University of Rhode Island Scholarships 2025–2026: Automatic, Competitive & Hidden Gem Awards

University of Rhode Island Scholarships (2025–2026)

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If your student is looking at the Ocean State’s flagship, there’s more to think about than just the beach views. The University of Rhode Island offers automatic awards, top-tier competitive scholarships, and a few hidden gems that can shave thousands off the bill. If you live in New England, you’ll want to pay close attention to the regional tuition program—and don’t forget to check our Rhode Island state aid guide for even more opportunities beyond campus.

💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Rhode Island

Residency Tuition & Fees
(12–19 credits)		 Housing & Meals Books/Supplies Travel Personal Total COA
In-State $17,476 $15,070 $1,290 $336 $2,360 $37,662
Out-of-State $38,398 $15,070 $1,290 $1,260 $2,360 $59,508
NE Regional (NEBHE) $28,838 $15,070 $1,290 $1,260 $2,360 $48,890
Totals In-State: $37,662  |  Out-of-State: $59,508  |  NEBHE: $48,890
Average Net Price: $20,964 (2023). This is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships—no loans included. Your cost may be higher or lower depending on aid and merit awards.
New England Regional Tuition Program (NEBHE “Tuition Break”)
Available to residents of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont who enroll in eligible majors not offered at public universities in their home state. Examples include Textile Marketing, Pharmaceutical Science, and Marine Affairs. For the full list of eligible majors, visit URI’s NEBHE program page. You can also check out our plain english to understanding NEBHE.
For qualifying majors, tuition & fees drop from $38,398 to $28,838—about $9,560 in yearly savings.
  • Who qualifies? Residents of CT, ME, MA, NH, and VT in approved majors.
  • How much? About $9,500/year less than standard out-of-state tuition & fees.
  • Apply or automatic? Awarded during admission; you must indicate your NEBHE-eligible major on your application.

✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships

URI offers guaranteed merit awards for students who meet the GPA and coursework requirements—no separate application and no test scores required. If you qualify, the award is automatically added to your offer letter.

Scholarship Award Amount Eligibility Separate App? Renewable? Who Actually Wins?
University & Presidential Merit $3,000–$17,000/year HS GPA ≥ 3.2 (recalculated); course rigor; test scores not considered No Yes (GPA ≥ 2.8, full-time) Not published; generally high GPA + strong coursework

Award ranges depend on GPA and course rigor. URI does not publish specific GPA/test bands beyond the 3.2 minimum for consideration.

FAQ:
  • How to apply? No separate form—automatic with admission application.
  • Do test scores matter? No. URI bases these awards only on GPA and course rigor—test scores are not considered, so superscoring doesn’t apply.
  • Can it stack with NEBHE rate? Not typically; check with Financial Aid for current stacking rules.

🏆 Competitive Scholarships

These are URI’s most selective awards—reserved for students who stand out well beyond GPA. Many include interviews, leadership expectations, and unique travel or mentorship perks.

Scholarship Award Amount Eligibility Separate App? Renewable? Who Actually Wins?
Thomas M. Ryan Scholars Full ride + J‑Term travel All majors; invitation + interview No (by invitation) Yes (4 years) *Top ~5% of class; GPA ~3.9+; 6–10 AP/IB/dual‑enroll courses; multi‑year leadership (e.g., service org, captain); strong essays and recs*
Alfred J. Verrecchia Business Scholars Full ride + mentorship Business majors; invitation + interview No (by invitation) Yes (4 years) *GPA ~3.8–4.0; advanced math/econ/accounting coursework; leadership in DECA/FBLA/entrepreneurship; internship or work experience; polished interview*
Schilling Scholars (STEM) +$20k/yr + book & travel stipends Eligible STEM majors; high credentials No Yes (4–6 years for PharmD) *GPA ~3.8+; top‑tier math/science rigor through Calc/Physics/Chem; research/competitions (e.g., science fair, robotics); STEM recs highlighting curiosity*

*Estimates disclaimer: URI does not publish GPA/test cutoffs for these awards. Profiles are inferred from URI’s “Meet Our Top Scholars,” Honors signals, and typical patterns at flagship selective scholarships.

📣 Meet the Winners: See real recipients on URI’s Meet Our Top Scholars page. You’ll find majors, leadership, and global projects—but not GPA/test bands. Selection is holistic. For how holistic review works, read: What “Holistic Admissions” Really Means.
FAQ:
  • Are these full rides? Ryan and Verrecchia cover full tuition, fees, housing, meals, and extras.
  • Do I apply? No separate form—finalists are invited after application review and may interview.
  • Stacking rules? These typically replace automatic merit awards and don’t combine with NEBHE.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

These awards don’t always make the headline reel, but they can meaningfully shrink the bill—especially for students with specific backgrounds, majors, or plans like ROTC, research, or study abroad.

Scholarship / Program Award Amount Eligibility (plain English) Separate App? Renewable? Who Actually Wins?
URI Narragansett Undergraduate Scholarship Full in‑state tuition & fees (up to 4 years) + up to $5,000 annual grant Admitted undergrad of Narragansett Indian ancestry; full‑time enrollment Yes — submit required ancestry documentation via URI; see scholarship page Yes (up to 4 years, while full‑time) Students who can document Narragansett ancestry and maintain good academic standing
Army ROTC (on‑campus, URI Battalion) Full tuition & mandatory fees (2–4 years) + book allowance + monthly stipend Commit to Army ROTC training and service after graduation; meet medical/fitness/academic standards Yes — GoArmy ROTC application + on‑campus interview Yes (maintain standards; see ROTC) Leaders with strong fitness, solid grades, and service commitment; competitive campus-based awards
(URI)2 Undergraduate Research Project Grants $1,000 (individual) · $1,200 (2‑student team) · $1,400 (3‑student team) All URI undergrads in good standing proposing faculty‑mentored research/creative projects Yes — InfoReady application each cycle No (project‑based; may re‑apply in later cycles) Students who submit clear, feasible proposals; ~100 awards made across disciplines each year
Office of International Education — Faculty‑Led Program Scholarships $100–$500 (typical OIE awards for URI faculty‑led programs) URI student admitted to a URI faculty‑led study away/abroad program; preference if you haven’t received this before Yes — apply in URIAbroad portal No (by program/term) First‑time faculty‑led participants who demonstrate need and complete all program steps on time
Resident Assistant (RA) — Housing & Stipend Benefit Free on‑campus room + stipend (value offsets housing costs) Selected as a Resident Assistant; ~20 hrs/week community & duty responsibilities; good conduct standing Yes — RA selection process via Housing Yes (reappointed annually) Upper‑division students with campus leadership, reliability, and strong people skills
College of Health Sciences — RI Dietetic Association Scholarship $500 (annual) Senior in Nutrition & Dietetics; Rhode Island resident; financial need; engagement in the profession Yes — through College/department cycle No (one‑year award) Seniors with need and a clear track record toward dietetics careers (courses, volunteering, involvement)
URI Marching Band / Music Ensembles 0–2 academic credits per semester (tuition value offset) Any student with prior band or ensemble experience; register for MUS 291/other ensemble credits No—register via regular course enrollment Yes (semester-to-semester) Musically experienced students earning credits while engaging in ensemble performance

Notes: We replaced “varies” with realistic ranges where URI/college pages listed typical award bands (e.g., OIE $100–$500). For ROTC, URI specifies tuition/fee coverage plus book & stipend without numeric amounts; families should confirm exact current stipend/book figures with ROTC staff.

FAQ (URI‑specific):
  • Can the Narragansett Scholarship stack with other aid? Yes—like other institutional awards, it’s coordinated within your total Cost of Attendance; the scholarship itself is a tuition/fee coverage plus grant.
  • Do (URI)2 research grants require a minimum GPA? URI emphasizes proposal quality and faculty mentorship; all undergrads in good standing are eligible. Competitive proposals clearly scope goals, timeline, and budget.
  • Will OIE study abroad awards reduce my bill or just provide a credit? OIE awards are small grants ($100–$500) posted toward program costs in the term of travel; they can work alongside federal/state/institutional aid.
  • Does being an RA affect other scholarships? The RA room benefit reduces your billed housing cost and may adjust need‑based aid (since your cost drops). Merit awards typically remain unchanged—check your updated package.
  • Can marching band credits reduce tuition? Yes—they count as enrolled credits, which lowers the overall full-time tuition charge while keeping you engaged in music.
  • Is there a scholarship just for first-gen students? No named first-generation award was found; URI offers strong support via the “Rhody F1rst” community, but not a financial award.
  • Can ROTC, research, and RA benefits stack? Yes—most of these benefits layer with institutional or federal aid, though awarded aid scales with your total cost of attendance.
  • How competitive are the research grants? They’re popular—around 100 awarded each year; proposals that are clear, feasible, and well-mentored tend to succeed.

⭐ College Specialty

Signature Strength — Oceanography & Marine Sciences (at an R1 Research University): URI is internationally recognized for marine science and oceanography, anchored by its Graduate School of Oceanography and the Narragansett Bay Campus. As an R1: Doctoral University – Very High Research Activity, URI ranks among the world’s top 75 in Oceanography (ARWU 2023) and gives undergraduates direct access to coastal research vessels, field stations, and industry partnerships.

Beyond its signature ocean-focused programs, URI offers other areas of academic distinction that connect students to high-demand career paths and research opportunities.

  • Pharmacy — Tied #31 in U.S. News (2024); modern labs, industry-connected internships, and a six-year Pharm.D. pathway.
  • Nursing — Highly ranked master’s (#48) and DNP (#66) programs with strong clinical partnerships across New England.
  • Earth & Environmental Sciences — Nationally ranked (#70) with robust fieldwork, GIS, and environmental policy integration.
Best-Fit Student Profile for URI’s Specialty Programs:
Inquisitive, hands-on learners who thrive in lab and field settings, enjoy collaborative research, and want direct access to professional networks. Ideal candidates often arrive with strong STEM coursework (AP/IB sciences, advanced math), curiosity for applied problem-solving, and a willingness to engage in internships or research starting in their first year.

🎖️ Honors College

URI’s Honors College is less about piling on extra work and more about creating a smaller, tighter-knit academic home inside a large research university. Students get the perks of priority registration, close mentorship, and hands-on projects—while still graduating on time and with a standout credential on their diploma.

What a Typical URI Honors Student Looks Like:
GPA: 3.80+ invited automatically, 3.60–3.79 reviewed with “Changemaker” intent.
No test scores required.
Rigor: Several honors/AP/IB courses.
Leadership: Active in clubs, service, or changemaking projects.
Perks That Matter:
Priority registration, small seminar-style classes, transcript/diploma notation, one-on-one faculty mentorship, and a culminating Honors Project.
FAQ:
  • Is admission automatic? For GPA ≥ 3.80—others may apply for review.
  • Does it add time? No—18 credits of Honors coursework fit into your degree.
  • Any extra $$? No direct funding; pair with other scholarships.

From automatic merit to full-ride competitive awards, URI offers strong opportunities for in-state, regional, and out-of-state students. Families in New England should explore the NEBHE Tuition Break early, and high-achievers should aim for the December 1 priority deadline to be in the running for the most competitive awards. Don’t overlook the niche and heritage-based scholarships—they can stack with other aid and cut costs significantly.

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