Scholarships available to assist RI students, families with soaring costs of education Paying for higher education has long been a challenge for many families, one that is intensifying with the rising costs of education coupled with a declining economy. There is some good news to report on this front, however. The Rhode Island Foundation administers approximately 150 scholarship funds that assist students from middle school to post-graduate study and from every city and town in Rhode Island with the costs of education. Last year alone, the Foundation distributed nearly $1 million in scholarship assistance to Rhode Islanders. Individuals applying for many scholarships at the Foundation - both new and renewal applicants - must apply online utilizing STARS (Scholarship Tracking and Review System), a free online scholarship application system. Applications for other Foundation-administered scholarship funds must be submitted directly to a school or organization. The Scholarships section of the Foundation website provides detailed information, including a list of all Foundation-administered scholarships with eligibility criteria, application information, and deadlines, as well as access to STARS |