Notable Four-Year Colleges and Universities in Rhode Island

This directory-style guide highlights 10 four-year colleges and universities in Rhode Island. Each institution is identified by its full profile name and location so similarly named organizations are easier to distinguish. “Notable” is a directory label, not an evaluation of quality or an endorsement.

Entries were selected and ordered using enrollment values available in COSMIQ profiles. Enrollment figures are intentionally omitted. The order is an estimate of institution size, not a ranking of academic quality, outcomes, or fit.

Institutions in this guide

• University of Rhode Island — Kingston, Rhode Island. Public four-year institution.

• Brown University — Providence, Rhode Island. Private nonprofit four-year institution.

• Rhode Island College — Providence, Rhode Island. Public four-year institution.

• Johnson & Wales University-Providence — Providence, Rhode Island. Private nonprofit four-year institution.

• Providence College — Providence, Rhode Island. Private nonprofit four-year institution.

• Roger Williams University — Bristol, Rhode Island. Private nonprofit four-year institution.

• Bryant University — Smithfield, Rhode Island. Private nonprofit four-year institution.

• Salve Regina University — Newport, Rhode Island. Private nonprofit four-year institution.

• Rhode Island School of Design — Providence, Rhode Island. Private nonprofit four-year institution.

• Johnson & Wales University-Online — Providence, Rhode Island. Private nonprofit four-year institution.

Selection and source notes

Where enough eligible profiles were available, this guide includes the top 50, 25, or 10 by available enrollment; smaller groups include all eligible profiles. Profile source year: 2022. Check each institution directly for current information.

Sources: NCES IPEDS. Inclusion does not imply endorsement by COSMIQ, and it does not mean that any listed institution endorses COSMIQ.