Roger Williams University — College Profile

About

Situated on a scenic 140-acre waterfront campus in Bristol, Rhode Island, Roger Williams University is best known for integrating a strong liberal arts foundation with specialized professional preparation, boasting exceptionally strong programs in Marine Biology, Architecture, and Criminal Justice. The campus culture is vibrant, collaborative, and deeply connected to its coastal environment, offering students a tight-knit community enriched by hands-on undergraduate research, active waterfront recreation, and over 70 student organizations. A defining feature of the RWU experience is its unique commitment to civic scholarship; through the university's Community Partnerships Center, students work directly with local non-profits and government agencies on real-world projects, ensuring they graduate with a robust portfolio of practical, community-minded experience.

Wikipedia:Roger Williams University (RWU) is a private university in Bristol, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1956, it was named for theologian and Rhode Island cofounder Roger Williams. The school enrolled approximately 4,400 undergraduate and graduate students and employs over 480 academic staff as of 2022.

Location

Bristol, RI, 02809-2921 · Suburb campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

PVD · Providence

10 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

YoursEveryone

Tuition & fees$44,418

Housing & food (on campus)$17,112

Books & supplies$900

Cost of attendance$71,730

Average net price$37,999

Same price for all students

Tuition & fees$44,418

Housing & food (on campus)$17,112

Books & supplies$900

Cost of attendance$71,730

Average net price$37,999

Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.rwu.edu

How it’s made up · 2026-27

Roger Williams University’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.

Tuition$47,928

Housing$9,964

Food$8,568

Books & supplies$1,000

Personal expenses$2,100

Transportation$1,600

Total published by the school$71,730

Source: www.rwu.edu · checked Sep 29, 2026

Net price by family income · 2023-24

$0–30k

$29,778

$30–48k

$30,087

$48–75k

$33,623

$75–110k

$37,318

$110k+

$40,792

Your family's actual price → Roger Williams University net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

68%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

64%

Back for yr 2

81%

Transferred

26%

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

70% graduated · 27% transferred · 4% left or unknown · none still enrolled

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

6 yrs after entry$53,845

10 yrs after entry$70,266

Debt

Median at graduation$26,940

Monthly payment$286

Middle 50% owe$7k–$27k

90th percentile$28,973

Green marks a figure above the typical Master's (medium programs): 52% graduate within 6 yrs, $51,562 earned 10 yrs after entry.

Admissions

Getting in · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

88%

Test policy

Test optional

Per College Scorecard

SAT average

1223

R 580–660 · M 560–650

SAT middle 50%: 1140–1310

40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If Roger Williams University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 48%Women 52%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

10 : 1

Pell grant

16%

First-gen

20%

Family income

$103,564

Independent

Age at entry

20.0

Part-time

Race & ethnicity

White

70%

Hispanic

12%

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division III without football · EADA 2024-25

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Cross Country
Men's · Women's
Equestrian
Women's
Field Hockey
Women's
Golf
Men's
Lacrosse
Men's · Women's
Sailing
Co-ed
Soccer
Men's · Women's
Softball
Women's
Swimming
Men's · Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field (Outdoor)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's
Wrestling
Men's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021

After 6 yrs

$53,845

After 10 yrs

$70,266

Criminal Justice and Corrections98

Architectural Sciences and Technology83

Marketing78

Psychology, General60

Construction Management58

Business Administration, Management and Operations46

Finance and Financial Management Services44

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods36

Biology, General31

Mechanical Engineering27

Legal Professions and Studies, Other27

Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology26

Design and Applied Arts20

Communication and Media Studies18

Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management17

Accounting and Related Services17

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$77M

Full-time faculty

42%

Faculty salary

$13,293/mo

Teaching spend

$17,170

per student

Federal loans

56%

Classification

Carnegie type

Master's (medium programs)

Research activity

Research college or university

$4M research spending

Undergraduate profile