2025 Guide To Top Online Colleges in Rhode Island
Are you in Rhode Island looking for an online college that best fits your needs? Start your search here.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide makes it easy to find information about schools offering online degrees in Rhode Island.
Get detailed information about colleges and universities with 100% online degree programs, including the number of distance-offered degree completions, student type, programs offered and more. In the end, you'll have an understanding of
what each school has to offer and which ones may be right for you. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Rhode Island's Online Colleges by the Numbers
Online associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions in Rhode Island have been growing over the past 5 years.
In 2022, students completed 2,063 degree programs that were offered 100%
online by Rhode Island's colleges and universities. That
was an increase of 49% from completions reported in 2018.
Schools with Distance Education Completions
Est. Total Online Completions in 2022
Est. OnlineCompletions (Last 5 Years)
18:1387
19:1318
20:1770
21:1638
22:2063
Estimate derived from 2022 Lightcast™ completion data.
Top Online College for Busy Adults & Transfer Students
Franklin University is a top choice for online learners, transfer students and adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus
has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers
more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Source: Lightcast™ 2022 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Adult Students
77%
Students 25+ 77
Students Under 25 23
Source: College Scorecard 2022
Undergraduate Cost / Credit Hour
Best Nonprofit Online Colleges Serving Rhode Island
There are at least 6 nonprofit 4-year
schools serving Rhode Island, where students completed
3,147 distance education
degree programs. Of those schools, 6 were private nonprofit
institutions and 1 was
a public school. Browse through the listing below to learn more about these nonprofit online colleges
serving Rhode Island, including an estimate about online degree availability and popular online degree
programs. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Source Details
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$9,577 Accredited
Yes
Franklin offers more than 50 online bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral programs in Rhode Island. Franklin University is an institutionally accredited
nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes
part-time. Most of the students are
adults and all programs completed were offered
online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at
Franklin University. In 2022, 1,011 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 94 associate degrees, 676 master's degrees, and 39 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Source: Lightcast™ 2022 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
1,820
Associate: 94
Bachelor's: 1,011
Master's: 676
Doctoral: 39
Source: Lightcast™ 2022
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate64Bachelor's631Master's402Doctoral21
Computer and Information Sciences and Support ServicesAssociate18Bachelor's89Master's24Doctoral0
Communication, Journalism, and Related ProgramsAssociate3Bachelor's26Master's0Doctoral0
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate5Bachelor's107Master's101Doctoral15
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective ServicesAssociate4Bachelor's54Master's11Doctoral0
Multi/Interdisciplinary StudiesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's28Doctoral0
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and KinesiologyAssociate0Bachelor's16Master's0Doctoral0
Public Administration and Social Service ProfessionsAssociate0Bachelor's1Master's34Doctoral0
Visual and Performing ArtsAssociate0Bachelor's17Master's0Doctoral0
Social SciencesAssociate0Bachelor's19Master's0Doctoral0
EducationAssociate0Bachelor's2Master's18Doctoral3
PsychologyAssociate0Bachelor's49Master's58Doctoral0
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$65,046 Accredited
Yes
Brown University is an institutionally accredited
nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes
full-time. Most of the students are
of traditional age and no programs completed were offered
online. Master's degrees are the most popular at
Brown University. In 2022, 2 distance education master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
0%
Source: Lightcast™ 2022 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
2
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 0
Master's: 2
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2022
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Computer and Information Sciences and Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's2Doctoral0
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$46,000 Accredited
Yes
Salve Regina University is an institutionally accredited
nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes
full-time. Most of the students are
of traditional age and some programs completed were offered
online. Master's degrees are the most popular at
Salve Regina University. In 2022, 154 distance education master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 114 bachelor's degrees, and 13 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
38%
Source: Lightcast™ 2022 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
281
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 114
Master's: 154
Doctoral: 13
Source: Lightcast™ 2022
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's70Doctoral0
Social SciencesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's7Doctoral1
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's114Master's23Doctoral2
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's54Doctoral0
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's0Doctoral10
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$49,329 Accredited
Yes
Bryant University is an institutionally accredited
nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes
full-time. Most of the students are
of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered
online. Master's degrees are the most popular at
Bryant University. In 2022, 87 distance education master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
8%
Source: Lightcast™ 2022 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
87
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 0
Master's: 87
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2022
Johnson & Wales University-Online
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$13,365 Accredited
Yes
Johnson & Wales University-Online is an institutionally accredited
nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes
part-time. Most of the students are
a mixture of traditional and adult aged and all programs completed were offered
online. Master's degrees are the most popular at
Johnson & Wales University-Online. In 2022, 372 distance education master's degrees were completed. In addition, 8 associate degrees, 333 bachelor's degrees, and 7 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Source: Lightcast™ 2022 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
720
Associate: 8
Bachelor's: 333
Master's: 372
Doctoral: 7
Source: Lightcast™ 2022
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate8Bachelor's190Master's296Doctoral7
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and KinesiologyAssociate0Bachelor's26Master's15Doctoral0
Computer and Information Sciences and Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's5Master's0Doctoral0
Communication, Journalism, and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's2Master's0Doctoral0
Social SciencesAssociate0Bachelor's1Master's0Doctoral0
PsychologyAssociate0Bachelor's8Master's13Doctoral0
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human SciencesAssociate0Bachelor's87Master's5Doctoral0
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's9Master's7Doctoral0
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's26Doctoral0
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesAssociate0Bachelor's5Master's0Doctoral0
Public Administration and Social Service ProfessionsAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's6Doctoral0
Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's4Doctoral0
Roger Williams University
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$41,398 Accredited
Yes
Roger Williams University is an institutionally accredited
nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes
full-time. Most of the students are
of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered
online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at
Roger Williams University. In 2022, 136 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 54 associate degrees, 47 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
21%
Source: Lightcast™ 2022 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
237
Associate: 54
Bachelor's: 136
Master's: 47
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2022
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's6Doctoral0
Legal Professions and StudiesAssociate53Bachelor's21Master's0Doctoral0
Social SciencesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's2Doctoral0
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective ServicesAssociate1Bachelor's88Master's24Doctoral0
Public Administration and Social Service ProfessionsAssociate0Bachelor's11Master's11Doctoral0
Computer and Information Sciences and Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's13Master's4Doctoral0
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's3Master's0Doctoral0
Affordable Online Colleges in Rhode Island
Wondering what you can expect to pay for an online degree in Rhode Island? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average
tuition at Rhode Island's 4-year nonprofit schools is $37,453. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit
schools in Rhode Island is N/A, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is N/A.
Accredited
Online Colleges Serving Rhode Island
Earning a college degree is an investment — and earning a college degree from an institutionally accredited university is one of the best ways to ensure your
education is of high quality. Institutionally accredited universities are held to rigorous standards by state and regional bodies and undergo regular reviews
to verify that their processes and academic programs meet the proper standards.
Wondering if a certain college or university offering degree programs in Rhode Island is institutionally accredited? View a list of
institutionally accredited online colleges and universities serving Rhode Island here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
Accredited Online Nonprofit Colleges Serving Rhode Island
- Franklin University
- Brown University
- Bryant University
- Johnson & Wales University-Online
- Roger Williams University
- Salve Regina University
Accredited Online Community Colleges Serving Rhode Island
- Community College of Rhode Island
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