Rhode Island Colleges, Universities And Trade Schools

- Total Colleges: 24
- Total Medical Schools: 1
- Total Colleges With Tenure: 0
- Colleges By Highest Degree Offered
- Associate's: 1
- Bachelor's Degree: 1
- Master's Degree: 5
- Doctor's Degree: 6
- Total Faculty: 17,253
- Total Full Time Faculty: 12,527
- Total Part Time Faculty: 4,726
- Total Students: 88,634
- Total Full Time Students: 66,248
- Total Part Time Students: 22,386
- Total Undergraduate Students: 77,498
- Total Graduate Students: 11,136
Student Race Breakdown

Student Gender Breakdown

Student Age Breakdown

The state of Rhode Island is the smallest in terms of landmass in the United States, and as a result only has a limited number of colleges and universities. Institutions of higher learning are predominantly private, with only three schools operated by the state. Rhode Island’s largest city is Providence, which also serves as the state’s capital, and is twice as large as the states next largest city. Warwick. Rhode Island is bordered by Massachusetts to the north and east, Connecticut to the west, and New York through a water border at the southwest.
Public institutions include the Community College of Rhode Island, which operates six locations throughout the state and provides residents technical and career training as well as academic opportunity. The state operates two four year institutions that provide undergraduate and graduate education programs.
- The University of Rhode Island (Kingston) is the largest school in the state, and is the flagship public school, serving nearly 17,000 students a year.
- Rhode Island College (Providence) serves nearly 10,000 students a year and is designated a master’s college.
Rhode Island is also home to a larger number of private institutions which provide more specialized educations. Some schools are founded by religious denominations, others serve artistic endeavors, and other provide a liberal arts education that allows students to experience a number of subjects even as they pursue their major. Among private schools in the state Brown University is the oldest, considered an Ivy League College and founded prior to American Independence.
Other colleges and universities in Rhode Island include:
- Bryant University (Smithfield)
- Johnson & Wales University (Providence)
- Roger Williams University (Bristol)
- Rhode Island School of Design (Providence)
- Salve Regina University (Newport)
In addition to the public and private four year institutions available in the state, a number of career and technical schools are also available. These schools provide short programs that educate and train individuals to complete tasks and duties professionally in their given field of study. Costs are normally higher than those of a community college, but the speed with which one completes the program as eligible for employment is considered the tradeoff.
Listings of Colleges in Rhode Island
4-Year Colleges and Universities
The table below lists 4-year colleges and universities in Rhode Island, including both public and private schools.
| School Name | Tuition | Size | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown University Providence, RI Private Not-For-Profit, 4-Year or Above | $42,230 | 5,000 - 9,999 | |
| Bryant University Smithfield, RI Private Not-For-Profit, 4-Year or Above | $34,624 | 1,000 - 4,999 | |
| Johnson & Wales University (JWU) Providence, RI Private Not-For-Profit, 4-Year or Above | $25,407 | 10,000 - 19,999 | |
| Johnson & Wales University-Online Providence, RI Private Not-For-Profit, 4-Year or Above | - | Under 1,000 | |
| New England Institute of Technology (New England Tech) Warwick, RI Private Not-For-Profit, 4-Year or Above | $19,935 | 1,000 - 4,999 | |
| Providence College (PC) Providence, RI Private Not-For-Profit, 4-Year or Above | $40,975 | 1,000 - 4,999 | |
| Rhode Island College (RIC, RI College) Providence, RI Public, 4-Year or Above | $7,268 | 5,000 - 9,999 | |
| Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Providence, RI Private Not-For-Profit, 4-Year or Above | $39,777 | 1,000 - 4,999 | |
| Roger Williams University (RWU) Bristol, RI Private Not-For-Profit, 4-Year or Above | $30,908 | 1,000 - 4,999 | |
| Salve Regina University Newport, RI Private Not-For-Profit, 4-Year or Above | $32,800 | 1,000 - 4,999 | |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) Kingston, RI Public, 4-Year or Above | $11,384 | 10,000 - 19,999 |
Community Colleges
The table below lists 2-year public colleges and community colleges in Rhode Island. Many of these colleges have an open policy for admitting new students.
| School Name | Tuition | Size | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Warwick, RI Public, 2-Year | $3,676 | 10,000 - 19,999 |
Career Colleges
The table below lists career and trade schools in Rhode Island. These include both public and private institutions.
| School Name | Tuition | Size | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empire Beauty School - Providence Providence, RI Private For-Profit, Less-Than 2-Year | - | Under 1,000 | |
| Empire Beauty School - Warwick Warwick, RI Private For-Profit, Less-Than 2-Year | - | Under 1,000 | |
| International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) Newport, RI Private Not-For-Profit, 2-Year | - | Under 1,000 | |
| Lincoln Technical Institute-Lincoln Lincoln, RI Private For-Profit, 2-Year | - | Under 1,000 | |
| New England Tractor Trailer Training School (NETTTS) Pawtucket, RI Private For-Profit, Less-Than 2-Year | - | Under 1,000 | |
| Newport School of Hairdressing - Main Campus Pawtucket, RI Private For-Profit, Less-Than 2-Year | - | Under 1,000 | |
| Sawyer School Pawtucket, RI Private For-Profit, Less-Than 2-Year | - | Under 1,000 | |
| St Joseph School of Nursing North Providence, RI Private Not-For-Profit, 2-Year | $12,755 | Under 1,000 | |
| Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Cranston Cranston, RI Private For-Profit, Less-Than 2-Year | - | Under 1,000 |