I am not going to tell you whether this college is “good” or “bad.” No data file can tell you that, and anyone who tells you so with that much certainty is trying to sell you something. What I can do is show you precisely what kind of institution it is, where it stands compared with similar schools, and which questions you and your child still need to ask the school directly.
What kind of college it is and where it is located
Rhode Island College is a public four-year institution located in Providence, Rhode Island, within Providence County and the Providence-Warwick metropolitan area. Its census code places it in a suburb: within the urbanized area but outside the heart of the principal city. What that feels like in daily life—the traffic, the distance to stores, the atmosphere—is something you can learn only by going there and walking around. If your child plans to live at home and commute, I recommend something simple and useful: drive the route yourself on a weekday at the time your child would have classes. The actual travel time is almost never what the map says.
The Carnegie Classification system—which organizes colleges and universities in the United States according to what they do—describes it as a master’s college with larger programs and, based on more recent data, also places it among institutions with research doctorates in their graduate history. That historical information does not tell you exactly what is offered today; it tells you that this is an institution that has grown beyond being only an undergraduate college.
Carnegie also classifies it as primarily nonresidential. Technically, this means that, when that measurement was taken, either fewer than one in four degree-seeking undergraduate students lived in institution-controlled housing or fewer than half attended full time. The file does not clarify which of the two conditions was met, and that label does not mean residence halls do not exist—in fact, they do, and we will discuss that later. What it does tell you clearly is that if your child will be commuting every day, bus fare, gasoline, and travel time must be counted as a real part of the plan.
One point worth emphasizing if your child came to the United States after studying elsewhere, or if your child would complete a couple of years at another institution before coming here: Carnegie places Rhode Island College among institutions that enroll many transfer students. That does not tell you how many credits they bring with them or how many are lost in the transition. If that is your child’s path, ask in writing which courses will count and which will not before your child takes that step.
Something else worth clarifying from the start: Rhode Island College is not listed as a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), a Tribal College or University, or a land-grant institution. These are three different designations with different histories, and of the 3,012 colleges and universities in this federal census, only 138 have any of them. Its absence from that list says nothing about which communities it serves today or how your child would feel on that campus. Ask directly: what cultural centers exist, which student organizations are active, and—if you can—talk with someone who already studies there.
The actual size of the community
In the official fall count, Rhode Island College had 5,767 enrolled students. It is neither a small school nor a massive one: it falls squarely in the middle range, between 5,000 and 9,999 students, and compared with similar public schools in this same census, its size is among the most common in the group. Of that total, 4,785 are undergraduates and 982 are graduate students—it is primarily a school designed for undergraduate study.
Here is something important about how “full-time” students are counted: IPEDS reports an institutional full-time equivalent of 4,868 students, a figure that combines those who do attend full time with an estimated fraction of those who attend part time. It does not measure each person’s actual course load, so treat it as an aggregate estimate, not an exact count of individual course loads.
As for who makes up that community, there is one figure worth knowing: 27 out of every 100 undergraduate students are Hispanic or Latino. That is one in four, or a little more. Compared with the 519 selective-admission public four-year schools in this census that report this information, that share places Rhode Island College in the highest quarter of the group. Put simply, being Latino on this campus would not be the exception.
But let us be clear about what this number does not say. Counting how many Latino students there are is not the same as knowing whether support designed for them exists. It does not tell you whether there is a Spanish-speaking counselor, whether targeted tutoring programs exist, or whether those students actually complete their degrees. And it is a percentage of the entire school, not of the specific major your child is interested in. The figure opens a question; it does not close it.
Other features of this community: 22 out of every 100 undergraduate students are between 25 and 64 years old—there is a meaningful share of adult students returning to the classroom. There are more women than men: 69 out of every 100 students are women. And 82 out of every 100 first-time students reported living in Rhode Island when they applied, so most of their classmates will probably be from the same state.
How the academic year works and what prior credit is recognized
The calendar here follows semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each, with the same dates for all students. Nothing unusual or fragmented.
Something that could save your child time and money: the institution reported that it accepts credit for AP exams as well as what IPEDS calls “credit for life experiences”—learning acquired through independent study, adult courses, work experience, portfolios, prior licenses or certifications, and military or professional experience. It also reports accepting credit for military training. And for families whose children are still in high school, the school participates in a formal dual-enrollment program through which high school students can take college courses for credit.
Now for the part almost no one reads carefully: the fact that a college says it accepts AP does not mean it will award credit for every exam or every score. The report does not say what scores are required or whether those credits will count specifically toward the major your child wants to pursue. Before including that potential time or money savings in your budget, request the course-equivalency evaluation in writing.
