University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island, otherwise known as URI, is Rhode Island’s public learner-centered research university. URI is committed to enriching the lives of its students by continuing its storied tradition of receiving land, sea, and urban grants.
As the only public institution in the state of Rhode Island to offer undergraduate, graduate, and professional students the distinctive educational opportunities of a research university, URI values:
- Creativity and Scholarship
- Diversity, Fairness, and Respect
- Engaged Learning and Civic Involvement
- Intellectual and Ethical Leadership
Created in 1892 as an agriculture school, URI now offers its students more than 80 different degree options and over 100 campus organizations. The entire school, and the curriculum of specific programs, is designed to help students gain the educational and life experience to prepare them for their professional careers.
URI Admissions
The University of Rhode Island offers students a number of degree options and courses of study. As a result, some degree programs may be more competitive than others. However, the standard undergraduate admissions requirements at URI include:
- High school diploma or GED equivalent
- Completed application
- Application fee
- Official high school transcript
- List of senior courses
- Official SAT or ACT scores
- Essay
- One letter of recommendation (preferred from high school counselor)
Some of the undergraduate programs may have additional admissions requirements. For instance, those applying for the pharmacy program should include an extra paragraph of their essay stating why they’ve chosen their major and an additional letter of recommendation.
Transfer and international applicants typically have to meet the criteria for their respective program and degree level, though there may be additional requirements. Check with the school to find specific admissions requirements for transfer and international students.
URI Application Deadline
When applying to the University of Rhode Island, there are a number of dates and deadlines that you should keep in mind. Some of the important application deadlines at URI are:
Freshmen Application Deadlines:
- Early Action Application Deadline: December 1
- Freshmen Application Deadline: February 1
- Enrollment and Housing Deposit: May 1
- Spring Semester Admissions (Classes start in January): November 1
- FAFSA Filing: October 1 to March 1
Transfer Student Application Deadlines:
- Spring Semester (Classes start in January): December 28
- Talent Development (Fall admission only): December 15
- Kinesiology (Fall admission only): March 15
- Fall Semester (Open programs): June 1
- Fall Scholarship Consideration: June 1
International Student Application Deadlines:
- Freshmen Spring Semester (Classes start in January): December 1
- Freshmen Early Action: December 1
- Freshmen Fall Semester (Classes start in September): June 1
- Transfer (Both Spring and Fall Semesters): July 31 (deadline may be flexible)
URI Acceptance Rate
In 2014, the acceptance rate at the University of Rhode Island was 76.8%. This acceptance rate is considered selective, or average, compared to similar schools.
URI GPA Requirements
While URI has no school-wide specific GPA requirements for freshmen, transfer, or international student applicants, some individual programs have minimum GPA requirements. For instance, transfer students applying to the College of Business Administration are required to have a 2.5 cumulative GPA on all previous university-level courses and a 2.70 GPA in all business prerequisite courses.
In addition, the average GPA of enrolled incoming freshmen for the 2016-2017 school year was 3.49. However, other programs had higher average GPAs. This includes a 3.72 GPA for the Engineering Department and 3.75 for the Nursing Department. Keep in mind that these numbers may change from year to year.
University of Rhode Island Tuition
The University of Rhode Island has different tuition rates for in-state students and out-of-state students. They are:
- URI Out-of-State Tuition: $28,072 (2015)
- URI In- State Tuition: $12, 506 (2015)
Again, check with the school for updated figures.
URI Financial Aid
URI understands the difficulty some students may face when trying to pay for their college education. As a result, the school offers a variety of financial aid available to students in order to help ease the financial burden of students while pursuing their degree. Some of the financial aid opportunities include:
- Merit Scholarships
- Grants and Scholarships
- Federal and State Loans
- Alternative, Privately Funded Loans
- Student Employment Programs
One of the main things to consider when applying for the various types of financial aid is to make sure you complete all required forms and submit additional paperwork before the deadlines. Also, make sure to read all requirements to make sure that you are eligible to receive the aid. Often, the first step is to complete a FAFSA, though you should check with individual financial aid options for specific requirements.
URI Scholarships
The University of Rhode Island offers a variety of scholarship opportunities for students. This includes merit-based scholarships, which are based upon a student’s success in the classroom. Some of the merit-based scholarships URI offers include:
- Centennial
- University Scholarship
- Transfer Merit Scholarship
These scholarships require those who are awarded them to meet some requirements every year in order to continue receiving these scholarships throughout their college career. Some of these requirements may include maintaining a 2.8 GPA and remaining a full-time student (12 credits or more each semester). If you fail to meet these requirements, you may lose your scholarship and will not be able to have it reinstated.
