Guide to Rhode Island Colleges & Universities
Are you in Rhode Island searching for the right college or university? Start your search here.
Browse through the list of Rhode Island cities and towns below to view schools in your specific area. Or, see a list of Rhode Island colleges and universities sorted by private 4-year schools, public 4-year schools, and 2-year community colleges.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides detailed information about colleges and universities, including student type, program completion and online availability. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Rhode Island's Colleges by the Numbers
Associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions in Rhode Island have been declining over the past 5 years. In 2022, students completed 19,782 that were offered by Rhode Island's colleges and universities. That was a decrease of 4% from completions reported in 2018.
Schools with Degree Completions
Est. Total Completions in 2022
Est. Completions (Last 5 Years)
Sponsored
Top School For Adults & Online Students
Franklin University is a top choice for transfer students, online learners and adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,444
Completions By Degree
1,820
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Private Colleges & Universities Offering Degrees in Rhode Island
There are at least 12 schools offering degrees in Rhode Island, and 12 are four-year private colleges or universities where about 35,111 undergraduate students were enrolled. In 2022, a total of 13,671 degrees were completed at private colleges and universities, including 3,180 that were offered online.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Franklin offers more than 50 online bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral programs in in Rhode Island. Franklin University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Franklin University. In 2022, 1,011 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 94 associate degrees, 676 master's degrees, and 39 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,444
Completions By Degree
1,820
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Rhode Island School of Design is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Rhode Island School of Design. In 2022, 443 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 220 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
2,044
Completions By Degree
663
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Providence College is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Providence College. In 2022, 1,194 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 224 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,141
Completions By Degree
1,418
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Brown University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Brown University. In 2022, 2,192 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 876 master's degrees, and 437 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
7,125
Completions By Degree
3,505
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Johnson & Wales University-Providence is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Johnson & Wales University-Providence. In 2022, 958 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 377 associate degrees, 199 master's degrees, and 21 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,591
Completions By Degree
1,555
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Roger Williams University School of Law is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Doctoral degrees are the most popular at Roger Williams University School of Law. In 2022, 150 doctoral degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, 3 master's degrees, were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
0
Completions By Degree
153
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Bryant University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Bryant University. In 2022, 835 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 277 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
3,060
Completions By Degree
1,112
Est. Online Degree Availability
8%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
College Unbound is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are adults and no programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at College Unbound. In 2022, 31 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
178
Completions By Degree
31
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
New England Institute of Technology is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and minimal programs completed were offered online. Associate degrees are the most popular at New England Institute of Technology. In 2022, 537 associate degrees were completed. In addition, 220 bachelor's degrees, 77 master's degrees, and 4 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,739
Completions By Degree
838
Est. Online Degree Availability
4%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Salve Regina University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Salve Regina University. In 2022, 518 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 206 master's degrees, and 13 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
2,140
Completions By Degree
737
Est. Online Degree Availability
38%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Johnson & Wales University-Online is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and all programs completed were offered online. Master's degrees are the most popular at Johnson & Wales University-Online. In 2022, 372 master's degrees were completed. In addition, 8 associate degrees, 333 bachelor's degrees, and 7 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,559
Completions By Degree
720
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Roger Williams University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Roger Williams University. In 2022, 889 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 62 associate degrees, 168 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,090
Completions By Degree
1,119
Est. Online Degree Availability
21%
Completions by Program Area
Public Colleges & Universities in Rhode Island
There are 2 four-year public colleges located in Rhode Island. About 18,978 students were enrolled in undergraduate programs, and about 6,005 degrees were completed at public colleges in Rhode Island. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
University of Rhode Island is an institutionally accredited public 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at University of Rhode Island. In 2022, 3,532 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 681 master's degrees, and 233 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
13,850
Completions By Degree
4,446
Est. Online Degree Availability
14%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Rhode Island College is an institutionally accredited public 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Rhode Island College. In 2022, 1,296 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 240 master's degrees, and 23 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,128
Completions By Degree
1,559
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Community Colleges in Rhode Island
There is 1 community college in Rhode Island where students can earn 2-year associate degrees. In 2022, about 11,136 students were enrolled in undergraduate courses at community colleges in Rhode Island, and about 1,926 associate degrees were completed.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Community College of Rhode Island is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and minimal programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
11,136
Completions By Degree
1,926
Est. Online Degree Availability
6%
Completions by Program Area
Affordable Colleges in Rhode Island
Wondering what you can expect to pay for a degree in Rhode Island? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average tuition at Rhode Island's 4-year nonprofit schools is $33,415. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit schools in Rhode Island is N/A, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is $4,980.
4-Year Nonprofit
4-Year For-Profit
2-Year
Accredited Colleges Serving Rhode Island
Earning a college degree is an investment — and earning a degree from an institutionally accredited university is one of the best ways to ensure your education is of high quality. Institutionally accredited universities are held to rigorous standards by state and regional bodies and undergo regular reviews to verify that their processes and academic programs meet the proper standards.
Wondering if a certain college or university offering degree programs in Rhode Island is institutionally accredited? View a list of institutionally accredited colleges and universities serving Rhode Island here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
- Franklin University
- Johnson & Wales University-Online
- Roger Williams University School of Law
- Brown University
- Bryant University
- Johnson & Wales University-Providence
- New England Institute of Technology
- Providence College
- College Unbound
- Rhode Island College
- University of Rhode Island
- Rhode Island School of Design
- Roger Williams University
- Salve Regina University
- Community College of Rhode Island
Rhode Island Job Market & Opportunities
What happens after you earn your college degree in Rhode Island? What's the Rhode Island job market outlook? Get a snapshot of jobs and careers, including annual job openings, median earnings and more.
In 2022, there were about 658,455 jobs in Rhode Island. From 2021-2022, job growth in Rhode Island was below the national average, at 3.4%. There were 83,334 job openings in the state. In terms of earnings, workers in Rhode Island do better than the national average, with an average hourly pay of $23.56.