the portal instead.
Can I reach the Financial Aid Office through the portal? Yes! On any screen in the portal, click the Help button at the top right (next to the logout button). It will show you our phone number and email.
Where do I find the forms I need to fill out? Click on the Documents tab in the portal. You can download forms right from there. More forms are also available on our Forms and Policies page.
One common situation: If we asked for a copy of your W-2 tax form but you didn't have a job, you'll need to fill out a Statement of Wage and Tax Non-Filing Status form instead. This just tells us officially that you didn't have any income to report.
Can I accept my financial aid offer online? Yes! Go to "View and Accept Awards" and click Submit when you're ready.
Before you accept, take time to look everything over carefully:
- You might see student loans listed even if you never asked for one. You do not have to accept loans. You can also choose to borrow less than the full amount offered.
- You can accept, reduce, or turn down any loan being offered to you.
- The list will also show grants, scholarships, and work-study (a part-time job on campus) - those are the "free money" or earn-as-you-go types of aid you'll likely want to accept.
Learn more about the different types of aid and payment options.
By clicking accept, you're agreeing that you understand the rules attached to your aid. We'll reach out if anything changes.
What if I get money from somewhere else after I've already accepted my aid? You need to let us know right away! Email us at finaid@rwu.edu. Outside money can sometimes affect your aid package. Examples of outside funding you need to report include:
- Scholarships from other organizations
- Veterans Benefits
- Vocational Rehabilitation (job training assistance)
- Tribal grants or loans
- Job Training Partnership funds
- Stipends (small payments for research or other work)
Logging In for the First Time (New and Accepted Students)
New and accepted students access the portal at myfinaid.rwu.edu — this is different from Roger Central, which returning students use.
Look for a setup email from our office with instructions. If you didn't get it or can't find it, email us at finaid@rwu.edu, and we'll resend it.
To create your account:
- Go to myfinaid.rwu.edu
- Click "First Time User" under the login button
- Enter your Web ID(a number we assigned you — check your acceptance email, or contact us if you're not sure what it is)
- Verify your identity and set up security questions
- Create a password — save it somewhere safe, you'll need it every time you log in
Note: New students won't have portal access through Roger Central until after you've officially said you're enrolling.
Finding Your Way Around the Portal
Once you're logged in, here's what you'll find:
Home Page: Your starting point. Shows a summary of your aid, any documents we need from you, and important updates.
Drop-Down Menu: Use this to jump between different sections of the portal.
Documents Tab: This is where you can:
- See which documents you've already sent us and which ones we're still waiting on
- Download any forms we've asked you to fill out
- Upload your completed documents — as soon as you upload something, our office is automatically notified that it's ready for review
- Read any important messages from our office
Reminder: Always upload documents through the portal — don't email them to us.
Accept Awards Tab: This is where you accept, reduce, or turn down your financial aid offers. A few important things to know:
- You cannot increase an award beyond what's been offered
- Once you click Submit, your choices cannot be changed, so review everything carefully before submitting
- If you need to make a change after submitting, contact our office directly at 401.254.3100 or finaid@rwu.edu
For a full explanation of the types of aid you may be offered, see our aid types and payment options page.