Raimondo Proposes Two Years of Free College for Every Rhode Islander

Governor Gina M. Raimondo has announced a historic proposal to knock down the financial barriers to obtaining a college degree by providing two years of free college to all Rhode Islanders. This week, she visited Cranston East High School to talk about her plan with students.

"Rhode Island's Promise honors our commitment to Rhode Island students who are asking for nothing more than a fair chance," Raimondo said. "When I was my children's age, most jobs in Rhode Island required nothing more than high school degree. But for all of our kids, that's not the case anymore. The reality is most jobs being created now in Rhode Island will require some degree or certificate beyond a high school diploma. We are going to stand up and make the college dream a reality for every Rhode Islander who wants it."

Raimondo's free-college plan, Rhode Island's Promise, guarantees two years of free college for every Rhode Island student at who graduates on time from the Community College of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Island, beginning with high school seniors who graduate this spring.

The Governor's free-college plan covers the entire cost of tuition and mandatory fees for full-time students who qualify for in-state tuition earning an associate's degree at CCRI. At RIC and URI, the scholarship will cover tuition and fees for a student's junior and senior years.

Learn more about the free-college plan at FreeCollegeRI.com.