8 Top-Ranked Rhode Island Colleges and Universities

Even though it's the country's smallest state, Rhode Island has some wonderful choices for college. My top picks for the state range in size from a couple thousand students to over 16,000. The schools represent a wide range of missions and personalities, and my top picks include an Ivy League school, an art school, a professional school, and a public university. The admissions standards vary greatly, so be sure to click on the profiles to learn more. My selection criteria include retention rates, four- and six-year graduation rates, value, student engagement, and notable curricular strengths. I have listed the schools alphabetically rather than forcing them into any kind of artificial ranking; because the schools are so different, any kind of ranking would be dubious at best.

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Brown University

Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Enrollment: 9,781 (6,926 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: private university
Distinctions: member of the Ivy League; one of the country's most selective colleges; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; member of the Association of American Universities for strong research programs; 9 to 1 student / faculty ratio
For more information and admissions data, visit the Brown University profile

Bryant University

Location: Smithfield, Rhode Island
Enrollment: 3,698 (3,462 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: private university
Distinctions: highly rated master's university in the North; strong business school; students from 31 states and 45 countries; 13 to 1 student / faculty ratio; member of the NCAA Division I Northeast Conference
For more information and admissions data, visit the Bryant University profile

Johnson & Wales University

Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Enrollment: 9,324 (8,459 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: private university with a professional focus
Distinctions: students from 50 states and 71 countries; hands-on, career-focused approach to learning; strengths in culinary arts, business, and hospitality; NCAA Division III athletic programs
For more information and admissions data, visit the Johnson & Wales University profile

The Best New England Colleges and Universities

By Allen Grove

Providence College

Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Enrollment: 4,568 (4,034 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: private Catholic college
Distinctions: 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio; one of the country's top Catholic colleges; distinct four-semester course on western civilization; member of the NCAA Division I Big East Conference
For more information and admissions data, visit the Providence College profile

Rhode Island School of Design

Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Enrollment: 2,477 (1,999 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: private art and design school
Distinctions: one of the country's top art schools; high job placement rate; selective portfolio-based admissions; joint degree program with Brown University; 9 to 1 student / faculty ratio
For more information and admissions data, visit the RISD profile

Roger Williams University

Location: Bristol, Rhode Island
Enrollment: 5,193 (4,902 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: private university
Distinctions: 14 to 1 student / faculty ratio; average class size of 19; active student life with over 100 clubs and organizations; waterfront location and strong sailing team; NCAA Division III athletic programs
For more information and admissions data, visit the Roger Williams University profile

Salve Regina University

Location: Newport, Rhode Island
Enrollment: 2,746 (2,124 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: private Catholic university
Distinctions: waterfront campus in a historic neighborhood; 13 to 1 student / faculty ratio; popular professional fields such as nursing, business and criminal justice; NCAA Division II athletics
For more information and admissions data, visit the Salve Regina University profile

University of Rhode Island

Location: Kingston, Rhode Island
Enrollment: 17,822 (14,812 undergraduates)
Type of Institution: public university
Distinctions: chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; Honors Program for high achieving students; good educational value; member of the NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 Conference
For more information and admissions data, visit the University of Rhode Island profile

25 Top New England Colleges and Universities

If you don't find your dream school in Rhode Island, check out these top colleges and universities in New England.

Top Rhode Island Colleges