Business Schools in Rhode Island
Tiny Rhode Island—officially the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations—is mostly not an island. However, it does possess several and is nicknamed the Ocean State because of its extensive inland waterways. Its name’s origin is unclear: it may be named for Rhodes’ island, but another theory holds that it’s an adaptation of a Dutch phrase meaning “red island.” Rhode Island is the smallest state in the union geographically; its small size is underscored because it has the 7th lowest population but 2nd highest population density. Rhode Island’s economy was once supported primarily through fishing but is now heavily service-based particularly in healthcare.
All of New England has a rich academic heritage, and Rhode Island packs a decent number of colleges into its 1,214 square miles. National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) data shows ten public and non-profit schools that grant undergraduate business degrees in the state, of which six are accredited. We always recommend choosing an accredited degree in business. This assures that the program you select has clear objectives and produces quality outcomes while adhering to national and international standards. Accredited schools also typically offer a richer educational experience by providing interaction with real businesses.
All of the schools in this article have been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). They are all public or non-profit and regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
In this article, you will find all the essential data you need to help you choose the Rhode Island business school that best suits your unique needs, based on various key factors, including tuition, financial aid, entrance exam scores, acceptance rates, and more. The sections that follow describe undergraduate programs and job prospects for business school graduates in Rhode Island.
Undergraduate Business Schools in Rhode Island
Like other states in the northeast, Rhode Island’s schools are generally on the expensive side, though there are a couple of budget options. Four schools range in price from $32,000 (Roger Williams University) to $46,970 (Providence College), while the two economic choices are the University of Rhode Island at $12,900 and Rhode Island College at just $8,200. Average financial aid is on the low side at $15,500, though it is a higher percentage of tuition costs for the lower-priced universities.
Acceptance rates in Rhode Island are reasonable and relatively uniform: the average is 70% with a range of 55% (Providence College) to 79% (Roger Williams University). Graduation rates for undergraduate business degrees in Rhode Island are very good for 5 of the schools, ranging from 63% at the University of Rhode Island to 83% at Providence College; Rhode Island College is the outlier at 47%, but this is still a reasonable figure. The best combination of acceptance rate and the graduation rate is at Bryant University, with 67% and 77% models.
The table below shows you all the essential data you need about undergraduate business schools in Rhode Island, including annual in-state tuition costs, average aid per student, acceptance rates, SAT and ACT score ranges of accepted students, and graduation rates. Click any column header to sort the table based on its contents.
| School | City | Tuition | Aid | Median SAT | Median ACT | Accept. Rate | Grad. Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryant University | Smithfield | $40,962 | $18,101 | 67% | 77% | ||
| Providence College | Providence | $46,970 | $24,512 | 1030-1240 | 23-28 | 55% | 83% |
| Rhode Island College | Providence | $8,206 | $5,548 | 790-1020 | 16-20 | 75% | 47% |
| Roger Williams University | Bristol | $32,100 | $14,826 | 79% | 64% | ||
| Salve Regina University | Newport | $37,820 | $20,092 | 68% | 68% | ||
| University of Rhode Island | Kingston | $12,884 | $9,962 | 970-1170 | 22-27 | 73% | 63% |
Job Outlook for Business School Graduates in Rhode Island
From 2016 to 2026, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data predicts total growth of at least 5% in 32 of 37 business and management occupations across the US. The highest growth will be for market analysts and marketing specialists, at 22.8% over ten years, with financial managers coming in second at 18.7%.
Rhode Island’s economy tends to track that of the nation as a whole but is slightly weaker in employment. Its unemployment rate has managed to be about one point higher than the national average for most of the last 20 years, though the gap has closed recently; Rhode Island’s current unemployment rate is 4.3%, slightly above the 4% of the United States overall. About 36,200 people were employed in the business and management sector in Rhode Island in 2016. The largest subgroup was general and operations managers at 6,100, a little higher than the size of the next largest subgroup, accountants and auditors, at 4,400.
