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Rhode Island is the single most densely populated state in the nation despite the diminutive land mass of only 1,214 square miles. In terms of population, it is the 43rd most populated state with the state capital of Providence being the largest city. Rhode Island is home to a handful of private universities and colleges to explore. The schools range from Providence to Bristol and from Newport to East Greenwich. Top ranked private colleges in Rhode Island include Brown University, New England Tech, and Johnson & Wales University. Private universities in Rhode Island that have garnered national attention for their robust academics and laudable campus life. Get connected with the best private schools in Rhode Island by using MatchCollege and our myriad educational resources today. Invest in yourself and connect with private universities that support your personal goals and career objectives today.
2025 Best Private Colleges in Rhode Island
Rhode Island School of Design, a nonprofit private institution, offers an assortment of program options, allowing students to choose which major is right for them. Located in Providence, RI, the campus offers an urban setting for students to study in. Rhode Island School of Design has an annual student enrollment of approximately 2,400. Here is a list of some of the popular programs RISD offers:
- Illustration
- Architecture
- Graphic Design
- Industrial Design
Enrollment
2,467
Student to Faculty Ratio
9:1
Providence College is a nonprofit private institution located in Providence, RI and provides a large number of educational opportunities for students. The Roman Catholic affiliation at the school is an important part of the history, education and vision that defines the school. PC has an annual student enrollment of about five thousand. Areas of study available at Providence College include:
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Biological And Biomedical Sciences
- English Language And Literature
- Social Sciences
- Basketball (NCAA Division I-AAA)
- Track & Field (NCAA Division I-AAA)
- Field Hockey (NCAA Division I-AAA)
Enrollment
4,674
Student to Faculty Ratio
11:1
Bryant University is a nonprofit private college that has a large number of majors available for students to choose from. The school is located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, in a predominantly suburban area. Enrollment at Bryant University exceeds 3,600 annually. A list of some of the more popular programs offered are:
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Mathematics And Statistics
- Communications And Journalism
- Psychology
- Baseball (NCAA Division I-AA)
- Basketball (NCAA Division I-AA)
- Track & Field (NCAA Division I-AA)
- Field Hockey (NCAA Division I-AA)
Enrollment
3,788
Student to Faculty Ratio
13:1
Salve Regina University is a nonprofit private institution located in Newport, RI and provides a large number of program options for students. The school maintains a Roman Catholic affiliation, which is evident in the role it plays in program curriculums and daily life at the school. Salve Regina University has a yearly student enrollment of about 2,600.
Areas of study offered at Salve Regina University include but are not limited to:
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Health And Clinical Professions
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
Students applying for admission are usually asked to submit an application, school records, test scores and any requested letters of recommendations, which will then be reviewed by the school. A SAT or ACT exam may be required prior to applying, with scores between 1030 - 1190 for the SAT exam and in a range of 22 - 27 for the ACT exam is common among students accepted to Salve Regina University. Roughly 70% of all students that applied were admitted at this school, with 17% of those admitted choosing to attend. More information from the admissions office can be found here.
The cost of undergraduate tuition is close to $36,000 for the year. Tuition prices may change for a variety of reasons, and as such students should visit the school's net price calculator to get a better idea of their cost of attendance. The price of on-campus housing is approximately $8,700 annually. Some students at Salve Regina University may be eligible for financial aid, which is typically offered in the form of loans, grants, scholarships and work study programs.
The Salve Regina University Seahawks participate in several athletic programs, as part of the NCAA organization. Athletic programs available include:
- Baseball (NCAA Division III)
- Basketball (NCAA Division III)
- Field Hockey (NCAA Division III)
To see a full list of areas of study, programs, enrollment information, financial aid details, and more, please visit the school's website at http://www.salve.edu.
Enrollment
2,647
Student to Faculty Ratio
13:1
RWU is a nonprofit private institution located in Bristol, RI and provides a large number of educational opportunities for students. RWU has a yearly student enrollment of approximately four thousand. Here is a list of some of the popular programs RWU offers:
- Security And Protective Services
- Communications And Journalism
- Architecture
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Baseball (NCAA Division III)
- Basketball (NCAA Division III)
- Lacrosse (NCAA Division III)
- Soccer (NCAA Division III)
Enrollment
4,860
Student to Faculty Ratio
14:1
Enrollment
7,360
Student to Faculty Ratio
18:1
New England Institute of Technology, a nonprofit private institution, offers a variety of educational opportunities, allowing students to choose which major is right for them. Located in Warwick, Rhode Island, the school resides in an urban setting for students to study in. New England Tech has an annual student enrollment of nearly three thousand.
Here is a list of some of the popular programs New England Tech offers:
- Computer And Information Sciences
- Mechanic And Repair Technology
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Communication Technology
The school has an open enrollment policy, accepting any students that meet the minimum requirements for admission. Submission of transcripts, records, test scores, and personal statements may be needed for certain programs.
The cost of undergraduate tuition is close to $22,000, but may change yearly. Students are encouraged to visit the school's tuition calculator to better estimate their cost of attendance. Financial aid may be offered to students that meet the necessary requirements in the form of loans, grants, scholarships and work study programs.
Students can take a look at the school's http://www.neit.edu to see additional information.
Enrollment
2,763
Student to Faculty Ratio
13:1
Popular Degrees at Rhode Island Private Colleges

Private colleges are distinguished from a public school in the respect that they do not accept public funding. A private college will generally have a smaller campus and lower student enrollment compared to a public university. The smaller campus typically translates to a more intimate campus feel with lower student to teacher ratios & ready-access to faculty. Private colleges may be more liberal arts driven or focused on differing learning domains. For example, students enrolled at a private college may be interested innursing,teaching,business,public policy,engineering, orcomputer science. While other students may be inclined to pursue an emerging area of study liketoxicology,forensic science,data modeling,actuarial science, ornuclear medicine.
List of Large 4-Year Private Universities in Rhode Island
There are 4 large private universities in our database for Rhode Island. Follow the links below to get more details about each school.
Large Universities with Research Facilities or Faculty
The universities listed below offer many diverse academic programs, have a large student body, and usually have research facilities or faculty involved with research. These schools very often have graduate and professional programs as well.

Bryant University in Providence, RI
Visit the website for Bryant University at bryant.edu
Program Details
- 10,000 to 19,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Estimated tuition & fees: $48,000 per year
Large Primarily Academic Universities
Each university listed below offers a diverse set of degrees and programs, unlike the research universities listed above, these schools contain little to no research activity on campus and are primarily academic.
- Johnson & Wales University in Smithfield, RI
- New England Institute of Technology (New England Tech) in Providence, RI
- Rhode Island College (RIC) in Providence, RI
4-Year Colleges with a Special Focus on an Area of Study
The schools below are grouped by their special area of focus. To learn about admissions, tuition & fees, programs offered, and more click on the school names below.
Schools of Law
- California State University - Monterey Bay (CSUMB) in Bristol, RI
Schools of Art, Music, and Design
- Roger Williams University (RISD) in Providence, RI
Notes: Tuition & fee amounts are for both Rhode Island in-state residents and out of state students, unless noted otherwise. The tuition information displayed is an estimate, which we calculated based on historical data and should be solely used for informational purposes only. Please contact the respective school for information about the current school year.
Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.