28 Radiant Rhode Island Scholarships for 2021
Although Rhode Island is the smallest state in the U.S., it still deserves some scholarship love! We’ve researched and handpicked these 28 Rhode Island scholarships so you don’t have to worry. Sit back, relax, and start applying!
- Check out this list of Rhode Island scholarships to fund your college education:
- 1) Timothy S. and Palmer W. Bigelow, Jr. Scholarship
- 2) Nursing Education and Practical Nursing Scholarships
- 3) Lily and Catello Sorrentino Memorial Scholarship
- 4) A. T. Cross Scholarship
- 5) Beatrice S. Demers Foreign Language Fellows
- 6) Patricia W. Edwards Memorial Art Scholarship
- 7) Martin Luther King Scholarship
- 8) Aldo Freda Legislative Pages Scholarship
- 9) Johnston Lions Armand Muto Scholarship
- 10) MacColl Johnson Fellowships
- 11) Major Jeremiah P. Murphy Scholarship
- 12) MJSA Education Foundation Jewelry Scholarship
- 13) Michael P. Metcalf Memorial Fund and Christine T. Grinavic Adventurer’s Fund
- 14) AAA Northeast Scholarship
- 15) Patty & Melvin Alperin First Generation Scholarship
- 16) Beacon Brighter Tomorrows Scholarship
- 17) James J. Burns and C. A. Haynes Textile Scholarship
- 18) Bristol Children’s Home Scholarship
- 19) Black Philanthropy Bannister Scholarship
- 20) Carter Roger Williams Scholarship
- 21) Cataract Fire Company #2 Scholarship
- 22) Antonio Cirino Memorial Scholarship
- 23) Constant Memorial Scholarship
- 24) Corning Glass Works Scholarship
- 25) United Italian American Inc. Scholarship
- 26) Miss Swinburne Scholarship
- 27) Bruce and Marjorie Sundlun Scholarship
- 28) New England Regional Student Program
- Ready to get started with Rhode Island scholarships?
Check out this list of Rhode Island scholarships to fund your college education:
1) Timothy S. and Palmer W. Bigelow, Jr. Scholarship
Amount: $3,000
Provider: Horticultural Research Institute
Requirements: Must be a resident of Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire or Vermont, minimum GPA of 2.25, enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate landscape/horticulture program or related discipline.
The Timothy S. and Palmer W. Bigelow, Jr. Scholarship encourages students to pursue a degree in a program related to horticulture. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate financial need.
2) Nursing Education and Practical Nursing Scholarships
Amount: $500 minimum
Provider: Nursing Foundation of Rhode Island
Requirements: Must be enrolled in a nursing program, demonstrate financial need, 3.0 GPA (2.5 for practical nursing), demonstrate motivation in their studies, transcript, essay, and cover letter.
Nursing Education and Practical Nursing Scholarships are available for students pursuing an associate, diploma, baccalaureate, RN to BS, nursing education, and/or practical nursing programs. The program encourages students to show their enthusiasm and self-motivation in their studies (include this in your essay!). Preference will be given to: full-time students who are in the latter half of their nursing program, plus Rhode Island residents who are enrolled in a Rhode Island nursing program.
3) Lily and Catello Sorrentino Memorial Scholarship
Amount: $1,000 – $1,500
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: To apply to the Lily and Catello Sorrentino Memorial Scholarship, students must be 25 years of age or older, pursuing an undergraduate degree in a degree-conferring non-parochial institution in Rhode Island, and must demonstrate financial need. Preference will be given to students attending Rhode Island College, Community College of Rhode Island, or University of Rhode Island. Preference given to first-time applicants.
4) A. T. Cross Scholarship
Amount: $1,000 – $3,000
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: Children of full-time employees of A.T. Cross Company may apply to the A. T. Cross Scholarship.
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5) Beatrice S. Demers Foreign Language Fellows
Amount: $1,000 – $20,000
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: Applicants of the Beatrice S. Demers Foreign Language Fellows scholarship must have received an invitation to apply from Beacon Mutual, must be accepted into an accredited post-secondary institution (academic, trade, or vocational), and demonstrate financial need.