According to BLS data, Rhode Island ranked 19th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for the overall average annual wage across all occupations in 2016 at $60,596, just above the national average of $57,617. Business and management occupations had a weighted yearly average wage of around $104,000 that year, more than double the all-occupations average and a larger gap than that found in most states. Chief executives were the highest-paid category at $235,000, and most management positions fell between $100,000 and $160,000. The lowest-paid of the groups was tax preparers at $43,810.
| Occupation Title | BLS.gov Code | 2016 Total Employment Rhode Island | Mean Hourly Wage Rhode Island | Mean Annual Wage Rhode Island | National Growth 2016-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | 13-2011 | 4,400 | $38 | $79,950 | 8.0% |
| Administrative Services Managers | 11-3011 | 640 | $60 | $124,570 | 9.1% |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | 11-2011 | 120 | $49 | $102,850 | 5.8% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 11-9041 | 420 | $71 | $147,930 | 7.4% |
| Budget Analysts | 13-2031 | 130 | $41 | $84,740 | 10.4% |
| Business Operations Specialists | 13-1199 | 2,350 | $38 | $79,070 | 10.1% |
| Chief Executives | 11-1011 | 350 | $113 | $235,230 | 11.9% |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | 11-3111 | 60 | $80 | $166,730 | 0.187 |
| Compensation, and Benefits Specialists | 13-1141 | 250 | $36 | $74,420 | 5.6% |
| Compliance Officers | 13-1041 | 670 | $35 | $73,450 | 5.0% |
| Construction Managers | 11-9021 | 430 | $54 | $111,380 | 8.9% |
| Cost Estimators | 13-1051 | 610 | $31 | $64,880 | 10.3% |
| Credit Analysts | 13-2041 | 650 | $35 | $72,240 | 11.4% |
| Credit Counselors | 13-2071 | 170 | $28 | $59,120 | 5.5% |
| Financial Analysts | 13-2051 | 1,080 | $38 | $78,640 | 4.9% |
| Financial Examiners | 13-2061 | 360 | $43 | $88,900 | 8.2% |
| Financial Managers | 11-3031 | 2,320 | $69 | $144,260 | 10.6% |
| General and Operations Managers | 11-1021 | 6,100 | $71 | $146,870 | 7.1% |
| Human Resources Managers | 11-3121 | 310 | $75 | $156,790 | -7.8% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 13-1071 | 1,770 | $35 | $71,910 | 6.9% |
| Information Systems Managers | 11-3021 | 1,200 | $70 | $145,240 | 12.0% |
| Insurance Underwriters | 13-2053 | 440 | $36 | $75,030 | 10.2% |
| Labor Relations Specialists | 13-1075 | 450 | $30 | $62,990 | 8.5% |
| Loan Officers | 13-2072 | 1,560 | $33 | $69,570 | 11.5% |
| Logisticians | 13-1081 | 500 | $48 | $99,230 | 22.8% |
| Management Analysts | 13-1111 | 3,130 | $42 | $86,690 | 8.8% |
| Market Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 13-1161 | 1,930 | $35 | $72,930 | 10.0% |
| Marketing Managers | 11-2021 | 650 | $73 | $151,860 | 6.5% |
| Meeting and Event Planners | 13-1121 | 330 | $25 | $52,180 | 8.4% |
| Public Relations and Fundraising Managers | 11-2031 | 320 | $76 | $158,730 | 10.8% |
| Purchasing Managers | 11-3061 | 190 | $62 | $128,690 | -5.2% |
| Sales Managers | 11-2022 | 800 | $73 | $152,840 | 9.8% |
| Tax Examiners and Revenue Agents | 13-2081 | 330 | $35 | $71,830 | 13.9% |
| Tax Preparers | 13-2082 | 160 | $21 | $43,810 | 11.5% |
| Training and Development Managers | 11-3131 | 60 | $68 | $141,010 | -0.6% |
| Training and Development Specialists | 13-1151 | 950 | $37 | $76,590 | 10.8% |
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References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics:https://nces.ed.gov/
2. AACSB, Best Business Schools:https://bestbizschools.aacsb.edu/aacsb-accredited
3. ACBSP, Business Schools:https://www.acbsp.org/accreditation
4. IACBE, Business Schools:https://iacbe.org/accreditation/
5. US Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Outlook Handbook, Business and Financial Occupations: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm
6. US Bureau of Labor Statistics – Employment and Wage Estimates Rhode Island: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ri.htm
7. US News & World Report, Best Business Schools:https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools