The Rhode Island State Grate Program is designed to provide grants to those students whose family resources are not sufficient to meet the costs of higher education. All students who file a FAFSA by our deadline and list Rhode Island as their legal state of residence will automatically be considered for the state grant program.

During the awarding year, schools will be notified and asked to certify enrollment and eligibility for students who have been offered a Rhode Island State Grant or other RIHEAA administered scholarships. All certification takes place using the Scholarships & Grants module of RIHEAA's Web Information Portal. If your school does not have access to the portal, please contact the Scholarship & Grant Division.

The Board of Directors of the Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority adopted the formula that will be used to determine a student's eligibility for a 2012-2013 Rhode Island state award.

The 2012-2013 formula is as follows:

Full Time Student	Half-Time Student
Tuition and Fees + Standard Living Allowance - Expected Family Contribution (FM) - Estimated Pell Grant Financial Need x 25% Award ($250 - $700 range)	1/2 Tuition and Fees + Standard Living Allowance - $600 - Expected Family Contribution (FM) - Estimated Pell Grant Financial Need x 25% Award ($250 - $700 range)

The budget of an institution is determined by adding a standard living allowance to the tuition and fees reported by the institution. The standard living allowance for dependent students is $5000 and for independent students is $6000.

The tuition and fees for all students attending out-of-state institutions is capped at the highest in-state public institution's tuition and fee rate ($12,450 for 2012-2013).

Students must have a RIHEAA calculated financial need of at least $1000 to be eligible for a RI state award. Award amounts range from a minimum of $250 to a maximum of $700. Amounts increase in $50.00 increments.

If the calculation for a half time student results in the half time award being larger than the full time award, the student will receive the equivalent of the full time award (the lesser of the two). Students enrolled on a 3/4 time basis will be considered half time students for purposes of RI state award eligibility.

This formula is subject to change if funding sources are not adequate to meet full commitments.

Please feel free to call the Scholarship & Grant Division at (401) 736-1170 with any questions.