State Financial Aid Programs

RI Stay-the-Course Scholarship

The Stay-the-Course Scholarship at Rhode Island College is funded by an allocation from the Rhode Island State Higher Education Opportunity Grant program. The scholarship is awarded by the Office of Student Financial Aid to Rhode Island residents after completion of the freshman year at RIC. The scholarship is designed to increase our graduation rate by enabling these students to continue full-time study in their second through sixth years at the college by reducing the need to work long hours off-campus. To qualify, a student must enter RIC at or during the freshman year, enroll full-time, be eligible for the federal Pell Grant and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75. The scholarship will cover up to the difference between the standard cost of full tuition, registration fees, an allowance for books and the funds provided by the Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and merit-based scholarships. However, no scholarship will exceed need or 60% of a student's annual cost of attendance. Recipients must remain Pell-eligible, continue full-time enrollment and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 for renewal in subsequent years. Renewal scholarships are subject to continued state funding, and students filing the FAFSA by our March 1 deadline will receive priority.

Other State Financial Aid Programs

Guidelines for applying for state scholarship/grant programs vary, so students should inquire at the appropriate agency in their state of legal residence regarding application procedures.

Names, addresses and telephone numbers of other state scholarship agencies are available upon request from the Office of Student Financial Aid.