Rhode Island: Colleges & Universities

Public, Private, Community & Technical Higher-Education Institutions

Rhode Island may be the smallest U.S. state by area, but it offers a diverse higher-education landscape that includes public universities, a public community college, private universities and colleges, specialized institutions, and a federal military graduate institution.

This guide brings together Rhode Island's degree-granting public and private higher-education institutions in one convenient list, including community and technical education options. Each institution includes its official website and primary address to help students, families, educators, and researchers explore available opportunities.

🎓 Rhode Island Higher Education at a Glance

13

State Degree-Granting Institutions

3

Public Institutions

10

Private Institutions

1

Public Community College

1

Federal Military College

🏛️ Public Colleges & Universities

Rhode Island has three public institutions of higher education: Community College of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, and the University of Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner identifies these as the state's three public institutions. 

#	Institution	Type	Address	Official Website
1	Community College of Rhode Island	Public 2-Year Community College	400 East Avenue, Warwick, RI 02886	ccri.edu
2	Rhode Island College	Public 4-Year College	600 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Providence, RI 02908	ric.edu
3	University of Rhode Island	Public 4-Year Research University	45 Upper College Road, Kingston, RI 02881	uri.edu

🏫 Private Institutions

Rhode Island's private higher-education sector includes universities, liberal arts colleges, specialized institutions, a technical university, an art and design school, and College Unbound. The current Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner list identifies ten private degree-granting institutions in the state. 

#	Institution	Type	Address	Official Website
1	Brown University	Private Research University	One Prospect Street, Providence, RI 02912	brown.edu
2	Bryant University	Private University	1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917	bryant.edu
3	College Unbound	Private Degree-Granting College	325 Public Street, Providence, RI 02905	collegeunbound.edu
4	Johnson & Wales University	Private University	8 Abbott Park Place, Providence, RI 02903	jwu.edu
5	New England Institute of Technology	Private Technical University	1 New England Tech Boulevard, East Greenwich, RI 02818	neit.edu
6	Providence College	Private Catholic College	1 Cunningham Square, Providence, RI 02918	providence.edu
7	Rhode Island School for Progressive Education	Private Educator Preparation Institution	10 Davol Square, Unit 100, Providence, RI 02903	rhodeislandspe.com
8	Rhode Island School of Design	Private Art & Design College	2 College Street, Providence, RI 02903	risd.edu
9	Roger Williams University	Private University	One Old Ferry Road, Bristol, RI 02809	rwu.edu
10	Salve Regina University	Private Catholic University	100 Ochre Point Avenue, Newport, RI 02840	salve.edu

⚓ Federal Military Higher-Education Institution

The U.S. Naval War College is located in Newport, Rhode Island, but it is a federal institution operated by the U.S. Navy rather than a Rhode Island state institution. It is therefore listed separately from the 13 state degree-granting institutions above.

#	Institution	Type	Address	Official Website
1	U.S. Naval War College	Federal Military Graduate Institution	686 Cushing Road, Newport, RI 02841-1207	usnwc.edu

📊 Rhode Island Higher-Education Summary

• 13 degree-granting public and private institutions are identified by the Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner.
• 3 are public institutions.
• 10 are private institutions.
• 1 of the public institutions is a community college: Community College of Rhode Island.
• New England Institute of Technology provides a major private technical and career-focused higher-education option.
• Rhode Island School of Progressive Education is included in the current RIOPC institutional list and is approved by Rhode Island to operate as a degree-granting institution.
• The U.S. Naval War College is listed separately because it is a federal military institution rather than part of Rhode Island's state higher-education system.

📚 Sources / References

1. Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner (RIOPC)
Official state higher-education agency and current institutional listing.
https://riopc.edu/

2. RIOPC – Institutions
Current list of Rhode Island higher-education and postsecondary institutions.
Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner

3. Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner – State of Postsecondary Education Report
State-level information identifying Rhode Island's public and private institutions.
RI State of Postsecondary Education Report

4. Rhode Island Government
State government directory and official links to Rhode Island colleges and universities.
RI.gov Colleges & Universities

5. U.S. Naval War College
Official federal institution website and current Newport, Rhode Island address.
https://usnwc.edu/

Note: Institutional names, classifications and addresses have been checked against official state or institutional sources where available. This page focuses on degree-granting higher-education institutions and does not attempt to list every private career school or short-term training provider in Rhode Island.

Last reviewed: August 2026