Browse Scholarships
Scholarship Opportunities
Many generous individuals, families, organizations, and businesses have established scholarship funds at the Rhode Island Foundation to help students cover essential educational expenses, including tuition, fees, books, and other necessities.
Guided by donor intent, scholarship funds may support general educational assistance or target specific areas such as certain fields of study, trade and technical schools, residents of particular cities or towns, student interests or backgrounds, and other special circumstances.
All Rhode Island students are welcome to apply for scholarship funding.
To make the process as accessible as possible, the Foundation offers scholarships through three application pathways.
Universal Application
By completing the Universal Application, students can be matched with multiple funding opportunities through a single set of questions. These scholarships are marked “Universal Application” in the directory below. For some opportunities, applicants may need to answer additional essay prompts or provide further information, but our convenient online scholarship platform will help guide students through these steps.
Stand-Alone Application
Some scholarship and fellowship funds require a stand-alone application and are not part of the Universal Application. These include funds with very specific criteria or rolling deadlines, scholarships for K–12 students, and fellowships supporting activities beyond essential educational costs. These opportunities are labeled “Stand-Alone Application” in the directory below.
Nursing Application
The Foundation awards scholarships from several funds that support students pursuing nursing programs. A single application may be used to apply to all nursing scholarship opportunities. These opportunities are marked “Nursing Application” in the directory below.
For additional information, contact Monica Benson at (401) 427-4017 or email scholarships@rifoundation.org. Si necesita asistencia en Español, por favor de comunicarse con Zaida Hernandez al (401) 427-4039 o zhernandez@rifoundation.org.
Patty & Melvin Alperin First Generation Scholarship
April 13, 2026- Parents did not graduate from college (including community college or a college in a foreign country)
- Accepted or enrolled in an accredited two- or four-year college
- Financial need
Important: review full requirements
Patty & Melvin Alperin First Generation Scholarship
- Parents did not graduate from college (including community college or a college in a foreign country)
- Accepted or enrolled in an accredited two- or four-year college
- Financial need
- Rhode Island high school senior
- Award: $1,000 - $1,500; past recipients can reapply
Robert G. and Joyce Andrew College Scholarship Fund
April 13, 2026- Current seniors or graduated within the last three years from a high school (public, independent, or private) in Rhode Island
- Accepted into or currently enrolled in an undergraduate course of study at Providence College, the University of Rhode Island, Bryant University, Roger Williams University, Rhode Island College, or the Community College of Rhode Island
Beacon Brighter Tomorrows Scholarship
May 11, 2026- Spouse or legal dependent of an eligible claim
- Accepted into an accredited post-secondary institution (academic, trade, or vocational)
- Financial need
Important: review full requirements
Beacon Brighter Tomorrows Scholarship
- Spouse or legal dependent of an eligible claim
- Accepted into an accredited post-secondary institution (academic, trade, or vocational)
- Financial need
- Grade point average of “C” or better
- U.S. citizen or legal resident
- Renewable up to four years; past recipients may reapply
Black Philanthropy Bannister Scholarship
April 13, 2026- 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)
Important: review full requirements
Black Philanthropy Bannister Scholarship
- 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)
- Financial need
- May be renewable for up to four years: past recipients may reapply
Bristol Children's Home Scholarship
April 13, 2026- Bristol, Rhode Island resident
- Attending or accepted to a college or university
- Not intended for graduate students
Important: review full requirements
Bristol Children's Home Scholarship
- Bristol, Rhode Island resident
- Attending or accepted to a college or university
- Not intended for graduate students
- Award: $500- $2,500; past recipients may reapply
James J. Burns and C. A. Haynes Textile Scholarship
April 13, 2026- Studying textiles at accredited institution
- Financial need
- Award: $1,000
Antonio Cirino Memorial Scholarship
April 13, 2026- Graduate student in arts education or in the arts with an intention to teach
- Not a Rhode Island School of Design graduate or seeking a graduate degree from RISD
- Rhode Island resident
Important: review full requirements
Antonio Cirino Memorial Scholarship
- Graduate student in arts education or in the arts with an intention to teach
- Not a Rhode Island School of Design graduate or seeking a graduate degree from RISD
- Rhode Island resident
- Financial need
- Award: $2,000 to $20,000; past recipients may reapply
Delta Dental of Rhode Island Dentist Loan Repayment Program
Application Closed- Have qualifying government and/or commercial educational loans
- Licensed and actively practicing dentistry (or commit to practicing) a minimum of 32 hours per week in a dental practice or practices located in Rhode Island as a general dentist or dental specialist
- Demonstrate an existing and/or future commitment to helping meet the dental needs of underserved Rhode Islanders throughout the duration of participation in the loan repayment program
Beatrice S. Demers Foreign Language Fellows
Application Closed- Undergraduate students, graduate students, professors, and educators at RI colleges, or any other RI resident who wishes to pursue foreign language study, with a passion for developing fluency in another language
- Fellowships may support costs of tuition, fees, travel, housing, and other expenses
- Award: $1,000 - $20,000
Aldo Freda Legislative Pages Scholarship
April 13, 2026- Rhode Island resident
- Currently serving as a Rhode Island Legislative Page
- Accepted or enrolled full time in an undergraduate, graduate, or accredited Rhode Island certificate program
Important: review full requirements
Aldo Freda Legislative Pages Scholarship
- Rhode Island resident
- Currently serving as a Rhode Island Legislative Page
- Accepted or enrolled full time in an undergraduate, graduate, or accredited Rhode Island certificate program
- Award: $500 - $1,500; past recipients may reapply
Hope High Endowed Scholarship
April 13, 2026- Graduating senior or graduate of Hope High School, in Providence, Rhode Island
- Currently enrolled at or planning to enroll at an accredited post-secondary educational institution
- Demonstrate merit, financial need, and the ability to succeed in a post-secondary educational setting
Important: review full requirements
Hope High Endowed Scholarship
- Graduating senior or graduate of Hope High School, in Providence, Rhode Island
- Currently enrolled at or planning to enroll at an accredited post-secondary educational institution
- Demonstrate merit, financial need, and the ability to succeed in a post-secondary educational setting
- Preference given to current students; former students within ten years of graduation will be considered thereafter
- Non-renewable
- Minimum award of $2,000
Michael P. Metcalf Memorial Fund and Christine T. Grinavic Adventurer's Fund
February 17, 2026- To encourage personal growth through travel, study, and public service programs for college freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students
- Rhode Island resident
- For educational enrichment outside the classroom, not tuition
