University of Rhode Island Scholarships (2026–2027)
← Back to college scholarships hub • See Rhode Island aid & Grants
Last Updated on October 13, 2026- Tuition, housing, and average family net price
- Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
- Flagship and hidden-gem awards
- Honors and stacking strategy
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~72%
- Middle 50% ACT: 27-32
- Middle 50% SAT: 1170-1340
- Average GPA: 3.4-4.1 (middle 50%)
URI takes applications only through the Common App and gives you three ways in: Early Decision (binding, Nov 1), Early Action (Dec 1), and Regular Decision (Feb 1). For money, one date matters more than the rest. A complete application by December 1 puts your student in line for every merit award, every Top Scholar award, and the Honors Program at the same time. Just over half of URI’s undergrads come from outside Rhode Island, so out-of-state families are not the exception here.
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →
📌 University of Rhode Island at a Glance
- Test scores do not count for merit. At all. URI’s merit awards are based on grades and how hard your student’s classes were. A great SAT won’t raise the award, and skipping the test won’t lower it.
- December 1 is the real deadline. URI calls it a “priority” date, but after Dec 1 merit is handed out only as money remains. Treat it like a hard stop.
- The 12-credit cliff. Drop below 12 enrolled credits in any semester and the merit scholarship is gone for good. Not paused, gone. Withdrawing from one class in a 13-credit schedule is fine; doing it in a 12-credit schedule is not.
- Merit follows your tuition rate. If your student’s residency changes to in-state, or they move into a New England Regional major, URI lowers the scholarship to match the lower tuition.
- The FAFSA date is confusing. URI’s deadline table says March 1, but its own footnote calls January 15 the priority date. File by January 15.
- Early Decision is binding. URI itself says ED may not be the right call if you want to compare merit offers from several schools.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. University of Rhode Island is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 27-32; SAT: 1170-1340.
Average net price? About $24,118/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? Yes. It participates in NEBHE.
URI Admission: Top Scholarships: https://web.uri.edu/admission/scholarships/top-scholarships/
URI Admission: Narragansett Scholarship: https://web.uri.edu/admission/scholarships/narragansett-scholarship/
URI Admission: Merit Scholarships: https://web.uri.edu/admission/scholarships/
URI AcademicWorks Scholarship Portal: https://uri.academicworks.com/
URI Admission: Schilling Scholars Majors: https://web.uri.edu/admission/scholarships/top-scholarships/schilling-majors/
URI Financial Aid: Feinstein Leadership Scholarship: https://web.uri.edu/financial-aid/grants-and-scholarships/feinstein-leadership-scholarship-program/
URI Office of Undergraduate Research: Project Grants: https://web.uri.edu/undergraduate-research/funding/
URI IEP: Scholarships and Fellowships: https://web.uri.edu/engineering/academics/iep/scholarships/
URI Housing: RA Selection: https://web.uri.edu/housing/student-employment/ra-selection/
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Rhode Island: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest University of Rhode Island has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $700 to $1,700 more than the in-state total below. $1,100 to $2,800 more than the out-of-state total below.
| Tuition & mandatory fees | $18,080 |
| Housing & meals (typical) | $16,704 |
| Total billed cost | $34,784 |
| Tuition & mandatory fees | $39,746 |
| Housing & meals (typical) | $16,704 |
| Total billed cost | $56,450 |
That is $21,666 more per year than Rhode Island residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $24,118 per year. This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
URI adds program fees on top of tuition for several popular majors. Engineering is $1,500 every year. Nursing is $1,900 in years two through four. The Pharm.D. adds $7,000 in years three through six. Business adds $1,000 for students admitted fall 2026 and later. Every new student also pays a one-time $300 fee, and the bill includes about $3,512 for health insurance, which you can waive if your student is already covered. Build these into your four-year math now so they don’t surprise you later.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at the University of Rhode Island
What does URI really cost per year before aid?
For 2026-27, tuition, fees, housing, and food come to $34,784 for Rhode Island residents, $56,450 for out-of-state students, and $46,548 at the New England Regional rate. Add books, travel, and personal costs and URI’s full estimate is $38,936 in-state and $61,483 out-of-state.
We live in Connecticut (or Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont). Do we get a discount?
Maybe. Through NEBHE’s Tuition Break, URI charges $27,448 in tuition instead of $37,350, but only for majors approved for your home state. Nursing and most engineering majors aren’t on the list. Ocean Engineering, Marine Affairs, Music Therapy, and Fashion Business are among the ones that are. Check the list for your exact state before you count on it.