6) Patricia W. Edwards Memorial Art Scholarship
Amount: Up to $500
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: The Patricia W. Edwards Memorial Art Scholarship is meant for high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, and young Rhode Island artists seeking to take an art class at a Rhode Island institution.
7) Martin Luther King Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: The Martin Luther King Scholarship is applicable to Rhode Island residents. Applicants must be African-American/Black, must demonstrate academic and leadership success, must be accepted or enrolled in an accredited post-secondary college or technical school within the U.S., and demonstrate financial need.
8) Aldo Freda Legislative Pages Scholarship
Amount: $500 – $1,500
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: The Aldo Freda Legislative Pages Scholarship is awarded to support Rhode Island Legislative Pages enrolled in a college or university. Applicants must be a Rhode Island resident, U.S. citizen, Rhode Island Legislative Page, and must be accepted or enrolled full time in an undergraduate, graduate, or accredited Rhode Island certificate program.
Want to find more Rhode Island scholarships? See how we can help.
9) Johnston Lions Armand Muto Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: The Johnston Lions Armand Muto Scholarship is for graduating high school seniors who are residents of Johnston, Rhode Island. To qualify for this scholarship, applicants must be attending a post-secondary educational institution.
This scholarship award is renewable.
10) MacColl Johnson Fellowships
Amount: Up to $25,000
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: Applicant must be a composer, writer, or visual artist to apply for the MacColl Johnson Fellowships.
11) Major Jeremiah P. Murphy Scholarship
Amount: $1,000 – $2,500
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: The Major Jeremiah P. Murphy Scholarship is for children of active, retired, or deceased Providence police officers. Applicants must be attending a post-secondary institution offering a two-year associate degree or four-year degree.
12) MJSA Education Foundation Jewelry Scholarship
Amount: $500 – $2,000
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: Must be pursuing jewelry-related curriculum
The MJSA Education Foundation Jewelry Scholarship encourages students to further their education in jewelry-related programs. Students do not need to be a Rhode Island resident to apply.
13) Michael P. Metcalf Memorial Fund and Christine T. Grinavic Adventurer’s Fund
Amount: Varies. Funds must be used for educational enrichment outside the classroom, not tuition.
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: Varies
The Michael P. Metcalf Memorial Fund and Christine T. Grinavic Adventurer’s Fund encourages personal growth for college students of all grade levels to participate in travel, study, and public service programs.
14) AAA Northeast Scholarship
Amount: $2,500
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: Applicants must be a legal dependent of AAA Northeast employees who are full time, with at least one year of service, or a renewing recipient of the AAA Northeast Scholarship. Applicants must be enrolled at a two or four-year post-secondary institution and must demonstrate good character.
The AAA Northeast Scholarship is a renewable scholarship for up to four years, based on your parent’s employment status when you first apply. The scholarship award may be used for tuition, books, fees, supplies, and equipment.
15) Patty & Melvin Alperin First Generation Scholarship
Amount: Up to $1,500
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: The Patty & Melvin Alperin First Generation Scholarship is for graduating seniors who attend a high school in Rhode Island. To qualify for this scholarship, applicants must have parents who did not graduate from college. Applicant must be accepted or enrolled in an accredited two- or four-year college and must demonstrate financial need.
16) Beacon Brighter Tomorrows Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: Applicants must have received an invitation to apply from Beacon Mutual, must be accepted into an accredited post-secondary institution (academic, trade, or vocational), must demonstrate financial need, maintained a grade point average of “C” or better, and must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
The Beacon Brighter Tomorrows Scholarship is renewable for up to four years.
17) James J. Burns and C. A. Haynes Textile Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: The James J. Burns and C. A. Haynes Textile Scholarship is for students studying textiles at an accredited institution. Applicants must demonstrate financial need.
