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MeritPlaybook / Take-home research

Richard Bland College
Decision sheet

Virginia · Research checked 2026-07-02 · School research, not an aid offer

The starting point

Richard Bland, Virginia's only public two-year residential college, offers little stand-alone stat-based merit — its signature award is the competitive Promise Scholars program guaranteeing 80% of direct cost for Pell-eligible Virginians transferring to William & Mary.

Selection beyond grades and scores. These awards are not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read each award's selection rules, application steps and dates. Meeting a minimum is not an award offer.

Awards to discuss

The 2 awards in this school's research. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.

Presidential Merit Scholarship (Honors Program award)

$1,000 · Published amount

Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.

GPA: 3.5 GPA or higher

Eligibility: Must be invited to and participate in the Honors Program

Renewal: Tied to continued Honors Program participation (Honors requires 3.25 RBC GPA and 15 credit hours per semester). Specific scholarship renewal terms not separately stated.

Other terms: RBC's largest merit-based (not need-based) scholarship. 'Typically $1,000 per academic year.' The Honors Program page describes this as a '$500/semester scholarship (awarded on first-come, first-serve basis).'

https://www.rbc.edu/admissions/costs-financial-aid/financial-aid/scholarships/

Promise Scholars Program

80% of direct cost (assured) · Published award terms

Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.

GPA: 3.5+ high-school GPA or 3.25 college GPA

Eligibility: Virginia resident; FAFSA shows Pell Grant eligibility; commitment to live on campus; accepted to RBC; separate Promise Scholars application, essay, resume, and interview; committed to transferring to William & Mary

Renewal: FAFSA must be completed each year; must meet academic benchmarks and fulfill Honors Program requirements; two full years of coursework completed at RBC with an Associate's Degree.

Other terms: Competitive — only 15 rising sophomores selected. 'Promise Scholars are assured to receive 80% of direct cost' (tuition, fees, room, meals, 15 credits/sem, basic housing & meal plan). Package blends a $2,000 Promise Scholarship + $1,000 Honors Scholarship + Pell + RBC grants. RBC also offers up to $5,500 in loans for the remaining 20%.

https://www.rbc.edu/promise-scholars-2/

Ask before you decide

  1. Which entering-year policy and residency category apply to us? What are the admission and scholarship deadlines?
  2. What grades and credits are required to renew, and for how many terms?
  3. How would other school awards or outside scholarships change the offer?

Recorded stacking policy: Outside (private/third-party) scholarships are treated as resources and may reduce need-based financial aid; if an outside award exceeds the student's financial need and/or cost of attendance, the aid package is adjusted to stay within federal/state limits (a cost-of-attendance cap). Institutional Endowment Scholarships are awarded by the Financial Aid Office based on need.

Our unanswered questions / Family notes

Keep the sources with the decision

Full research, award details and source context: https://meritplaybook.com/colleges/richard-bland-college/merit-aid

The research date is not a guarantee that a policy still applies. Confirm current amounts, deadlines and conditions with the school before making a financial decision.