Does the regional discount stack with merit?
Not dollar for dollar. URI’s merit amounts are tied to the tuition rate you pay, and its policy is to reduce the scholarship when tuition drops to the regional or in-state rate. Look at the bottom-line number on each offer, not the size of the scholarship.
Is the health insurance charge required?
It shows up on the fall bill for every full-time student, about $3,512. If your student is on your plan with comparable coverage, you can file a waiver online and have it removed.
Why does my student’s major change the bill?
URI charges program fees for engineering, nursing, pharmacy, business, animal and veterinary science, and music. A nursing student and an English major pay the same tuition but not the same total.
Is the average net price really around $24,000?
That’s the federal average for 2023-24 after grants and scholarships, not counting loans. Families with strong merit or real financial need often pay less. Out-of-state families without much aid will pay closer to the sticker price.
Will costs go up after freshman year?
Usually. From 2025-26 to 2026-27, URI’s direct costs rose about $1,180 for residents and about $1,924 for out-of-state students. Merit awards stay the same each year, so the gap you pay out of pocket tends to grow a little.
My spouse works at UConn or the University of Maine. Does that help?
It can. Children of full-time UConn and UMaine employees may qualify for in-state tuition at URI through a tuition exchange agreement. If your student also has URI merit, it gets adjusted to the in-state amount.
https://web.uri.edu/financial-aid/cost-of-attendance/
https://web.uri.edu/tuition-billing/tuition-and-fees/tuition-and-fees-full-time/
https://web.uri.edu/admission/regional-tuition-majors/
https://web.uri.edu/financial-aid/grants-and-scholarships/scholarship-guidelines/
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=217484
📅 URI Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)
- November 1: Early Decision applications due. Merit shows up in the acceptance letter in early December.
- December 1: Priority scholarship deadline. This one date covers merit, all four Top Scholar awards, and the Honors essay.
- January 15: URI’s priority FAFSA date for need-based aid.
- End of January: Early Action decisions arrive, with the merit amount in the letter.
- Late February into March: Financial aid packages start going out.
- April 1 to June 30 (every year after freshman year): URI’s donor scholarship portal opens for returning students.
Parent rule of thumb: have the Common App fully submitted by Thanksgiving. Dec 1 sneaks up fast.
Automatic Merit Scholarships: University of Rhode Island
Note: URI doesn’t publish GPA cutoffs for each award level. Its own pages list the range as both “$2,000 to $17,000” and “$2,000 to full tuition,” and the amount is tied to your tuition rate, so in-state awards generally run smaller than out-of-state awards.
Automatic Merit: FAQs (University of Rhode Island)
When should my student apply to get the most merit?
Have a complete application in by December 1 (November 1 for Early Decision). After that, URI awards merit only as money allows.
Will a higher SAT or ACT raise the scholarship?
No. URI is test-optional for admission and doesn’t use scores for merit at all. Time spent on another retake is better spent on senior-year grades.
What does URI look at, then?
High school grades and course rigor first. Recommendations, school and community leadership, and achievements like the Seal of Biliteracy also count. A transcript full of honors, AP, or dual-enrollment classes makes the biggest difference.
We’re Rhode Island residents. Can my student get $17,000?
Probably not. In-state tuition is $15,684, and URI scales merit to the tuition rate. The top of the range is realistic mainly for out-of-state students.
How does my student keep the scholarship?
Keep a 2.8 cumulative GPA (checked every May) and stay enrolled in at least 12 credits every fall and spring. The award covers 8 semesters, or 12 for students in the six-year Pharm.D.
What happens if grades dip?
The scholarship stops, but it can come back. There’s an appeal, and a student who later earns a 2.8 or higher in a full-time semester can ask to have it reinstated. Dropping below 12 credits is different: that loss is permanent.
Does merit cover summer or study abroad?
Not summer. Merit pays for fall and spring only. For approved study abroad it can carry over but may be prorated, and International Engineering Program students don’t receive it during their internship semester abroad.
Can merit stack with anything else?
