Universities in Rhode Island

1 campuses profiled, with admission requirements, published costs, test policies and deadlines. Reviewed 2026-09-20.

Private Founded 1764

Brown University

Providence, Rhode Island

Acceptance: 5.2%
In-state tuition: $68,000
Undergrads: 7,600

The Open Curriculum removes distribution requirements and lets students take any course pass or fail.

Studying in Rhode Island

This page lists the 1 universities in Rhode Island currently profiled in the directory: 0 public and 1 private nonprofit. Each profile carries the same fields — acceptance rate, published tuition for residents and non-residents, standardized test policy, deadlines and accreditation — so the campuses can be compared directly.

The lowest published in-state tuition in this group is at Brown University, at about $68,000 per year before housing and fees.

The most selective is Brown University, reporting an acceptance rate near 5.2%.

The largest undergraduate population belongs to Brown University with roughly 7,600 undergraduates.

If you are a resident of Rhode Island, the public campuses above are almost always the lowest-cost route to a bachelor's degree, and the state's community colleges add a cheaper first two years through transfer agreements. If you are applying from outside the state, compare the non-resident rate against private universities after aid before assuming the public option is cheaper — it frequently is not.

Frequently asked questions

How many universities does this directory list in Rhode Island?

1 institutions in Rhode Island are profiled here: 0 public and 1 private nonprofit. The state has more institutions than this; the directory covers the campuses students most often compare.

What is the cheapest university in Rhode Island in this directory?

Brown University has the lowest published in-state tuition in this list at about $68,000 per year, before housing, food and fees. Aid can lower the net price further.

Do I pay in-state tuition if I move to Rhode Island for university?

Usually not. Rhode Island, like almost every state, excludes time spent in the state primarily for education from the residency clock, so students who move to study normally remain non-residents for the whole degree.

Which university in Rhode Island is hardest to get into?

Among the campuses profiled here, Brown University reports the lowest acceptance rate at about 5.2%. Selectivity also varies sharply by major within any single university.