Rhode Island latest state proposing free tuition

In an attempt to make college more affordable and accelerate the number of students completing degree programs in Rhode Island, Gov. Gina Raimondo has proposed a new program guaranteeing two years of free college for Rhode Island students. The program, Rhode Island’s Promise, would cover the entire cost of tuition and mandatory fees for full-time students who qualify for in-state tuition earning an associate’s degree and graduating on time from the Community College of Rhode Island. At Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island, the scholarship would cover tuition and fees for a student’s junior and senior years.

The governor’s office noted in its press release that there is an immediate need for more Rhode Islanders to obtain a higher degree in their education, and projects that more than 70 percent of jobs in the state will require a post-secondary degree in the coming years.

The press release states that the $30 million cost of the program would be paid for through new revenues made available as a result of economic growth and fiscal savings if the legislature approves the plan.

Full details about the plan are available at FreeCollegeRI.com. Other states like New York and Kentucky have also proposed different versions of free college scholarship plans, which were featured in an earlier Digest story.