Rhode Island College
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and families who need the lowest possible cost. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 5,049 students.
About This School
Rhode Island College is a public institution located in Providence, Rhode Island with approximately 5,049 undergraduate students enrolled. Rhode Island College has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 92%. The average net price after financial aid is $9,478 per year. The graduation rate is 48%, and the typical graduate earns $43,900 within 10 years of enrollment.
Rhode Island College (RIC) is a public college in Rhode Island, United States, with much of the land in Providence, and other parts in North Providence. The college was established in 1854 as the Rhode Island State Normal School, making it the second-oldest institution of higher education in Rhode Island after Brown University. Located on a 180-acre (73 ha) campus, the college has a student body of 6,000. RIC is a member of the NCAA and has 17 Division III teams.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: at just $10,988 per year average net price, this is one of the more affordable paths to a degree in New England, and the low median debt of $13,833 at graduation reflects that. However, the 46% graduation rate is a real concern — fewer than half of students who start here finish — so you'd want to ask hard questions about advising, support services, and your own readiness before committing. Worth considering if you're cost-conscious and have a clear plan, particularly for education or social work programs where Rhode Island College has a solid regional reputation.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 7% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Rhode Island College graduates earn most above the national rate in Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($84,238 vs $70,786 nationally), and most below it in Computer Science ($83,259 vs $107,009).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 121 | $83,068 | $88,910 | −$5,842 |
| Psychology, General | 113 | $52,758 | $50,706 | +$2,052 |
| Social Work | 90 | $53,312 | $51,790 | +$1,522 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 66 | $58,221 | $68,257 | −$10,036 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 59 | $53,057 | $51,389 | +$1,668 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 53 | $58,156 | $55,378 | +$2,778 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 49 | $84,238 | $70,786 | +$13,452 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 44 | $50,854 | $61,296 | −$10,442 |
| Computer Science | 42 | $83,259 | $107,009 | −$23,750 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 39 | $68,616 | $76,194 | −$7,578 |
| Biology, General | 36 | $58,779 | $57,214 | +$1,565 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 33 | $49,069 | $47,382 | +$1,687 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (5,049 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in Rhode Island
Community College of Rhode Island
Warwick, RI · Public
Providence College
Providence, RI · Private nonprofit
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI · Public
Roger Williams University
Bristol, RI · Private nonprofit
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
Providence, RI · Private nonprofit
Brown University
Providence, RI · Private nonprofit
See How Colleges Compare
Rhode Island College is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Rhode Island College?
Rhode Island College has an acceptance rate of 92%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Rhode Island College hard to get into?
Not especially. Rhode Island College has an acceptance rate of 92%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Rhode Island College cost?
The average net price at Rhode Island College is about $9,478 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Rhode Island College?
Rhode Island College has a graduation rate of 48%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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