The Flame

Rhode Island College began offering the Hope Scholarship for the 2023-2024 academic year, after the funding to pilot the scholarship program passed through both houses of the General Assembly and was signed into law by Gov. Dan McKee as part of the state budget on June 16, 2023.

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What is the RIC Hope Scholarship?

  • The Rhode Island College Hope Scholarship is a pilot program that provides last-dollar tuition and mandatory fee payments to in-state students at Rhode Island College for their junior and senior years, if they are in good academic standing, with a 2.5 GPA or higher, and on track to graduate or to earn an approved certificate in a total of four years.
  • Adult students who have earned at least 60 credits within a four-year period at Rhode Island College are also eligible to receive a scholarship over a duration of not more than two years.
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When does it start?

  • This pilot program begins at Rhode Island College on July 1, 2023, and runs through July 1, 2030.
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Who is eligible?

  • Students in the high school graduating class of 2023 who enroll at Rhode Island College as full-time freshmen this fall.
  • Currently enrolled RIC students who have attained junior status as of July 1, 2023, or July 1, 2024, with a 2.5 GPA or higher and are on track to graduate in a total of four years.
  • This includes eligible juniors and seniors in the fall of 2023.
  • An adult student who has completed at least 60 credit hours in no more than four years at Rhode Island College.

More Questions Answered

  • You must be a Rhode Island resident who qualifies for in-state tuition.
  • You must complete the FAFSA each year you apply for the Hope Scholarship.
  • You must enroll or have enrolled full time at Rhode Island College as a first-time, freshman student and continue to be enrolled on a full-time basis at Rhode Island College, or be an adult student who has completed 60 credit hours at Rhode Island College over a duration of no more than four years.
  • At the time of the award, you must be enrolled full-time, have declared a major, maintained an average annual cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 and earned a minimum of 60 credits toward an eligible program of study.
  • Students must commit to live, work or continue their education in Rhode Island after graduation.
  • The scholarship covers “mandatory fees and tuition.” This does not include room and board, textbooks, program fees for some majors, course fees for some specific courses, meal plans or travel.
  • The scholarship covers the student’s junior and senior years or two years for an adult student.
  • It is limited to one award per student but covers two years.

The scholarship covers the gap after the awarding of all other financial aid, except for DCYF and Onward We Learn (formerly College Crusade) scholarships.

A student is on track to graduate if after two years of study they have the required credits toward a major and can be expected to graduate within a total of four years.

You must maintain an average annual cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher while enrolled at Rhode Island College.

No. You must enroll or have enrolled full time at Rhode Island College as a first-time, freshman student or be an adult student who has attained 60 credit hours at Rhode Island College over a duration of no more than four years.

  • “On track to graduate” degree completion can exceed four years for students who require developmental education, are double majors or are enrolled in certain professional programs that may require an extended time period.
  • A student with an approved medical or personal leave of absence who is unable to satisfy program requirements because of the medical or personal circumstances will maintain eligibility.
  • A student who is a member of the National Guard or a reserve unit of a branch of the United States military who is unable to satisfy program requirements because of a training or deployment will maintain eligibility.
  • A student with a disability shall be afforded all reasonable accommodations as required by the ADA, including enrolling on a part-time basis or taking longer than four years to graduate.
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Current RIC Student Contact Information

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Prospective Student Contact Information

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