Scholarships
Scholarships are basically free money for college, and we offer scholarships for all types of students.
Explore our diverse range of scholarships – your ticket to college without the financial burden. Unlike loans, scholarships are a form of gift aid, meaning you won’t need to repay them. Whether it’s financial need, academic excellence, talent, or more, there’s a scholarship for you!
The Ridgewater College Foundation uses a universal online scholarship application! One application works for ALL Ridgewater scholarship opportunities. Our system will automatically match you to scholarships based on eligibility criteria set up in the system.
When the application is open, an “apply now” button will be available on this page. When the application is not open, you can get a head start on your short-answer questions using our scholarship application prep page.
Fall Awards
Section titled “Fall Awards”_Application Now Open _(Apply spring semester (February 2026 – June 2026) for funding in the fall)
- Fall award application deadline is JUNE 1.
- Award notifications will be sent out via email in July.
Spring Awards
Section titled “Spring Awards”Application Now Closed (Apply fall semester (September 2025 – November 2025) for funding in the spring)
- Spring award application deadline is NOVEMBER 1.
- Award notifications will be sent out via email in December.
Basic Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
Section titled “Basic Scholarship Eligibility Requirements”If you meet the basic requirements below, you should apply for Ridgewater scholarships each semester!
- You have been accepted to Ridgewater College
- You have an active StarID and password
- You are not a Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) student for the upcoming semester
- You plan to enroll in at least 6 credits for the upcoming semester
- You are in good academic standing (2.0 GPA or above, not suspended and not on warning)
Criteria for each scholarship will vary. The eligibility requirements above are the minimum requirements to apply for any Ridgewater College scholarship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Section titled “Frequently Asked Questions”How do I apply and what’s on the application?
When the application is open, an “apply now” button will be available on this page. When the application is not open, you can get a head start on your short-answer questions using our scholarship application prep page. Here, you’ll be able to download a word document template. You can save your answers so they are ready to copy and paste when the application opens.
The application will also ask a series of multiple choice and drop down questions to help match you to awards you’re eligible for.
When and how will I hear if I was awarded a Ridgewater scholarship?
- Scholarship applications will be reviewed within 3-4 weeks following the deadline.
- Students who are awarded are notified via their Ridgewater College email about two months after the deadline.
- Students must accept their award and complete the necessary steps within two weeks of being notified to receive their scholarship.
Where can I view my scholarship awards?
You can view your scholarship awards in e-Services under the “Financial Aid” tab then under the “Awards” tab.
Why aren’t my awards applied to my tuition balance yet?
When a scholarship is placed on your student account it will not automatically subtract from your tuition balance due. You can view your balance due by going to: e-Services, then “Bills and Payment”. You will need to calculate your total balance due by subtracting your Financial Aid and Scholarship Awards from your tuition balance. The amount remaining is what you owe. There are four ways you can pay your tuition.
For example:
You go under the “Financial Aid” tab then under “Awards” and see you have a $1,000 scholarship and $500 in financial aid. Your total awards = $1,500. Then you go under “Bills and Payments” and see your tuition Balance is $2,000.
$2,000 Balance – $1,500 Awards = $500 Due
After paying the $500 due, you will still have a tuition balance due of $1,500 until aid applies. Once aid applies on the tenth day of the semester your tuition balance due should be $0.
Financial aid and scholarships are disbursed after the last day to add/drop classes each semester. You will see your awards applied to your tuition balance at this time.
What should I do with a scholarship check I received outside of Ridgewater? (External Scholarships)
The Ridgewater College Business Office can help apply external scholarships to your student account. If you have an external scholarship check please include the following information before mailing or delivering your check to campus:
- Information to include with the check – this can be written on a separate piece of paper:
- Your student Tech ID (8-digit number)
- Your full name
- Any documents that came with the check
- Is the check “payable” to you (the student)?
- If yes, sign the back of the check.
- Deliver the check in one of two ways
- Mail the check to: Ridgewater College Attn: Business Office 2101 15th Ave NW Willmar, MN 56201
- Deliver the check to Campus:
- on the Willmar Campus – Business Office (A143)
- on the Hutchinson Campus – Business Office window