University of Rhode Island: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Kingston, Rhode Island · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
University of Rhode Island is a public institution located in Kingston, Rhode Island. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Rhode Island admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 77%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1176 and an ACT composite around 28. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $19,899 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of Rhode Island is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What GPA does my child need for University of Rhode Island?
University of Rhode Island has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
What does University of Rhode Island weight in admissions?
University of Rhode Island reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
- • Class rank
- • Standardized test scores
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • First generation status
- • Geographical residence
- • State residency
- • Level of applicant's interest
- • Interview
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores University of Rhode Island typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 510–620, with an EBRW midpoint near 600. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 26–31. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1020 |
| 50th percentile | 1170 |
| 75th percentile | 1260 |
| % submitting SAT | 27.4% |
| 25th percentile | 26 |
| 50th percentile | 28 |
| 75th percentile | 31 |
| % submitting ACT | % |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 19.8% |
| Top 25% of class | 49.2% |
| Top 50% of class | 83.3% |
| % submitting class rank | 38.7% |
How much does University of Rhode Island actually cost?
Published tuition is $16,408 for in-state students and $35,804 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $14,900 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $19,899 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 21% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| In-state tuition | $14,630 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $34,834 |
| Room and board | $14,638 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $19,899 |
| Application fee | $65 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Rhode Island
| Notification date | Rolling beginning March 1 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | December 1 |
Will my child graduate from University of Rhode Island?
Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.
Other colleges in Rhode Island parents ask about
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University of Rhode Island
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University of Rhode Island recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about University of Rhode Island
What GPA do I need for University of Rhode Island?
University of Rhode Island has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does University of Rhode Island typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 510–620, with an EBRW midpoint near 600. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 26–31.
How much does University of Rhode Island actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Rhode Island after grants and scholarships is $19,899 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is University of Rhode Island realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, University of Rhode Island is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Rhode Island, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.