As for its degree offerings: between July 2022 and June 2023, the school awarded 1,048 bachelor’s degrees, distributed across 23 academic program families. The largest family was health professions, with 25 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year—a notable share, but no other family accounts for the bulk of the total. The offerings are spread across fields rather than concentrated in a single area. Even so, 23 active families do not equal 23 specific majors: each family groups several programs, so what matters is confirming the exact program your child is interested in, not the general category.
Regarding the relationship between students and instructional staff, the official ratio is 14 students per full-time-equivalent instructional staff member, a figure that falls below the midpoint among similar schools in this census. It is a low aggregate ratio, but by itself it does not tell you the actual size of a classroom or guarantee more individual attention; IPEDS does not report the size of first-year classes.
One last point in this area: the institution reports structured opportunities such as study abroad, as well as state teacher-preparation and certification programs for those who want to teach at the preschool or K-12 level.
What it takes to get in
Let us begin with what the school requires. Rhode Island College reported that it does not have open admissions: it reviews several components before making a decision. Of the nine considerations evaluated in this report, four are required: the high school record, high school GPA, completion of the college-preparatory course requirements, and an English-proficiency exam when applicable. Other components are not required but are considered if submitted: a personal essay, letters of recommendation, work experience, and whether a family member attended the school. The last is the only component your child cannot change through effort—if it does not apply to you, do not spend energy on it; spend that energy on what is within your child’s control. The undergraduate application fee is $50.
Now for the observed figures. In the 2023 cycle, Rhode Island College received 4,988 first-time applications and offered admission to 4,045: 81 out of every 100. It is an accessible admission rate, positioned slightly below the midpoint among similar selective public schools in this census. Seven or eight out of ten received a yes. That does not make admission automatic, but it does give your child a real reason to apply early instead of leaving it until the last minute. And remember: this is the figure for a single cycle. If more students apply in your child’s year and the number of available places does not grow, the figure could fall on its own.
Here is something that surprises many families: out of every 100 admitted students, only 20 ultimately enrolled. The other 80 had the door open to them and did not walk through it. That is a typical proportion among similar schools—do not read it as a mark against the institution. The federal record does not explain why each person made that decision, and what others did does not predict what the school will offer you. The practical recommendation is simple: wait for your letter showing the net price—what the year would actually cost—before deciding whether this school stays on or comes off the list.
Regarding standardized tests, the SAT and ACT are optional here. If your child submits them, they are considered; if not, the application remains just as complete. Of the enrolled students, only 11 out of every 100 submitted an SAT score, and among them the middle half scored between 440 and 600 in reading and writing and between 420 and 560 in math. That range describes students who were already enrolled and chose to submit a score—not all applicants, and it does not prove that the score was used to admit anyone. That 440 is not a minimum, and the 600 does not guarantee anything.
If your child’s path includes another institution before coming here: in the fall of 2023, Rhode Island College reported 592 undergraduate students who entered for the first time after having studied elsewhere, a count that places it in the upper half among comparable schools. How many credits were accepted is a different question, and that one must be asked directly of the school.
The listed price and what students actually pay
At Rhode Island College, among 125 full-time, first-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid, paid the in-state or in-district rate, and whose EFC records showed family income of less than $30,000, the average net price was $7,674. Among 64 students from the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $11,290; among 68 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $16,800. For dependent students, the income band combines their parents’ income with their own.
The difference between the average for the lowest-income band (125 students) and the average for the highest-income band (68 students) is $9,126. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $11,549.
The advertised price is not the same as the price paid. Here, for students with low family income, the average net price was $7,674 in the 2022-23 academic year.
The income bands in this profile describe full-time, first-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at this public institution, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average for students with grant or scholarship aid, when shown, describes full-time, first-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships; it also uses that rate. If your family lives outside the state or district, the calculation is different. Ask about it before applying.
Where the money may come from
At Rhode Island College, 68 out of every 100 degree-seeking students received some form of aid that does not have to be repaid—grants or scholarships—with an annual average of $6,725 among those who received it. And 43 out of every 100 received a Pell Grant, the federal aid intended for families with demonstrated financial need. Be careful not to confuse these two figures: the percentage describes how many students received something; the average describes how much those who qualified received. They should not be multiplied by each other, and they are not from the same year as the admissions figures we just reviewed—they correspond to the 2022–23 school year.
Now for the debt, stated plainly. 48 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal student loan that same year, with an average amount of $6,484 among those who borrowed. Compared with similar selective public schools, this share of students with loans is on the high side of the group. Here, financing an education with debt is common, not the exception.
If your child borrowed a similar amount in each of the four years of college, the total would be around $25,936, not including interest. That figure should be considered before the first signature, not at the end of the journey. And an important clarification: that average includes only federal loans in the student’s name. It does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, debt from private banks, or credit cards. Nor is it the total debt someone has upon graduation—to calculate that, you would have to add all four years, and that specific figure is not in this report.
The institution also reports offering an installment tuition payment plan and participating in a Promise-type program, which is worth asking about by name at the financial aid office.
