2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island

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First-year retention rates measure the percentage of first-year students who come back to campus for a second year. This is an indicator of how happy students are generally with their decision to attend that institution as less students decide to drop out or transfer to another school.

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Rank	Institution	First Year Retention Rate	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Brown University	98.8	5.39	1,510 – 1,570	26608	79131	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island Brown University Providence, RI Founded in 1764, Brown University was the first school in North America that accepted students regardless of their religion. Their women’s institution, Pembroke College, merged into Brown in 1971. Alumni have gone on to create famous companies including ZipRecruiter, Cards Against Humanity, and CNN....Read more First Year Retention Rate 99 % 0.3% Acceptance Rate 5.4% SAT Score 1,510 – 1,570 Avg. Net Price $26,608 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $79,131
2	Rhode Island School of Design	95	18.66	1,400 – 1,530	42106	45932	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island Rhode Island School of Design Providence, RI The Rhode Island School of Design was founded to expand access to design education to women. Today, 74% of the undergraduate class consists of women. The main 123-acre campus is located on the Providence River, but many buildings and facilities, including the library, can now be found downtown. First Year Retention Rate 95 % 2.3% Acceptance Rate 18.7% SAT Score 1,400 – 1,530 Avg. Net Price $42,106 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,932
3	Providence College	94	50.89	1,110 – 1,340	46645	69326	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island Providence College Providence, RI Providence College was founded in 1917 and was also a founding member of the original Big East Conference. The athletes are cheered on by Friar Dom and Huxley the Dalmatian. Providence offers 1 majors and programs, and many go to study Neuroscience. First Year Retention Rate 94 % 3.3% Acceptance Rate 50.9% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $46,645 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $69,326
4	Bryant University	86.91	65.46	1,200 – 1,330	40612	66488	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island Bryant University Smithfield, RI Located in Smithfield, Bryant University accepts 65% of applicants and requests $50 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 98% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more First Year Retention Rate 87 % 0.1% Acceptance Rate 65.5% SAT Score 1,200 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $40,612 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $66,488
5	University of Rhode Island	83.6	72.16	1,020 – 1,280	20964	57446	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI Based in Kingston, the University of Rhode Island accepts 72% of applicants. They request $65 for undergraduate applications, but some schools offer fee waivers. Approximately 98% of students at the University of Rhode Island will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 84 % 0.6% Acceptance Rate 72.2% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $20,964 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $57,446
6	Salve Regina University	82.8	68.17	1,170 – 1,340	37794	55027	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island Salve Regina University Newport, RI Located in Newport, Salve Regina University accepted 68% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. Undergraduates have to pay $50 to apply. About 100% of students attending Salve Regina University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At Salve Regina University,......Read more First Year Retention Rate 83 % 2.6% Acceptance Rate 68.2% SAT Score 1,170 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $37,794 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,027
7	Johnson & Wales University-Providence	82	88.44	920 – 1,180	33480	35802	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island Johnson & Wales University-Providence Providence, RI Based in Providence, Johnson & Wales University-Providence accepts 88% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 100% of students at Johnson & Wales University-Providence will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more......Read more First Year Retention Rate 82 % 9.3% Acceptance Rate 88.4% SAT Score 920 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $33,480 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,802
8	Roger Williams University	79	87.78	1,140 – 1,310	37936	53845	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island Roger Williams University Bristol, RI Found in Bristol, Roger Williams University’s acceptance rate is 88%. Undergraduates have to send in $55 to apply. About 99% of students attending Roger Williams University will receive institutional grant aid....Read more First Year Retention Rate 79 % Acceptance Rate 87.8% SAT Score 1,140 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $37,936 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,845
9	Rhode Island College	73.3	91.82	870 – 1,120	11549	46882	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island Rhode Island College Providence, RI Rhode Island College opened in 1854, making it the second oldest higher education institution in the state (behind Brown University). RIC is a public school with a 14 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio and 23% yield. Many students study Social Work, and Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. First Year Retention Rate 73 % 0.5% Acceptance Rate 91.8% SAT Score 870 – 1,120 Avg. Net Price $11,549 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,882
10	College Unbound	0	0	--	18507	55193	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island College Unbound Providence, RI First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate -- SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $18,507 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,193
11	New England Institute of Technology	0	66.73	860 – 1,130	36714	44363	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich, RI First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 66.7% SAT Score 860 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $36,714 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $44,363

School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.

2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island

99 % 0.3%

5.4%

1,510 – 1,570

$26,608

$79,131

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island

95 % 2.3%

18.7%

1,400 – 1,530

$42,106

$45,932

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island

94 % 3.3%

50.9%

1,110 – 1,340

$46,645

$69,326

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island

87 % 0.1%

65.5%

1,200 – 1,330

$40,612

$66,488

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island

84 % 0.6%

72.2%

1,020 – 1,280

$20,964

$57,446

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island

83 % 2.6%

68.2%

1,170 – 1,340

$37,794

$55,027

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island

82 % 9.3%

88.4%

920 – 1,180

$33,480

$35,802

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island

79 %

87.8%

1,140 – 1,310

$37,936

$53,845

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island

73 % 0.5%

91.8%

870 – 1,120

$11,549

$46,882

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island

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--

--

$18,507

$55,193

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Rhode Island

--

66.7%

860 – 1,130

$36,714

$44,363

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99 %
0.3%

95 %
2.3%

94 %
3.3%

87 %
0.1%

84 %
0.6%

83 %
2.6%

82 %
9.3%

73 %
0.5%