Colleges in Rhode Island
7 Rhode Island colleges grouped by how selective they are. Tiers are broad bands, not admission odds.
1 Other public universities · 6 Private
Most SelectiveUnder ~15% acceptance
Highly Selective~15-30% acceptance
Moderately Selective~50-75% acceptance
Accessible75%+ acceptance
What a balanced Rhode Island list can look like
Most counselors suggest mixing a few reaches, several realistic targets, and at least one or two likely schools. This illustration is built only from tiers and picks schools alphabetically, it isn't a recommendation for any student. Your own grades, scores, and intended major should drive the real list.
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Frequently asked questions
How many Rhode Island colleges are in the MajorAtlas College Finder?+
7 colleges in Rhode Island are currently listed. It's a curated starting set, not every college in the state, so a school's absence doesn't mean anything about its quality.
Which Rhode Island colleges are the most selective?+
By our tiers, the most selective Rhode Island schools listed are Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design. Treat these as reaches for nearly every applicant and balance them with lower-tier schools.
Which Rhode Island colleges are the most accessible?+
Johnson & Wales University, Providence are in our Accessible tier, which usually admits the large majority of applicants who meet eligibility requirements. Still confirm that your intended major is offered and not capped.
Are these exact admission odds for Rhode Island colleges?+
No. Tiers are broad bands based on reported acceptance rates, which change every cycle and differ by major. For a specific school's current numbers, use its Common Data Set; our guide "How to Build Your Own College List by Score and GPA" explains how.
Tiers and "known for" tags are general guidance compiled from public sources and may be out of date. Confirm details with each school.