Skip to content

About Us

Our Mission

Helping Rhode Islanders change careers, learn a new trade, or get on the path to a degree or certificate

Don’t let roadblocks stand in the way of your degree.

RI Reconnect supports adult students in Rhode Island who want to earn a degree or credential, or enroll in training, by assisting with tuition and non-college expenses. Tell us about what’s getting in the way of completing your studies, and we’ll do our best to solve those problems.

We want to help you pick up where you stopped. Whether that means changing careers, learning a new trade, or getting on the path to a degree or certificate, we’re here to help at no cost to you. We recognize that adult students have different needs than traditional college-aged students. RI Reconnect is a free program that exists to help meet those needs by connecting students to the network of educational navigators. Your educational navigator is your personal cheerleader and guide through the process of returning to school or job training. He or she will help you identify a goal, create a plan to reach that goal, and connect you to the resources that will help you achieve that goal.

RI Reconnect Background

We’re here to help reconnect adults to educational and job training opportunities in Rhode Island

Rhode Island’s job market is changing quickly. Very soon, most jobs in the Ocean State will require a degree or credential but only about 47.5% of adults (ages 25-64) in Rhode Island have one today. 

In 2016, Governor Gina Raimondo set the goal for 70% of working-age Rhode Islanders to have a degree or credential of value by 2025 in order to meet the needs of the changing job market. We know we have work to do.

Current enrollment and program completion rates suggest that we’ll need an additional 90,000 Rhode Islanders completing programs to meet that goal. Many of them will be adults over age 25 who may need additional support along the way. We’re here to help reconnect adults to educational and job training opportunities in Rhode Island that will put them on their own unique journey to success.

RI Reconnect Background

We’re here to help reconnect adults to educational and job training opportunities in Rhode Island

Rhode Island’s job market is changing quickly. Very soon, most jobs in the Ocean State will require a degree or credential but only about 46% of people in Rhode Island have one today. 

In 2019, Governor Gina Raimondo set the goal for 70% of working-age Rhode Islanders to have a degree or credential of value by 2025 in order to meet the needs of the changing job market. We know we have work to do.

Current enrollment and program completion rates suggest that we’ll need an additional 90,000 Rhode Islanders completing programs to meet that goal. Many of them will be adults over age 25 who may need additional support along the way. We’re here to help reconnect adults to educational and job training opportunities in Rhode Island that will put them on their own unique journey to success.

RI Reconnect Background

Rhode Island’s job market is changing quickly. Very soon, most jobs in the Ocean State will require a degree or credential but only about 46% of people in Rhode Island have one today. 

In 2019, Governor Gina Raimondo set the goal for 70% of working-age Rhode Islanders to have a degree or credential of value by 2025 in order to meet the needs of the changing job market. We know we have work to do.

Current enrollment and program completion rates suggest that we’ll need an additional 90,000 Rhode Islanders completing programs to meet that goal. Many of them will be adults over age 25 who may need additional support along the way. We’re here to help reconnect adults to educational and job training opportunities in Rhode Island that will put them on their own unique journey to success.

20 %
of jobs in Rhode Island
require postsecondary education
0 +
New jobs in RI since 2010
requiring postsecondary education
$ 0
Average additional weekly income
with a postsecondary education

Frequently asked questions

Have questions? We've got answers.

Your educational navigator is your personal representative who will guide through the process of returning to school or job training. The navigator will help you identify a goal, create a plan to reach that goal, and address barriers outside of the classroom that may prevent you from completing your education or training. Click here to begin a short assessment that will connect you with a navigator.

Credential programs give students the chance to earn a valuable and transferable credential to use in the workforce. Students can earn many different types of credentials from different programs, which usually are job- or trade-specific, take less time to complete and are cheaper than a traditional degree program, and include a variety of career fields. The most common types are licenses and certificates.

We’re here to help you wherever we can. We’ll connect you to community resources that can help you improve your English. Click here to begin a short assessment that will connect you with an educational navigator.

We understand that every student’s path is different. Click here to begin a short assessment that will connect with you an educational navigator who can help you identify your options and come up with a plan that is right for you.

An educational navigator can help connect you with resources to create a personal plan to help you tackle your student-loan debt. Click here to begin a short assessment that will connect you with an educational navigator.

An educational navigator can help connect you with resources to help you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. Click here to begin a short assessment that will connect you with an educational navigator.

There is no cost for students to connect with an educational navigator through RI Reconnect but we do not cover tuition or fees associated with any program a student may enroll in.

In the initial interview, the Navigator will ask a number of questions about your life as a student or prospective student. The program funds some requests for assistance, based on need and the degree to which the problem presents a barrier. For example, if you can’t afford a laptop and you need one in order to take an online course or to work on homework assignments, RI Reconnect will provide a laptop. Maybe you also need internet access too. Lack of connectivity is also a common barrier to education. Both of these requests for wrap-around services would be considered because they are needed in order to complete a degree or training.

If you meet criteria, the program can assist with debts and obligations that interfere with your ability to pay them, such as transportation to and from campus, groceries, childcare during training and classes, technology needs, and others.

Rhode Island adults who are 21+ and who face significant barriers to return to school and continue with a degree-or-certificate bearing education may be eligible for this program.

Once you complete the short assessment, a navigator will reach out within 3-4 business days. First, the navigator send an email to make an appointment. For a second or third attempt to reach you, the navigator may call or send a text message if you provided a telephone number.

Discover Your Pathway Forward Today.

Get Started