18) Bristol Children’s Home Scholarship
Amount: $500 – $2,500
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: Applicants must be a Bristol, Rhode Island resident and must be attending or accepted to a college or university to apply for the Bristol Children’s Home Scholarship.
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19) Black Philanthropy Bannister Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: African American/Black high school graduate or adult student applicant, Rhode Island resident, pursuing or advancing a career in healthcare at a post-secondary institution (college or technical school), must demonstrate financial need.
The Black Philanthropy Bannister Scholarship may be renewable for up to four years.
20) Carter Roger Williams Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: Applicants of the Carter Roger Williams Scholarship must appreciate and embody Roger Williams’s values and legacy. Applicants must be a Rhode Island resident, a senior at any high school (public, independent, or private) in Rhode Island, and be accepted by an accredited post-secondary institution (by date of award).
21) Cataract Fire Company #2 Scholarship
Amount: $1,500 – $2,000
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: Applicants of the Cataract Fire Company #2 Scholarship must be high school seniors, Warwick, Rhode Island residents, and must demonstrate financial need. Academic excellence is not necessary, preference given to students not in the top 10% of their graduating class.
22) Antonio Cirino Memorial Scholarship
Amount: $2,000 to $12,000
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: To be eligible for the Antonio Cirino Memorial Scholarship, applicants must be a graduate student enrolled in arts education or in the arts, with an intention to teach. Applicants are not required to be a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, or seeking a graduate degree from RISD. Applicants must be a Rhode Island resident, and must demonstrate financial need.
23) Constant Memorial Scholarship
Amount: $2,000 – $5,000
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: The Constant Memorial Scholarship is for Aquidneck Island residents studying art or music. Must be enrolled as a freshman, sophomore, or junior (at time of application) in a four-year accredited institution of higher learning.
Get matched to scholarships perfect for your Rhode Island education.
24) Corning Glass Works Scholarship
Amount: Varies
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: Previously received the Corning Glass Works Scholarship (prior Corning winners only).
25) United Italian American Inc. Scholarship
Amount: $250 – $1,000
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: The United Italian American Inc. Scholarship is for Rhode Island residents. Applicants must attend a two- or four-year college or university, must demonstrate superior academic achievement, must demonstrate financial need, and must display leadership in their school and/or community.
26) Miss Swinburne Scholarship
Amount: $1,000 – $2,000
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: The Miss Swinburne Scholarship supports course fees/tuition assistance and/or assistance with support services directly linked to achievement of student’s educational goals. Applicants must be an undergraduate student and a female living in Newport County. Preference will be given to highly motivated students seeking further education or training to become self-supporting.
Want to learn more about finding scholarships to fund your education?
27) Bruce and Marjorie Sundlun Scholarship
Amount: $500 – $2,000
Provider: Rhode Island Foundation
Requirements: The Bruce and Marjorie Sundlun Scholarship is managed by the Rhode Island Foundation. Applicants must be a single parent and a Rhode Island resident. Preference will be given to parents currently, or previously, receiving state aid or those who have been previously incarcerated.
28) New England Regional Student Program
Amount: Varies
Provider: New England Board of Higher Education
Requirements: NEBHE’s Tuition Break program, the New England Regional Student Program (RSP), enables thousands of New England residents to enroll at out-of-state New England public colleges and universities at a discount. Applicants must be a Rhode Island resident enrolled in a public college or university in one of the five other New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, or Vermont. Applicant must be enrolled in a degree program offered through Tuition Break.
Students can get a break on their tuition when attending public colleges and universities in one of the five other New England states. The Tuition Break website reports the average savings was $7,900 for a full-time student enrolled in the 2018-19 academic year.
Ready to get started with Rhode Island scholarships?
You’ve got all the tools you need to start applying for Rhode Island scholarships! If you want to speed up the application process, forget about mailing in scholarship applications and letters. Instead, do it all online! Sign up for FREE for Going Merry, get a personalized list of scholarships matched to your profile, and then apply.
If you’re still a little confused about how all of this works, check out our “How to Use Going Merry” blog post, with screenshots walking you through the experience step-by-step.
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