Yes. The Schilling Scholars award for STEM majors adds up to $20,000 a year on top of it, and need-based grants and outside scholarships can be added too. The full-ride Top Scholar awards are different: they already cover the bill.
https://web.uri.edu/admission/scholarships/
https://web.uri.edu/admission/scholarships/top-scholarships/
https://web.uri.edu/financial-aid/grants-and-scholarships/scholarship-guidelines/
https://web.uri.edu/admission/early-decision-and-early-action/
🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)
The Four Top Scholar Awards at a Glance
| Award | Who It’s For | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Scholars | Any major | Tuition, fees, housing, food, books, and a faculty-led winter trip abroad |
| Verrecchia Business Scholars | Business majors | Everything Ryan covers, plus an alumni mentor and a personal career coach |
| Cook-Cohen Scholars (new) | Any major | Tuition, fees, housing, dining, and a winter trip abroad |
| Schilling Scholars | 45+ STEM majors, including nursing and pharmacy | Up to $20,000 a year added to merit, plus $1,000 a year for books and $3,000 for travel |
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at URI?
| Aid Type | Stacks with Merit? | URI Parent Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Schilling Scholars | Yes | The one Top Scholar award built to sit on top of merit. A top merit award ($17,000) plus a full Schilling ($20,000) could mean up to $37,000 a year. |
| Ryan / Verrecchia / Cook-Cohen | Becomes the package | These already cover tuition, fees, housing, and food, so think of them as the whole deal, not an add-on. |
| New England Regional rate | Reduces merit | Merit is tied to your tuition rate, so a lower rate means a smaller scholarship. |
| Need-based grants | Usually | These fill gaps after merit. File the FAFSA by January 15. |
| Donor scholarships (sophomore year on) | Usually | Added to the package, as long as total aid stays under cost of attendance. |
For Ryan and Verrecchia, URI picks candidates from their applications and then invites them to campus for visits and interviews. That’s where students who look alike on paper start to look different. If your student gets the call, treat it like a job interview: know why URI, know what they want to build, and be ready to talk about leadership they’ve actually done.
❓ Top Scholar Award FAQs
Is there a separate application for the Top Scholar awards?
No. URI reviews every complete application received by December 1 (November 1 for Early Decision). If the file is incomplete on that date, your student is likely out of the running.
What’s the Cook-Cohen Scholars Program?
It’s URI’s newest full ride, funded by an April 2026 gift from Board of Trustees Chair Margo Cook and Renee Cohen. It’s open to any major and covers tuition, fees, housing, dining, and a winter travel experience abroad. The first scholars start in fall 2026, so this is one of the very first classes being recruited for it.
Does my student need a STEM major for Schilling?
Yes, one of 45+ eligible majors. The list is broader than most families expect: engineering, nursing, the Pharm.D., computer science, marine biology, kinesiology, psychology, and economics are all on it. The most recent class had 26 Schilling Scholars from 13 states.
Does Verrecchia require a business major?
It’s for students who plan to major in business, so list a College of Business major on the Common App.
What extras come with the full rides?
Beyond the money, Ryan, Verrecchia, and Cook-Cohen scholars get access to the Honors Program, the Leadership Institute, priority course registration, special advising, and donor events. For a student headed to med school or grad school, finishing debt-free is a big part of the value.
How can my student prepare?
Strong essays and a clear activity list matter, especially if an interview invite comes. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder help organize achievements and tell the story well.
https://web.uri.edu/admission/scholarships/top-scholarships/
https://web.uri.edu/admission/scholarships/top-scholarships/schilling-majors/
https://web.uri.edu/admission/scholarships/
The Honors Program at URI
URI has an Honors Program, not a separate honors college. It means smaller, discussion-style classes, an Honors notation on the transcript and diploma, Honors housing, priority registration, and dedicated advisors. The application is short, but it’s easy to miss.
- How to apply: Answer the Honors question on the Common App in 250 words or less.
- The prompt: Pitch a theme for a future Honors Colloquium. Explain why it matters to you, how it connects to current events, and why it would grab the campus’s attention.
- Deadline: December 1, the same day as the scholarship priority deadline.
Honors Scholarships
This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.
- Honors Project: A semester- or year-long research or creative project with a faculty mentor your student picks.
- Office of National Fellowships: Helps students compete for national awards like Fulbright and Goldwater.
- Chinese Language Flagship: One of only 13 in the country. Students can pair it with Honors, study abroad, and reach professional-level Mandarin.
- Honors Colloquium: A yearly speaker series running since 1963. The 2026 theme is Interstellar Exploration.
