Riverland Community College

To qualify, students must:

• Live in Freeborn County
  You need to be a resident of Freeborn County.

• Graduate in 2024 from a Freeborn County High School
  This includes Albert Lea High, Alden Conger High, Glenville Emmons High, and NRHEG.

• Meet One of These Academic Requirements:

  • GPA of 2.5 or higher
  • ACT score of 18 or higher
  • ASVAB score of 31 or higher
  • MCA Reading Score of 1042+ and Math Score of 1132+

• Attend a Qualifying High School for At Least One Semester
  You must have been enrolled in one of the qualifying schools for at least one full semester, including the spring semester of your senior year.

• Enroll at Riverland as a Degree-Seeking Student
  You must enroll in a program at Riverland Community College and maintain good academic standing.

• 65 Credits Covered
  The scholarship pays for up to 65 credits of tuition and fees.

• Riverland Enrollment Required
  You must enroll at Riverland in the academic year after your high school graduation (Summer, Fall, Spring).

• FAFSA Required
  You must complete the FAFSA or Dream Act application every year to keep the scholarship.

  • Deadline(s):

  • Starting Summer Term – June 15^th

  • Starting Fall Term – October 15^th

  • Starting January Term – March 15^th

• Does Not Cover Books or Tools
  The scholarship only covers tuition and fees. You’ll need to cover other expenses like books and tools.

• Last-Dollar Scholarship
  This means the scholarship covers whatever tuition costs remain after other financial aid (like grants and scholarships) has been applied.

• FAFSA is a Must
  You need to complete the FAFSA because this scholarship will only kick in after other aid is applied.

• Check Your Grades and Test Scores
  See if you meet the academic requirements. If you're not sure, talk to your high school counselor.

• Get Notified
  Later this semester, students who qualify will be notified.

• Complete the FAFSA
  Submit your FAFSA to determine your eligibility for federal and state aid.

• Enroll at Riverland
  If you qualify, apply and enroll in a program at Riverland. Your scholarship will automatically apply once your financial aid is sorted.

• High School Graduating Class of 2025
  Details on the eligibility criteria for the Class of 2025 Freeborn County Community Promise Scholarship will be announced in January 2025. There will be an opportunity for all qualifying students to receive scholarship funding at Riverland, but the eligibility criteria may look different than the scholarship announced for the first year of the scholarship (Class of 2024). Community partners are committed to providing scholarship support and continue to seek donations from community members and organizations.

• Local community leaders wanted to help students like you attend Riverland, our local community college. Riverland offers over 100 programs that can prepare you for a successful career right here in our community. This scholarship helps you take advantage of those opportunities.

  The Albert Lea and Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce, Albert Lea Economic Development Agency, and Riverland Community College Foundation teamed up to make this scholarship possible.

• If your family’s adjusted gross income is less than $80,000, the NorthStar Promise Scholarship will cover your tuition. To qualify for the Freeborn County Community Promise Scholarship, your family income must be $80,000 or more.

Class of 2025 Freeborn County Community Promise Scholarship
Details on the eligibility criteria for the Class of 2025 Freeborn County Community Promise Scholarship will be announced in January 2025. There will be an opportunity for all qualifying students to receive scholarship funding at Riverland, but the eligibility criteria may look different than the scholarship announced for the first year of the scholarship(Class of 2024). Community partners are committed to providing scholarship support and continue to seek donations from community members and organizations. The Freeborn County Community Promise Scholarship is intended to increase access to post-secondary education and career training that will benefit our region’s skilled workforce. If you are interested in exploring academic programs at Riverland please visit www.riverland.edu/academics or schedule a campus visit.