on Rhode Island Colleges, College Admissions, and College Life
Rhode Island Colleges and Universities
by Dawn Papandrea
Are you considering any universities in Rhode Island, but hesitating? When it comes to College, you've probably heard that size doesn't matter. That's because it's the quality of the education, not how large a school is or how many thousands attend that makes it worth your time and investment. The same goes for the state in which your college or university is located. Case in point: Rhode Island colleges have plenty to offer the students who attend, despite the state's small size.
Rhode Island is located in the southeastern corner of New England, making it a convenient traveling distance to several major cities; it's just 60 miles from Boston and 180 miles from New York City. In other words, it's a quaint location, but weekend getaways to cultural hotspots are doable. And because it's just 48 miles long by 37 miles wide, you can take advantage of virtually everything the state has to offer if you attend one of the universities in Rhode Island.
And, the offerings are abundant - from urban excitement and rural tranquility, to sandy beaches and 2,300 acres of magnificent parks, you'll have plenty to do after class. And when you really need a book break, Rhode Island's distinctive vacation areas include the historic Blackstone River Valley and Greater Providence regions, to Newport and the coastal resorts of South County and Block Island. History students at Rhode Island colleges take note: the state is practically a museum in itself, as one of the nation's largest concentrations of historic landmarks.
As for job opportunities, Rhode Island's economy is built upon three powerful industries: Health services, tourism, and manufacturing. Tourism alone, which is Rhode Island's second largest industry, employs over 39,000 professionals. Rhode Island is also thriving in the areas of electronics and ocean technologies. Information technology and Financial services are growing industries in the state, as well.
Number of
Rhode Island colleges and universities
: 14
Cool Events Abound at Universities in Rhode Island
Free and public concert choirs perform at Rhode Island colleges.
State Aid Agency: Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority
College Prepaid/Savings Program: CollegeBoundfund
Popular College Majors
Universities in Rhode Island offer a great variety of majors. Among those most popular: Health and Allied Services, Engineering and Engineering Technologies, Business and Commerce, and Social Sciences and History. Source: College Bound Seniors 2005, The College Board