Warwick: If you plan to go to college during the 2007-08 academic year, now is the time to apply for a Rhode Island State Grant to help pay for your college expenses. To apply, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA must be received at the application processing center by March 1, 2007.
The Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority (RIHEAA) awards state grants to financially needy Rhode Island residents to help pay for the expense of attending college. For the 2006-2007 academic year, over 12,000 students received awards totaling 12.8 million dollars. Awards range from $300 to $1,400, depending upon a student’s financial need, and can be used at both in-state and out-of-state postsecondary institutions.
RIHEAA also administers the CollegeBoundfund Academic Promise Scholarship. High school seniors can apply for this $2,500 per year scholarship by taking the SAT or ACT and completing the FAFSA. The application deadline is also March 1, 2007.
Students are encouraged to complete a FAFSA over the Internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov. FAFSA’s can be obtained at high school guidance offices, college financial aid offices, and from RIHEAA at (401) 736-1170.
RIHEAA is also the guarantor of the federal Stafford Student Loan and PLUS Loan and administers the CollegeBoundfund College Savings Program. To learn more about the programs administered by the Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority, visit www.riheaa.org.