Governor Dan McKee has filed a budget amendment to extend Rhode Island College’s (RIC) Hope Scholarship program for an additional two years through July 1, 2030.
The Hope Scholarship, proposed by Governor McKee and approved by the General Assembly in 2023, provides last-dollar tuition support to RIC in-state students for their junior and senior years.
The extension of the Hope Scholarship aims to continue supporting students financially and allowing them to focus on their education and career paths without the burden of student loans or excessive work hours.
The program has already impacted students, with 243 beneficiaries in the 2023-2024 academic year alone, saving an estimated $2,149,595.50 in tuition and fees.
Governor Dan McKee (Credits: AP News)
Dr. Jack Warner, president of RIC, emphasizes the positive impact of the Hope Scholarship on students’ academic success and economic mobility. The program’s extension is expected further to increase the education level of Rhode Island’s workforce and improve graduates’ financial prospects.
RIC juniors and seniors have benefited from the Hope Scholarship during the 2023-2024 academic year, saving an estimated $2,149,595.50 in tuition and fees. Shannon Gilkey, Ed.D., Rhode Island Postsecondary Commissioner, emphasized that a college education undeniably leads to a better quality of life and broader career opportunities.
Dan McKee (Credits: AP News)
This extension of the Hope Scholarship by the McKee administration reflects Rhode Island’s commitment to prioritizing and addressing the affordability of higher education, ensuring that all Rhode Islanders can earn a college degree and improve their prospects for the future.
Shannon Gilkey, Rhode Island Postsecondary Commissioner, highlights the state’s commitment to addressing the affordability of higher education and ensuring that all Rhode Islanders can earn a college degree.
The Hope Scholarship is part of this effort to make college education more accessible and increase the percentage of students earning bachelor’s degrees, benefiting both individuals and the state.
