How to win Rhode Island scholarships
Rhode Island is a small state filled with a lot of history, beauty, and fun opportunities! In order to make the price tag of Rhode Island college smaller, winning Rhode Island scholarships would be extremely beneficial!
In order to win Rhode Island scholarships, you should highlight the unique aspects of Rhode Island while simultaneously connecting back to your own passions and goals. For example, perhaps you grew up frequently attending Rhode Island beaches and now you want to be a marine biologist. Be sure to explicitly highlight how much your location in Rhode Island helped you realize that you wanted to pursue a career in marine biology.
Connecting your uniqueness to the uniqueness of Rhode Island will make you stand out in Rhode Island scholarship applications!
Writing resources for writing Rhode Island scholarship essays
Many Rhode Island scholarships may have you write an essay about yourself so be sure to familiarize yourself on some common scholarship essay prompts. Check out our guides on how to start a scholarship essay and how to end a scholarship essay to ensure your Rhode Island scholarship application is perfect from beginning to end.
Additionally, read over our Scholarships360 ultimate guide to finding and winning scholarships to ensure you are well prepared to win Rhode Island scholarships!
Rhode Island student debt snapshot
According to the Department of Education, in total, Rhode Island residents owe $4.6 billion in federal student loan debt. Student borrowers owe an average of $32,056 each (those numbers do not include private loans). Around 59.7% of loan borrowers are under the age of 35. As you are starting your higher education journey, remember that scholarships allow students to take fewer loans. Make sure that you apply to as many scholarships as you qualify for!
Keep on reading to learn more about merit scholarships from colleges in Rhode Island!
Merit scholarships at Rhode Island colleges and universities
Rhode Island College
- Eligibility: First year students who demonstrate superior academic achievement
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: Admission to Rhode Island College
University of Rhode Island
- Eligibility: Freshmen based on academic performance in high school, including GPA and course selection
- Amount: $2,000 up to $15,000
- Deadline: December 1
Bryant University
- Eligibility: Incoming first year students with a strong high school GPA, SAT or ACT performance (if submitted), high school class rank, leadership and participation
- Amount: $5,000 up to $35,000
- Deadline: Admission to Bryant University
Providence College
- Eligibility: Freshmen who have exhausted the curriculum available at their school and maintained close to an A average (3.8+ GPA)
- Amount: $22,000 up to $37,000
- Deadline: Admission to Providence College
Roger Williams University
- Eligibility: Offered at the time of admission to recognize what students have accomplished in their learning prior to enrolling at Roger Williams
- Amount: Varies
- Deadline: Admission to Roger Williams University
Consider in-state tuition and tuition reciprocity
In-state tuition allows residents of a state to receive cheaper tuition for a college or university in their state. Additionally, many universities and colleges reserve scholarships and financial aid for in-state students, which helps reduce the cost of attending college for those who live there.
Here are a few well-known Rhode Island universities and their in-state vs out-of-state tuition costs:
- In-state tuition: $16,408
- Out-of-state tuition: $35,804
- In-state tuition: $9.481
- Out-of-state tuition: $25,014
How do you get in-state tuition?
Gaining residency status for tuition purposes in Rhode Island can be quite difficult. This is because each Rhode Island college or university has different guidelines for students looking to gain in-state tuition status. Therefore, double check with your intended Rhode Island institution what the requirements are for gaining in-state tuition status.
Does Rhode Island offer tuition reciprocity?
Yes, Rhode Island is a part of the New England Regional Student Program which is a tuition reciprocity program among select Northeastern States. This program provides tuition savings to residents in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and of course Rhode Island. Eligibility for this program varies by state and institution so be sure to double check with your intended institution.
Rhode Island scholarship spotlight
Rhode Island Promise
- Eligibility: Rhode Island residents who are 2022 high school graduates or GED recipients who are younger than 19 years old. Recipients must enroll at Community College of Rhode Island in the fall immediately following high school graduation or the semester immediately after receiving a GED
- Amount: Full cost of tuition
- Deadline: May 1st
Beatrice S. Demers Foreign Language Fellows
- Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students, professors, or educators who are Rhode Island residents attending/teaching at a Rhode Island college or university who wish to pursue foreign language study
- Amount: $1,000 up to $20,000
- Deadline: Varies
John J. O’Connor Jr. Memorial Nursing Scholarship Fund
- Eligibility: Rhode Island residents who are attending a Rhode Island school in pursuit of a CNA, associates, or bachelors nursing degree
- Amount: $500 up to $5,000
- Deadline: May 8
Patty & Melvin Alperin First Generation Scholarship
- Eligibility: Rhode Island high school seniors whose parents did not graduate from college (including community college or college in another country)
- Amount: $1,000 up to $1,500
- Deadline: Varies
Paula Akers Memorial Scholarship
- Eligibility: Must be nominated by a member of The R.I. American Federation of Teachers/Retired, and must be related to them
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: Varies
RDW Group Communications Scholarship for People of Color
- Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate Rhode Island BIPOC residents who are studying communications or a related degree
- Amount: $500 up to $2,000
- Deadline: Varies
Transform Rhode Island Scholarship
- Eligibility: Rhode Island Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) high school students, grades 9 – 12. Must be enrolled in a Rhode Island school or be actively home-schooled
- Amount: $25,000 – 1st place; $15,000 – 2nd place; $10,000 – 3rd place
- Deadline: Varies
Additional Rhode Island resources
Rhode Island Student Loan Authority scholarship search tool
The Rhode Island Student Loan Authority maintains a database of hundreds of local scholarships. Students must make an account to browse the database.
Rhode Island Foundation scholarships
The Rhode Island Foundation provides several additional scholarships for a variety of students and fields of study.
FAFSA guide
On October 1st of every year, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens nationwide. Rhode Island students should complete the FAFSA to be eligible for federal student aid as well as some scholarships.
Frequently asked questions about Rhode Island scholarships
How can I get in-state tuition in Rhode Island?
Sometimes, these requirements will vary based on the school you apply to. Each school has slightly different methods of verifying these requirements, so make sure to check in with your school to see what they’ll need to see.
What is the top-ranked school in Rhode Island?
Do I need to be a Rhode Island resident to receive Rhode Island scholarships?
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