2024 Best Value Colleges in Rhode Island

• Providence, RI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  1,071 reviews

Niche User: I am currently enrolled as an incoming freshman at Brown University but I have been fortunate to participate in two of their pre-college programs. Overall, the academic resources and opportunities to explore STEM-based passions are incredibly diverse and accessible. The campus has amazing faculty that are engaged in the subject, both in and out of the classroom. They provide insightful feedback and support, especially as I had little experience doing lab work in high school. Outside the classroom, there were countless facilities and events that covered a wide variety of interests. These helped me foster a strong sense of community as I was able to connect with peers of similar likes during these events. I love how interconnected the university is with the larger city of Providence, which makes both professional and recreational engagement more accessible. Lastly, the Brown community was incredibly welcoming and supportive. Everyone there was proactive and engaged!... Read 1,071 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 6%

• Net price $25,028

• SAT range 1460-1570

• Providence, RI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.55 out of 5  1,123 reviews

Junior: Rhode Island College has a wonderful, welcoming, accepting and supportive campus staff along with many talented and dedicated professors and administrators. Our school motto is “Be Bold”, and bold we are! No matter where you come from you will be met with a team of highly skilled and dedicated teachers and students who want to assure nothing less than your success. While classes can be challenging, there is always something for every at RIC to make us feel at home!... Read 1,123 reviews

• grade B

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 85%

• Net price $8,710

• SAT range 870-1100

• Providence, RI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.66 out of 5  854 reviews

Sophomore: Providence college is a great place to be! After transferring in this past fall I have enjoyed many aspects of the College. The atmosphere is welcoming and everyone really cares. On thing to note is our sayings "Friars hold doors" or "Friars give back" which really just shows the care people have for each other at the school. As for professors, they have been great thus far. They are willing to help when you need it, and overall truly care with how everyone does in their classes. They have made themselves easily available for the extra help that I have needed. Providence College's campus is beautiful. What is great about it is not only that it is clean and kept nice, but you can also walk to everywhere you need to get to easily. As for social life, I found it easy to make friends as many people are super friendly and have similar interests as me. Which you can find easily due to the many clubs here on campus.... Read 854 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 58%

• Net price $39,566

• SAT range 1120-1330

• Smithfield, RI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.51 out of 5  1,072 reviews

Junior: Going into my senior year next semester, I can truly say that Bryant University was the best fit for myself. When I was applying to schools, I was torn between the 3 B's (Babson, Bentley, and Bryant), but when it came down to cost to attend, I went with Bryant. Throughout my time here, I have never had a bad class. All of the professors have been incredible and care about their students. The curriculum is set up to give business students a wide grasp of components in business and really makes you understand different paths you can take in your career. Probably the best thing about the university is their job and internship placement programs. Bryant is practically a feeder school for firms like PwC, Fidelity, CVS, and so many other great companies. The food has significantly improved over the years. They are constantly putting money into making the University better and attracting more students. If you are interested in business and a well rounded education, Bryant is for YOU!... Read 1,072 reviews

• grade B

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 74%

• Net price $40,310

• SAT range 1120-1300

• Kingston, RI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.52 out of 5  2,580 reviews

Junior: My Experience at the University of Rhode has been a great one, a lot of organizations to choose from and great ways to meet new people. Most of the Professors are great and care about their students succeeding and will help you when asked. Others wont really try, for Examples trying to get Academic advise from my Academic Advisor is tough because meetings with her aren't until 3 months out (for example I looked at changing my major in October but her availability wasn't till December going into January.) Same thing goes for Financial Aid advising. Other than these few things This University is Great!... Read 2,580 reviews

• grade B

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 76%

• Net price $20,496

• SAT range 1090-1290

• Newport, RI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  824 reviews

Sophomore: In my experience, Salve Regina University offers rigorous academic courses while providing a genuine sense of community and belonging. All faculty, staff, and administration at Salve truly want to see their students succeed and are willing to provide resources to ensure that happens. You will not slip under the rug at Salve. You are not a number on a piece of paper or a student, you are considered to be a part of the community!... Read 824 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 73%

• Net price $36,708

• SAT range 1020-1190

• East Greenwich, RI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  423 reviews

Freshman: I love this school’s non-traditional learning setting. I’m a hands-on learner, so it’s perfect for me to spend time in class working with tools I’ll be using in the field. It’s fast-paced, so I’m having to make sure I spent plenty of time studying and reviewing material. The bachelor’s degree in 3 years sold the school for me. The food is pretty good, and I think the campus building is beautiful. However, I am extremely stressed out about paying back my massive student loans I had to take out to attend. Tuition is steep!... Read 423 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 68%

• Net price $34,721

• SAT range 960-1200

• Bristol, RI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.55 out of 5  1,016 reviews

Freshman: My experience at Roger has been incredible. As someone from a small town, I was looking to find a safe haven in the bigger world. I wanted to be connected to more, while still having the comfort of a small university. Roger is a place where I can connect with others and get good responses from my professors. The classes are small, which makes it easy to get feedback and help when I need it. Plus, the dining hall is pretty good! The campus is gorgeous, and there are so many places to go. The RIPTA is an affordable and accessible method of transportation, so getting to Providence, Newport, or Boston on the weekend is a breeze. I love this school; I can't wait to continue learning and growing in an environment that wants to see me thrive.... Read 1,016 reviews

• grade C+

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 91%

• Net price $36,537

• SAT range —

• Providence, RI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  350 reviews

Alum: Rhode Island School of Design is a prestigious art school worldwide, and therefore it creates a community of cutting-edge student body and faculty. The friends and network I've met at RISD are life-long and will continue to be a source of inspiration and collaboration in the future. All the departments in the school are extremely challenging and require refined conceptual and critical thinking as well as technical skill. My critical thinking skills still serve me to this day, even for things that are not related to the arts. Really, the only negative thing I can say is that the school itself did not have courses to prepare me for post-graduation and entering the work force. At least at the time. Also, it is a very expensive school! However, still worth it (for me).... Read 350 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade C

• Acceptance rate 19%

• Net price $38,234

• SAT range 1310-1480

• Providence, RI•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  2,861 reviews

Sophomore: I enrolled at Johnson & Wales University with a specific focus on their renowned food department, drawn by their exceptional reputation in culinary education. As the university was located out-of-state for me, I took advantage of their provided dormitory accommodations. I was fortunate to be assigned a spacious room, which I shared with a roommate. The initial experience of navigating through my classes was admittedly overwhelming, prompting thoughts of an immediate transfer. However, as time progressed, I found myself developing a strong affinity for most of my instructors, including the skilled chefs who imparted their expertise. Although there was a minor hurdle posed by a small, challenging group of classmates, I persevered through the situation, emerging with valuable lessons in adaptability and resilience.... Read 2,861 reviews

• grade C+

• grade C

• Acceptance rate 88%

• Net price $30,715

• SAT range —