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University of Rhode Island

Public

Kingston, RI

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The University of Rhode Island traces its origins to 1888, when South Kingstown citizens raised funds to establish an Agricultural Experiment Station and school on the former Oliver Watson Farm. The school was renamed Rhode Island College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts in 1892, became Rhode Island's land-grant college in 1894, and took its current name in 1951. URI now describes itself as the state's Land, Sea, and Urban Grant public research institution.

Admissions

Admit rate72%
SAT range1020–1280
ACT rangeNot reported
Undergrads13,381
Yield (admits who enroll)18%
Next deadlineNov 1, 2026 (ED1)

Cost & outcomes

Cost of attendance$34,321
4-year grad rate72%
Median earnings, 10yr out$69,743

From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.

Where do you stand against University of Rhode Island's numbers?

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How University of Rhode Island weighs your application

From University of Rhode Island's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?

Academic factors
Rigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankConsidered
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresConsidered
Application essayVery important
RecommendationsVery important
Nonacademic factors
InterviewNot considered
Extracurricular activitiesImportant
Talent/abilityConsidered
Character/personal qualitiesConsidered
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Not considered
Geographical residenceConsidered
State residencyConsidered
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workImportant
Work experienceImportant
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Considered
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Paying it back

Undergrads taking federal loans49%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out69%

"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.

Majors & earnings

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences
Animal Sciences$50,203/yr
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services$48,403/yr
Architecture and Related Services
Landscape Architecture$74,488/yr
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biology, General$80,379/yr
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences$77,681/yr
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology$48,446/yr
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Finance and Financial Management Services$87,196/yr
Accounting and Related Services$86,076/yr
Business Administration, Management and Operations$79,692/yr
Marketing$75,011/yr
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$72,328/yr
Communication and Media Studies$64,520/yr
Journalism$52,115/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Computer and Information Sciences, General$88,915/yr
Education
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$64,916/yr
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$56,999/yr
Engineering
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$106,153/yr
Chemical Engineering$103,525/yr
Computer Engineering$100,975/yr
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$96,532/yr
Ocean Engineering$90,901/yr
Industrial Engineering$90,399/yr
Mechanical Engineering$89,901/yr
Civil Engineering$79,457/yr
English Language and Literature/Letters
English Language and Literature, General$54,524/yr
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$52,625/yr
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
Apparel and Textiles$64,328/yr
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services$51,416/yr
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$90,953/yr
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$77,224/yr
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$67,384/yr
Health Professions and Related Programs
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$96,020/yr
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions$80,478/yr
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services$61,079/yr
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services$60,922/yr
Health-Related Knowledge and Skills
Health-Related Knowledge and Skills$56,761/yr
History
History$54,001/yr
Mathematics and Statistics
Mathematics$73,746/yr
Natural Resources and Conservation
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy$72,311/yr
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$59,964/yr
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management$48,348/yr
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management$45,571/yr
Physical Sciences
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences$40,858/yr
Psychology
Psychology, General$56,571/yr
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
Public Policy Analysis$51,697/yr
Social Sciences
Economics$77,225/yr
Social Sciences, Other$66,738/yr
Political Science and Government$60,559/yr
Sociology$53,802/yr
Visual and Performing Arts
Music$52,346/yr
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$44,983/yr
Fine and Studio Arts$44,272/yr
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$33,972/yr

Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.

Campus life

On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity5,570
Typical room charge$8,506
Typical board charge$5,650

Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.

What matters in your application

GPARequired
Class rankConsidered, not required
RecommendationsRequired

From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.

Frequently asked questions

What does University of Rhode Island look for in applicants?

Per University of Rhode Island's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, application essay, recommendations as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.

What is University of Rhode Island's acceptance rate?

University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI admits approximately 72% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.

What SAT score do I need for University of Rhode Island?

Admitted students at University of Rhode Island typically score between 1020–1280 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).

How much does University of Rhode Island cost?

University of Rhode Island's total cost of attendance is reported at $34,321 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.

When is the application deadline for University of Rhode Island?

University of Rhode Island's earliest deadline is Nov 1, 2026 (ED1), per its own published admissions calendar.

Does University of Rhode Island require students to live on campus?

No -- University of Rhode Island doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.

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