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Rhode Island College
Rhode Island College admits nearly everyone — 91.8% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether Rhode Island College is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
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Rhode Island College occupies suburban Providence, RI — a public campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat.
Its highest-earning path is Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, where graduates median $84,238 four years out. Faculty pay averages $138,276 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. Most of its 5,049 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 73.3% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 860 and 1160 — below the RI middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Rhode Island College's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
You can apply to Rhode Island College without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 860 and 1160; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 440 | 510 | 600 |
| SAT Math | 420 | 500 | 560 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Rhode Island College received 4,988 applications and admitted 4,045 (81.1%), with 813 enrolling.
How Rhode Island College compares
| Rhode Island College | Rhode Island median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 91.8% | 70.2% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $11,300 | $44,418 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $56,318 | $70,005 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, Rhode Island College's median earnings are $56,318 — below the Rhode Island benchmark of $70,005. Weigh that against the $11,300 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, Rhode Island College prices by residency: $11,300 in-state versus $27,299 out-of-state — a $15,999 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
Rhode Island College enrolls 5,049 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Rhode Island College's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
48.1% graduate within six years. Roughly 52% don't — ask a Rhode Island College tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Rhode Island College
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $84,238 |
| Computer Science | $83,259 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $83,068 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $76,873 |
| Mathematics | $72,410 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $70,470 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $68,616 |
| Chemistry | $66,959 |
| Sociology | $59,643 |
| Biology, General | $58,779 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $58,221 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,156 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $57,195 |
| Marketing | $57,119 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $56,477 |
| Political Science and Government | $54,540 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $54,516 |
| Social Work | $53,312 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $53,057 |
| Psychology, General | $52,758 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $51,379 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $51,105 |
| Music | $51,090 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $50,854 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $50,335 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $49,069 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $48,948 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $48,514 |
| History | $46,105 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $45,378 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $44,144 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $41,883 |
Median earnings for these 32 Rhode Island College programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $56,318 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 37 additional Rhode Island College programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Rhode Island College?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 860–1160 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 91.8% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Rhode Island College's acceptance rate?
81.1% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 4,045 admitted from 4,988 applicants.
How much does Rhode Island College cost?
In-state tuition is $11,300; out-of-state students pay $27,299. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Rhode Island College graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $56,318 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Rhode Island
- Roger Williams University — 87.7% admitted
- Johnson & Wales University-Providence — 88.4% admitted
- Johnson & Wales University-Online — 91% admitted
- Providence College — 50.9% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.