Most Selective Rhode Island Colleges

Rhode Island has 2 four-year colleges that accept 50% or fewer of applicants, ranked from most to least selective.

Brown University is the hardest to get into in Rhode Island, accepting just 5% of 48,904 applicants. Also highly selective: Rhode Island School of Design.

Selectivity does not always equal academic difficulty. Some schools admit a small share of applicants because demand exceeds capacity, not because admission standards are extreme. If you need safety schools, see our highest acceptance rate colleges in Rhode Island. For academically demanding options, explore colleges with the highest SAT, highest ACT, and highest GPA averages.

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Rhode Island Low Acceptance % Public Private 4 Year
Brown University Campus

credit : thurdl01 / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Providence, RI
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • 5% acceptance rate
  • Jan 5 application deadline

Brown is an Ivy League university known for undergraduate economics, computer science, and the biological sciences. Most students design their own path under the Open Curriculum, which has no required core.

#11 Best Colleges in America 10/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1510-1580
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.94
  • Net Price $26,256
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Rhode Island School of Design Campus

credit : angela n. / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Providence, RI
  • | 0 reviews
  • 19% acceptance rate
  • Feb 1 application deadline

RISD is a highly selective private art and design college known for undergraduate fine arts, industrial design, and architecture. The urban Providence campus borders Brown University and offers a dual-degree program with it.

#2 Best Colleges in Rhode Island 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1396-1530
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.71
  • Net Price $43,492
Details Calculate my Chances