Rhode Island Office of Higher EducationThe Rhode Island Office of Higher Education manages a large number of college grants and scholarships, and a semi-official state loan forgiveness program. The Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority (RIHEAA) was set up to manage the largest financial aid programs. It was also the guarantee agency for the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) in Rhode Island, but now all federal loans are Direct loans. The Rhode Island Student Loan Authority or RISLA is a non-profit partner of the Rhode Island Office of Higher Education. And although the state does not officially offer their own college loan program, RISLA offers the Rhode Island Family Education Loan Program (RIFEL), which are private loans that feature:
RISLA also offers a reward program for teachers, nurses and pharmacists who have taken out Stafford loans through them. The first 48 months of payments are interest-free; all repayment money will go to the loan principal for that period. RISLA's advertising for its loan products boasts that students' rates do not depend on their credit. While this is true, good credit and/or a good credit cosigner are still required (as they are for all private student loans). Rhode Island students can also use their FAFSA form (automatically) to apply for a free government grant: The Rhode Island State Grant
Check your Rhode Island FAFSA deadline.
Another program that uses the FAFSA along with an SAT or ACT score is the: Academic Promise Scholarship
There are more than 1,000 different college grants and scholarships available just to Rhode Island students. You can register for a free scholarship list and information about all of them. Federal Pell grant application 
FFELP loans that were overseen by the Rhode Island Office of Higher Education were in better shape than Direct student loans. Reward programs are the closest thing the state offers in terms of loan forgiveness for any loans, although graduates can also apply for federal student loan forgiveness programs.Rhode Island Office of Higher Education 301 Promenade Street Providence, RI 02908-5748 Phone: (401) 455-9300 Fax: (401) 455-9345 TTY: (401) 455-9331  return from Rhode Island financial aid to state college loans return from Rhode Island Office of Higher Education to home |
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