Scholarship FAQs 2022-2023

To apply for an Onward We Learn scholarship you are required to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA is available online at FAFSA.ed.gov. You should file your FAFSA on or after Oct. 1 when the FAFSA Form becomes available.

If you are not eligible to fill out a FAFSA, please contact Susan Mansolillo at 401-519-0206 or email scholarship@onwardwelearn.org to make alternative arrangements.

To be eligible for an Onward We Learn scholarship, you must earn admission to an accredited college, university or community college. You are eligible for a scholarship for up to six years after high school graduation or receipt of GED credential. You must request your first scholarship award before you turn 22 years old.

The Onward We Learn scholarship can be used at one of the following:

• Any accredited college, university, community college or federally recognized trade school in Rhode Island  
• A federally recognized union apprenticeship or industry training program in Rhode Island  
• One of our out-of-state Scholarship Collaborative Schools (see list below)  

The Onward We Learn scholarship cannot be used at any school other than those listed above. If you decide to attend a school that is not in the above categories, you will not be eligible for an Onward scholarship.

Onward We Learn Scholarship Collaborative Schools:

• Brown University (Providence, R.I.), brown.edu
• Bryant University (Smithfield, R.I.), bryant.edu
• Community College of Rhode Island (Providence, RI) ccri.edu
• Johnson & Wales University (Providence, RI), jwu.edu
• New England Institute of Technology (East Greenwich, R.I.), neit.edu
• Providence College, (Providence, R.I.), providence.edu
• Rhode Island College, (Providence, R.I.), ric.edu
• Rhode Island School of Design (Providence, R.I.), risd.edu
• Roger Williams University (Bristol, R.I.), rwu.edu
• Salve Regina University (Newport, R.I.), salve.edu
• University of Rhode Island (Kingston, R.I.), uri.edu
• Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology (Boston, Mass.), bfit.edu
• Boston University (Boston, Mass.), bu.edu
• Dean College (Franklin, Mass.), dean.edu
• Emerson College (Boston, Mass.), emerson.edu
• Grinnell College (Grinnell, Iowa), grinnell.edu
• Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley, Mass.), mtholyoke.edu
• Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.), northeastern.edu
• Syracuse University (Syracuse, N.Y.), syr.edu
• Wheaton College (Norton, Mass.), wheatoncollege.edu

The policies and practices of scholarship disbursement are left to the discretion of the college you attend. We cannot determine how they set their practices for donating Onward We Learn scholarships. The money from these scholarships comes from the institutions funds, and they have the right to set their own policies.

The amount of a Onward We Learn scholarship will vary depending upon the school you go to and the school’s policies. For students who graduate high school in 2022-2024, the scholarship is based on your participation hours. These are the different levels of participation-based scholarships:

• Gold Scholarship – 420 or more hours of participation. Up to $4,500 per year for a four-year college or up to $2,585 per year for a two-year college.
• Silver Scholarship – 281-419 hours of participation. Up to $3,000 per year for a four-year college or up to $1,725 per year for a two-year college.
• Bronze Scholarship – 180-280 hours of participation. Up to $1,500 per year for a four-year college or up to $860 per year for a two-year college.
• Pewter Scholarship – less than 180 hours of  participation. A one-time $700 nonportable (must attend a partner school listed above) scholarship.

If you attend school less than full time, your scholarship will be prorated based on credit hours.

No, the scholarship is paid directly to the school. Payments are made after your school verifies your enrollment and financial need. Because payments will reach the school after the enrollment period begins, you may be asked by your school to pay educational costs and then receive reimbursement when the school receives the scholarship funds.

The Onward We Learn scholarship can be used to pay for all expenses related to the cost of attendance including tuition, fees, books, room and board, and transportation.

Donated scholarships are renewable. To maintain your scholarship you are expected to meet the minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress determined by your school (typically 2.0 GPA), and renew your FAFSA annually if applicable.

The Onward We Learn donated scholarship is a multi-semester award. The number of semesters you are eligible for depends on the type of institution you attend:

• Four-year school: Eight semesters or 12 tri-semesters
• Two-year school: Four semesters

Yes. A student attending CCRI can transfer to a four-year Onward scholarship school at any time and continue to receive an Onward We Learn scholarship. However, you cannot receive the scholarship for more than the equivalent of eight semesters (or 12 trimesters) for full time. If attending part time, the scholarship is pro-rated.

Onward We Learn participants who graduate from high school or complete a GED credential have six years to attend an Onward scholarship school, whether or not they were previously enrolled in a non-Onward school.

Yes. The scholarship award we give you cannot exceed the total cost of attendance at the school where you attend. Your award will be adjusted if the school indicates that the award brings the total financial aid package to a level that exceeds the cost of attendance. Your award offer may also change if there is a change in your financial status as determined by the school.