Rhode Island Best College Rankings
Brown University ranked first and Rhode Island School of Design ranked second in Rhode Island college rankings. The 2025 average tuition & fees of the Rhode Island best colleges is $33,244 for Rhode Island residents and $45,690 for out-of-state students. The average acceptance rate is 64.22% and the average SAT score is 1,248. The average number of student population is 5,668 and the average student to faculty ratio is 12 to 1.
Below statements summarize the average statistics of tuition, admission, and more academic factors for Rhode Island best colleges. For the statistics, we only include 4 years colleges such as national universities and liberal arts colleges.
- The average undergraduate tuition & fees is $45,690 and Brown University has the highest tuition & fees of $71,312 and Johnson & Wales University-Online has the lowest tuition & fees of $13,365.
- The average graduate tuition & fees is $29,943 and Brown University has the highest tuition & fees of $69,948 and Salve Regina University has the lowest tuition & fees of $13,365.
- The average SAT score is 1,248 and Brown University has the highest SAT score of 1,540 and Rhode Island College has the lowest score of 990.
- The average acceptance rate is 64.22% and Brown University has the tightest (lowest) rate of 5% and Rhode Island College has the loosest (lowest) rate of 92%.
- The average student population is 5,668 and University of Rhode Island has the most students of 17,210 and New England Institute of Technology has the fewest students of 1,922.
- The average graduation rate is 73.30% and Brown University has the highest rate of 96% and Rhode Island College has the lowest rate of 48%.
Rhode Island Best Colleges Comparison
The below table compares the 11 best colleges in Rhode Island with important academic factors. You can sort the table by touching/clicking a column name that you want to sort.
| Rank | College Name | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | Graduate Tuition & Fees | SAT Score | Acceptance Rate | Population | Graduation Rate | Student to Faculty Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brown University Providence, RI | $71,312 | $69,948 | 1,540 | 5.4% | 11,956 | 96% | 6 to 1 |
| 2 | Rhode Island School of Design Providence, RI | $62,688 | $62,688 | 1,480 | 18.7% | 2,520 | 89% | 8 to 1 |
| 3 | Providence College Providence, RI | $63,550 | $13,440 | 1,330 | 50.9% | 4,666 | 86% | 11 to 1 |
| 4 | Bryant University Smithfield, RI | $52,677 | $49,860 | 1,260 | 65.5% | 3,636 | 80% | 13 to 1 |
| 5 | University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI | $37,146 | $33,148 | 1,160 | 72.2% | 17,210 | 73% | 17 to 1 |
| 6 | Salve Regina University Newport, RI | $50,100 | $13,365 | 1,220 | 68.2% | 2,791 | 77% | 12 to 1 |
| 7 | Rhode Island College Providence, RI | $27,299 | $18,806 | 990 | 91.8% | 6,155 | 48% | 15 to 1 |
| 8 | Johnson & Wales University-Providence Providence, RI | $41,982 | $15,156 | 1,030 | 88.4% | 4,303 | 55% | 14 to 1 |
| 9 | New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich, RI | $37,275 | $16,500 | - | 66.7% | 1,922 | 60% | 11 to 1 |
| 10 | Roger Williams University Bristol, RI | $45,197 | $21,305 | 1,220 | 87.7% | 4,350 | 69% | 10 to 1 |
| 11 | Johnson & Wales University-Online Providence, RI | $13,365 | $15,156 | - | 91.0% | 2,839 | - | 13 to 1 |
| Average | $45,690 | $29,943 | 1,248 | 64.2% | 5,668 | 73% | 12 to 1 |
Rhode Island Colleges by Ranking and School Type