Living and studying on campus
Rhode Island College does have institution-controlled housing, with a reported capacity of 840 students, either on or off campus. It is not required for all full-time, first-time students—the institution explicitly reported that it does not require them to live there—but that does not mean no specific program has such a requirement. It also offers meal plans, with a fixed number of meals per week in its largest plan. The existence of the option does not guarantee an available bed or a fixed cost: ask in writing for the current rate, the application deadline, and whether you are guaranteed a place or put on a waiting list.
Regarding college military training, the institution indicated that it does offer an ROTC opportunity, and the only branch confirmed in writing is the Army. The Navy and Air Force are not marked—this does not mean participation is impossible; it means you need to ask directly if your child is interested in another branch.
In athletics, Rhode Island College competes at the intercollegiate level and is affiliated with the NCAA, with reported membership in basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. This information does not identify the division in which each sport competes or whether athletic scholarships are offered—that must be asked directly of the coach for the sport your child is interested in.
As for the mode of study, the school offers distance education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, although in the fall count only 3 out of every 100 undergraduate students took all of their courses at a distance—the great majority, 97 out of every 100, took at least one course in person. It also reports having at least one program in which all required courses can be completed at a distance, but that does not confirm that such a program exists specifically at the undergraduate level—the exact level and major must be verified.
The library operates with paid staff, annual expenditures above the federal threshold of $100,000, physical and digital collections, and interlibrary lending. Among the services and forms of support the institution reports are combined academic and career counseling, employment assistance for current students, placement services for graduates, a dedicated point of contact for veterans and military service members, a student veterans’ organization, and a published webpage about services for students with disabilities.
How many stay and how many finish
This may be the most important part of the entire article, so let us proceed carefully and without embellishment.
Of the cohort of full-time, first-time students who entered in the fall of 2022 (653 people), 74 out of every 100 were still enrolled here or had already completed a bachelor’s degree one year later. That proportion is slightly below the midpoint among comparable schools. The data does not separate how many are still studying from how many have already graduated, and “not returning” is not the same as “dropping out”—someone who transferred to another college and is still studying there counts differently from someone who stopped studying altogether, but the file does not distinguish between those cases.
Now for graduation. Of the 1,022 full-time, first-time students who entered a bachelor’s degree program in 2017, 472 had graduated from this same school six years later: 46 out of every 100. After four years—the time frame most families have budgeted for—the figure is only 23 out of every 100, or 23 points lower than after six years. Compared with similar selective public schools, this six-year graduation rate falls below the midpoint of the group.
Put plainly: from that cohort, almost half earned a degree from Rhode Island College within six years, and half did not. The report does not explain the reasons behind each individual case—it does not say whether they transferred, took a break, or stopped studying altogether. What you can do with this information is ask, before deciding, how long the specific major your child is interested in usually takes, how required courses are scheduled, and how the total cost changes if a four-year plan becomes a five-year plan. That fifth year, if it comes, must be paid for—and it is better to know that before signing, not afterward.
There is an even broader view: following a complete cohort that entered between July 2015 and June 2016—including those who entered part time and those who already had credits from another institution—as of August 2023, 55 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this school. Among Pell Grant recipients specifically, the figure was 51 out of every 100, seven points below the group without Pell Grants. For 30 out of every 100 members of that cohort, enrollment status was “unknown” as of the reporting date—which means the report could not determine whether they were still enrolled somewhere, not that they had stopped studying.
What you now know and what you still need to find out
You now know precisely one important piece of the puzzle: what kind of college Rhode Island College is, how accessible admission is, what it actually costs according to family income, where the money may come from, and how likely a student is—based on historical data from other cohorts—to complete a credential there in four, six, or eight years.
None of those numbers makes the decision for you. A low net price for low-income families does not guarantee that your family will receive exactly that figure. A six-year graduation rate of 46 out of every 100 says nothing about whether your child specifically will finish there—it says how a cohort that entered several years ago fared as a whole, under circumstances that are no longer exactly the same as today’s.
Your child’s role is to study, explore, decide what to do with their education, and take responsibility for their part of the journey. Your role is to understand the family finances, read the financial aid letter carefully before committing to anything, and ask the specific questions this article cannot answer for you: exactly how much it will cost in your situation, which prior credits will be accepted, what specific support exists for the major your child is interested in, and whether the housing and transportation plan makes sense for your child’s actual life.
Combine this piece with what your child wants to study, what your child has already built in high school, and what your family can and is willing to pay. A plan comes from that combination, not from any single number.
Source note: the information in this article comes from data reported by Rhode Island College to the U.S. Department of Education’s IPEDS system, primarily covering the 2022–23 and 2023–24 cycles, as well as the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Best College Aid does not represent Rhode Island College or any government agency; this article organizes and explains publicly available information.