Best Online Colleges in Rhode Island 2024

Badge for BEST ONLINE COLLEGES IN RHODE ISLAND

Updated: Nov 22, 2023

Find the best online colleges in Rhode Island ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs.

Top 10 Online Colleges in Rhode Island

University of Rhode Island
Providence College
Salve Regina University

University of Rhode Island
Providence College
Salve Regina University

University of Rhode Island 76%
Salve Regina University 70%
Providence College 53%

University of Rhode Island 17 to 1
Salve Regina University 13 to 1
Providence College 11 to 1

Providence College $57,928
Salve Regina University $46,000
University of Rhode Island $13,586

University of Rhode Island $14,822
Salve Regina University $12,060
Providence College $11,070

Salve Regina University
Providence College
University of Rhode Island

Salve Regina University
Providence College
University of Rhode Island

Providence College 53%
Salve Regina University 70%
University of Rhode Island 76%

Providence College 11 to 1
Salve Regina University 13 to 1
University of Rhode Island 17 to 1

University of Rhode Island $13,586
Salve Regina University $46,000
Providence College $57,928

Providence College $11,070
Salve Regina University $12,060
University of Rhode Island $14,822

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Rhode Island

Of the three public schools, the University of Rhode Island is the largest, having more than 15,000 students in attendance. The main campus is located in Kingston, and the tuition rate is $14,000. The most prestigious school in the state is Brown University, a private Ivy League institution located in Providence. Over 9,000 students study on this campus in fields like biophysics, ethnic studies, and public health. Tuition is more expensive at about $55,000, but the school boasts a 96% graduation rate.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

Of the eight private schools, two are religiously affiliated. Both Salve Regina University and Providence College have under 5,000 students, though the tuition fees are more expensive at $40,000 and $51,000, respectively. Whether you seek an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, Rhode Island also offers a unique opportunity for graduates. As a financial incentive to pursue a career or start a business in Rhode Island in the technology, engineering, design, or other sectors, the Wavemaker Fellowship program defrays student loan payments for up to four years.

Rhode Island is the smallest U.S. state, but it has more than 400 miles of coastline, giving it the nickname The Ocean State. With sandy beaches and colonial towns, this state offers relaxation and history. Rhode Island also has 11 public and private higher education institutions with an average tuition of just over $12,000.

Meet your academic goals at one of the higher learning centers in Rhode Island. Check out the top programs to see which school fits your needs.

What are Rhode Island’s Colleges & Universities?

Rhode Island’s Best Overall

Online education has grown dramatically in quality, credibility, and popularity over the last two decades. Today, more than a quarter of all college students are taking at least one online course. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are more than 5 million college students who are pursuing their undergraduate degree fully online. And the number of online college and graduate students continues to grow as online technology and instructional methods improve.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to remote learning has proven an essential part of the educational ecosystem. Schools that offer primarily online degree programs saw an increase of 7% enrollment just between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. The number of traditional institutions offering online courses and degrees is growing as well. This all paints a promising picture for the future of online education. But it also produces a dizzying array of options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Online Colleges 2024

Asynchronous learning means classes don’t meet at set times. This is the most flexible online learning experience, making when you cover your course material up to you. Most asynchronous online courses will still have deadlines throughout the semester for various assignments and tests. Some asynchronous classes may still ask for an occasional meeting, such as initial meet-and-greets, and in some cases there may be scheduled test times. The idea of asynchronous learning is to allow the student to manage their schedules as needed.

Synchronous learning means you will have scheduled meeting times for your online classes. Synchronous learning gives online students the flexibility of location while also giving students a chance to engage with each other and their professors. For many online students, the structured class schedules and ability to see and hear from peers in real-time helps create the learning experience they want.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities—educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

How do we determine the best online colleges for undergrads?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Best Online Colleges in Rhode Island 2023

#1
University of Rhode Island
Kingston , RI
#1 Best Public Colleges in Rhode Island 2024 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Rhode Island 2025 #2 Best Research Universities in Rhode Island 2025 #2 Best Colleges in Rhode Island 2025
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
72%
Student body
21K
Median SAT/ACT
1160/27
Career Outlook for degree at University of Rhode Island
Cost of Degree: $16,408
Expenses: $18,586
Starting Salary: $58,400
Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Degrees
BA in Communication Studies

Program type: Degree completion
Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BSN in Nursing: RN to BSN

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
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#2
Providence College
Providence , RI
#7 The Best Catholic Colleges and Universities Ranked for 2024 #12 50 Best Christian Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities 2025 #1 Best Small Colleges in Rhode Island 2025 #1 Best Christian Colleges in Rhode Island 2024
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
53%
Graduation
86%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1340/30
Career Outlook for degree at Providence College
Cost of Degree: $60,848
Expenses: $19,792
Starting Salary: $73,400
Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Degree Competion Programs
BS in Fire Administration

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Healthcare Administration

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in History

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Leadership Development

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Liberal Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Professional Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Social Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Theology

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
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#3
Salve Regina University
Newport , RI
#2 Best Christian Colleges in Rhode Island 2024 #4 Best Small Colleges in Rhode Island 2025 #4 Best Grad Schools in Rhode Island 2024 #5 Best Private Colleges in Rhode Island 2025
Tuition + fees
$46K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
76%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1205/27
Career Outlook for degree at Salve Regina University
Cost of Degree: $47,930
Expenses: $22,986
Starting Salary: $57,700
Cost Recoup Time: 18 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Degrees
BSN in Nursing: RN to BSN

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school

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Best Online Colleges in Rhode Island 2024

Top 10 Online Colleges in Rhode Island

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Rhode Island

What are Rhode Island’s Colleges & Universities?

Rhode Island’s Best Overall

Best Online Colleges in Rhode Island 2023

University of Rhode Island

Career Outlook for degree at University of Rhode Island

Online Degrees

Providence College

Career Outlook for degree at Providence College

Online Degree Competion Programs

Salve Regina University

Career Outlook for degree at Salve Regina University

Online Degrees