Best Rhode Island Colleges
There are 12 colleges and universities in Rhode Island enrolling 72,278 students. Explore the list of top colleges in Rhode Island below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in Rhode Island offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.
Rhode Island is home to nationally ranked institutions like Brown University, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence College and Bryant University. The highest ranked college in Rhode Island is Brown University and the top rated public state college is University of Rhode Island.
Local college options can be explored in Providence or other cities.
List of the Best Rhode Island Colleges
Brown University
- Private 4 Year
- Providence, RI
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- Jan 5 application deadline
Brown is an Ivy League university known for undergraduate economics, computer science, and the biological sciences. Most students design their own path under the Open Curriculum, which has no required core.
- SAT Range 1510-1580
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.94
- Acceptance Rate 5%
- Net Price $26,256
Rhode Island School of Design
- Private 4 Year
- Providence, RI
-
| 0 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
RISD is a highly selective private art and design college known for undergraduate fine arts, industrial design, and architecture. The urban Providence campus borders Brown University and offers a dual-degree program with it.
- SAT Range 1396-1530
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.71
- Acceptance Rate 19%
- Net Price $43,492
Providence College
- Private 4 Year
- Providence, RI
-
3.0 | 2 reviews
- Jan 15 application deadline
Providence College is a private Dominican Catholic college known for undergraduate business and the liberal arts. Most undergrads live on the residential campus in a Providence neighborhood.
- SAT Range 1250-1390
- Avg GPA 3.47
- Acceptance Rate 51%
- Net Price $48,618
Bryant University
- Private 4 Year
- Smithfield, RI
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Bryant is a private university known for undergraduate business. The suburban campus sits northwest of Providence.
- SAT Range 1190-1330
- Avg GPA 3.43
- Acceptance Rate 65%
- Net Price $42,139
Salve Regina University
- Private 4 Year
- Newport, RI
-
4.0 | 2 reviews
Salve Regina is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing and historic preservation. The Newport campus overlooks the Atlantic and incorporates several Gilded Age mansions.
- SAT Range 1160-1330
- Avg GPA 3.52
- Acceptance Rate 68%
- Net Price $38,307
Roger Williams University
- Private 4 Year
- Bristol, RI
-
4.3 | 3 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
Roger Williams is a private university known for undergraduate architecture and marine biology. The waterfront campus sits on Mount Hope Bay in Bristol.
- SAT Range 1140-1310
- Avg GPA 3.43
- Acceptance Rate 88%
- Net Price $38,779
University of Rhode Island
- Public 4 Year
- Kingston, RI
-
4.0 | 7 reviews
- Feb 1 application deadline
URI is a public university known for undergraduate oceanography, marine science, and pharmacy. The main campus sits in the college town of Kingston in southern Rhode Island.
- SAT Range 1020-1280
- Avg GPA 3.58
- Acceptance Rate 72%
- Net Price $24,118
Johnson & Wales University Providence
- Private 4 Year
- Providence, RI
-
| 0 reviews
Johnson & Wales is a private university known for undergraduate culinary arts, hospitality management, and business. The urban campus sits in downtown Providence.
- SAT Range 890-1160
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 88%
- Net Price $32,057
Rhode Island College
- Public 4 Year
- Providence, RI
-
2.5 | 2 reviews
- Mar 15 application deadline
Rhode Island College is a public college known for undergraduate teacher education, nursing, and social work. The campus sits in a residential area on the north side of Providence.
- SAT Range 870-1120
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.08
- Acceptance Rate 92%
- Net Price $10,346
New England Institute of Technology
- Private 4 Year
- East Greenwich, RI
-
| 0 reviews
New England Tech is a private technical university known for undergraduate engineering technology, nursing, and information technology. The suburban campus sits in East Greenwich south of Providence.
- SAT Range 920-1140
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 67%
- Net Price $36,947
Community College of Rhode Island
- Public 2 Year
- Warwick, RI
-
| 0 reviews
CCRI is a public community college known for undergraduate nursing and allied health programs. The Warwick campus is one of several sites serving students across Rhode Island.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $6,475
College Unbound
- Private 4 Year
- Providence, Rhode Island
-
| 0 reviews
College Unbound is a private college known for undergraduate programs built for working adults through competency-based, project-centered learning. Most students design personalized bachelor's plans around their jobs and complete degrees while remaining employed.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $20,645