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 2023, students completed 1,989 degree programs that were offered 100%
online by Rhode Island's colleges and universities. That
was an increase of 51% from completions reported in 2019.
Schools with Distance Education Completions
Est. Total Online Completions in 2023
Est. OnlineCompletions (Last 5 Years)
19:1318
20:1770
21:1638
22:2063
23:1989
Estimate derived from 2023 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™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Adult Students
77%
Students 25+ 77
Students Under 25 23
Source: College Scorecard 2023
Undergraduate Cost / Credit Hour
Best Nonprofit Online Colleges Serving Rhode Island
There are at least 7 nonprofit 4-year
schools serving Rhode Island, where students completed
3,346 distance education
degree programs. Of those schools, 7 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 2023, 1,429 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 88 associate degrees, 616 master's degrees, and 38 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
2,171
Associate: 88
Bachelor's: 1,429
Master's: 616
Doctoral: 38
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate69Bachelor's801Master's313Doctoral17
Computer and Information Sciences and Support ServicesAssociate13Bachelor's106Master's31Doctoral0
Communication, Journalism, and Related ProgramsAssociate1Bachelor's26Master's0Doctoral0
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate2Bachelor's157Master's128Doctoral15
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective ServicesAssociate3Bachelor's163Master's10Doctoral0
Multi/Interdisciplinary StudiesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's44Doctoral0
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and KinesiologyAssociate0Bachelor's19Master's0Doctoral0
Public Administration and Social Service ProfessionsAssociate0Bachelor's4Master's31Doctoral0
Social SciencesAssociate0Bachelor's100Master's0Doctoral0
EducationAssociate0Bachelor's3Master's10Doctoral6
PsychologyAssociate0Bachelor's50Master's49Doctoral0
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$68,230 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 minimal programs completed were offered
online. Master's degrees are the most popular at
Brown University. In 2023, 124 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
3%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
124
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 0
Master's: 124
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
EngineeringAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's103Doctoral0
Computer and Information Sciences and Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's21Doctoral0
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$10,488 Accredited
Yes
College Unbound is an institutionally accredited
nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes
full-time. Most of the students are
adults and all programs completed were offered
online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at
College Unbound. In 2023, 85 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
85
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 85
Master's: 0
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Multi/Interdisciplinary StudiesAssociate0Bachelor's85Master's0Doctoral0
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$47,930 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 minimal programs completed were offered
online. Master's degrees are the most popular at
Salve Regina University. In 2023, 153 distance education master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 99 bachelor's degrees, and 8 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
33%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
260
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 99
Master's: 153
Doctoral: 8
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's62Doctoral0
Social SciencesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's8Doctoral4
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's99Master's36Doctoral1
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's47Doctoral0
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's0Doctoral3
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. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at
Johnson & Wales University-Online. In 2023, 302 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 6 associate degrees, 297 master's degrees, and 8 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
613
Associate: 6
Bachelor's: 302
Master's: 297
Doctoral: 8
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate6Bachelor's155Master's230Doctoral8
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and KinesiologyAssociate0Bachelor's20Master's2Doctoral0
Computer and Information Sciences and Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's6Master's0Doctoral0
Communication, Journalism, and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's2Master's0Doctoral0
Social SciencesAssociate0Bachelor's2Master's0Doctoral0
PsychologyAssociate0Bachelor's19Master's21Doctoral0
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human SciencesAssociate0Bachelor's79Master's7Doctoral0
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's13Master's5Doctoral0
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's1Master's11Doctoral0
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesAssociate0Bachelor's5Master's0Doctoral0
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/TechniciansAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's8Doctoral0
Public Administration and Social Service ProfessionsAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's10Doctoral0
Culinary, Entertainment, and Personal ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's3Doctoral0
Roger Williams University
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$42,666 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 2023, 25 distance education bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 23 associate degrees, 3 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were completed as distance education programs.
Est. Online Degree Offerings
5%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
51
Associate: 23
Bachelor's: 25
Master's: 3
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Legal Professions and StudiesAssociate23Bachelor's7Master's0Doctoral0
Computer and Information Sciences and Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's17Master's3Doctoral0
Health Professions and Related ProgramsAssociate0Bachelor's1Master's0Doctoral0
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
$51,169 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 2023, 42 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
4%
Source: Lightcast™ 2023 (Online vs. Total Completions)
Est. Online Completions By Degree Type
42
Associate: 0
Bachelor's: 0
Master's: 42
Doctoral: 0
Source: Lightcast™ 2023
Online Completions by Program Area
AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesAssociate0Bachelor's0Master's42Doctoral0
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 $34,775. 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
- College Unbound
- Brown University
- Bryant University
- Roger Williams University
- Salve Regina University
- Johnson & Wales University-Online
Accredited Online Community Colleges Serving Rhode Island
- Community College of Rhode Island
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