Honors Program: FAQs (University of Rhode Island)
Is Honors admission automatic?
No. Your student has to answer the Honors question on the Common App and submit by December 1.
Does Honors come with a scholarship?
No separate award. The value is in the smaller classes, advising, Honors housing, priority registration, and the transcript notation.
How should my student approach the essay?
Treat it like a pitch, not a personal statement. Pick a topic your student genuinely cares about that connects to something happening in the world, and keep it under 250 words.
Where do Honors students live?
Every first-year residence hall has an Honors community inside its Living and Learning Community, so Honors students are spread across campus instead of walled off in one building.
Can a student join Honors after freshman year?
URI has eligibility criteria for current students on the Honors Program site. Applying at admission is still the cleanest path.
https://web.uri.edu/admission/scholarships/honors-program/
https://web.uri.edu/honors/
https://web.uri.edu/admission/scholarships/top-scholarships/
⭐ College Specialty
URI is Rhode Island’s flagship public university, a few minutes from the beach and about an hour from Providence. It earned top-tier R1 research status in 2025, and The Wall Street Journal has named it the best public university in New England two years running. If your student loves the ocean, health care, or engineering with a global twist, this campus punches above its size.
International Engineering Program (IEP). Students earn two degrees at once, a B.S. in engineering and a B.A. in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Spanish, or Japanese studies, over five years. That includes a full year abroad studying and working an internship. Every IEP graduate spends that year overseas, and the program has placed about 950 students in internships abroad.
- Ocean and Marine Sciences: Ocean Engineering, Marine Biology, Marine Affairs, Physical Oceanography, and Aquaculture and Fisheries Science, all on a campus built around the coast.
- Nursing and Pharmacy: Nursing is one of URI’s most popular majors, and the Pharm.D. is a six-year program students can enter straight from high school. Merit scholarships last all six years for Pharm.D. students.
- Engineering: Nine engineering majors, from biomedical to ocean engineering, all eligible for the Schilling STEM award.
- Environmental Science: The College of the Environment and Life Sciences covers everything from wildlife biology to sustainable food systems.
- Business: The College of Business has its own full-ride award, Verrecchia, and newer majors in applied AI and business analytics.
- Fast-Track Degrees: Bachelor’s-to-master’s (4+1) options in more than 35 programs, which can save a full year of grad school costs.
🔗 Official University of Rhode Island Links
Use URI’s official pages below to double-check deadlines, scholarship rules, costs, and data. When anything here and URI’s site disagree, go with URI.
-
Undergraduate Admission:
https://web.uri.edu/admission/ -
Application Deadlines and How to Apply:
https://web.uri.edu/admission/applying-to-uri/ -
Merit Scholarships:
https://web.uri.edu/admission/scholarships/ -
Top Scholar Awards (Ryan, Verrecchia, Cook-Cohen, Schilling):
https://web.uri.edu/admission/scholarships/top-scholarships/ -
Cost of Attendance:
https://web.uri.edu/financial-aid/cost-of-attendance/ -
Tuition and Fees (Full-Time):
https://web.uri.edu/tuition-billing/tuition-and-fees/tuition-and-fees-full-time/ -
New England Regional Tuition (NEBHE) Majors:
https://web.uri.edu/admission/regional-tuition-majors/ -
Net Price Calculator:
https://web.uri.edu/ir/net-price-calculator/ -
Honors Program Admission:
https://web.uri.edu/admission/scholarships/honors-program/ -
Donor Scholarship Portal (AcademicWorks):
https://uri.academicworks.com/ -
Common Data Set (Institutional Data):
https://web.uri.edu/ir/data/common/
✅ Wrapping It Up
Big picture? URI rewards the student who worked hard in hard classes, not the one who took the SAT five times. Merit is automatic, test scores don’t move it, and three full rides plus a STEM award worth up to $20,000 a year are all decided from the same application. The whole game comes down to one date: get a complete Common App in by December 1.
After that, protect what you’ve won. Keep a 2.8 GPA, never let a semester slip under 12 credits, and put April 1 on the calendar every year so your student catches the donor scholarships. For a family in New England, check the regional majors list before you fall in love with the discount. For a family anywhere else, compare the bottom line on every offer, because at URI the scholarship size depends on the tuition rate behind it.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it. After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Leo Dimilo
Leo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He built the site after working through college costs with his own daughter, and he writes every guide for families who want straight answers without the sales pitch.