There are also a number of additional general scholarships available provided by organizations, corporations, and alumni. Most of these scholarships have funding levels that vary from year to year and are chosen by the academic department and/or the Enrollment Services Office.
URI Student Population
In 2017, the total enrollment at URI was 18,072. This includes 14,680 undergraduates representing 66 nations and 48 U.S. states and territories. In order to provide students with personalized attention, the University of Rhode Island provides students with a 16:1 student to faculty ratio.
URI Address
The University of Rhode Island main campus, also known as the Kingston Campus, is located at:
- 45 Upper College Road
- Kingston, RI 02881
URI has three other campus locations, which are:
- Feinstein Providence Campus
- Narragansett Bay Campus
- W. Alton Jones Campus (Western section of Rhode Island)
University of Rhode Island Athletics
The University of Rhode Island is proud to offer its students 18 Division 1, intercollegiate sports. All of these sports participate in the Atlantic 10 Conference except for football, which is a member of the Division 1-AA Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The school mascot is Rhody the Ram and the school colors white, light blue, and navy blue.
Some of the men’s and women’s sports available at URI are:
Men’s Sports:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Cross Country
- Track and Field
Women’s Sports:
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Volleyball
- Rowing
- Softball
- Cross Country
- Swimming and Diving
- Track and Field
- Tennis
URI also offers a number of other athletic opportunities for students who aren’t one of the 350 student-athletes. Some of these include club sports, such as rugby, water polo, ice hockey, and others. There are also aquatics programs and intramural sports.
University of Rhode Island Foundation
The University of Rhode Island Foundation was created in 1957 and is an independent 501 (c) (3) charitable organization. The goal of the foundation is to raise and manage charitable support for the university.
Each year, fundraising activities conducted by the foundation typically results in $10 to $15 million in charitable gifts being made available across the university. These funds are used for such purposes as:
- Direct student scholarship support
- Faculty support
- Facility enhancement
Typically, these funds are also used for a myriad of other initiatives that enrich the overall academic experience, while enhancing the university’s competitiveness.
Popular Degree Programs at URI
There are over 80 undergraduate degree programs offered at URI, providing students with enough options so that you may find the degree that is perfect for you.
Some of the undergraduate degrees offered at the University of Rhode Island include:
- Business Administration
- Art History
- Animal Science and Technology
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Geology and Geological Oceanography
- Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology Manufacturing
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Political Science
- Kinesiology
These are just a sampling of the degrees offered. Some of the most popular degree programs at URI are:
- Registered Nursing / Registered Nurse
- Psychology
- Kinesiology and Exercise Science
- Human Development and Family Studies
Registered Nursing / Registered Nurse Program at URI
The College of Nursing at the University of Rhode Island provides students with the personal attention one might expect at a much smaller school and the clinical experience that one might expect at a much larger institution. Plus, you may have the chance for cross-discipline work in fields such as engineering, business, psychology, and others.
Some of the reasons students choose the College of Nursing at URI are:
- Clinical Experience Choices
- Teachers Who Practice
- Personal Attention
- Degrees Hospitals Want
The College of Nursing also offers an online RN to BS in Nursing degree in both an online or on-campus format. These programs are designed to integrate clinical practice, scientific inquire, and creative thinking to enhance your skills and knowledge.
Online Programs at URI
In addition to the programs listed above, the University of Rhode Island offers a number of programs that may be earned entirely online. This is different from online courses, which a number of traditional, on-campus degree programs offer as an option to students.
These online programs are:
Online Undergraduate Degree Programs:
Online Graduate Degree Programs:
- Master of Science (M.S.) in Dietetics
- Cybersecurity Professional Science Masters Degree
- Master of Arts (M.A.) in Education: Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) or Dual Language Immersion (DLI)
Online Graduate Certificates:
- Digital Forensics
- Cybersecurity
- Digital Literacy
Online Professional Certificates:
- Digital Forensics
- Cybersecurity
Choose the Perfect Program for You at URI
The University of Rhode Island is focused on providing students with every opportunity to learn, grow, and earn the skills and knowledge to succeed in the modern world. URI strives to provide students with a safe, friendly, intimate, and student-centered environment so that all students can pursue their academic goals.
