University of Rhode Island acceptance rate and your odds of getting in
University of Rhode Island is a public university in Rhode Island that admits most qualified applicants (around 72%), which puts it in the moderately selective range. A rate like this means it admits more applicants than it rejects; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.
Use this page to see what University of Rhode Island weighs, where it ranks among Rhode Island schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1230, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
University of Rhode Island application deadlines, 2026-27
What do students study at University of Rhode Island?
Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.
Will I get into University of Rhode Island?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of Rhode Island, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into University of Rhode Island?
At University of Rhode Island, your real chance depends on far more than the published 72% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of Rhode Island in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is University of Rhode Island hard to get into?
University of Rhode Island is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 72% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.
What GPA do you need to get into University of Rhode Island?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of Rhode Island, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. University of Rhode Island reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
Your chances at University of Rhode Island by GPA and SAT
Estimated chance of admission at University of Rhode Island for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).
What are my chances at University of Rhode Island with a 3.1 GPA and a 1150 SAT?
About 88% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1150 SAT, the middle of University of Rhode Island's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1280 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.
Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/university-of-rhode-island.
How to get into University of Rhode Island
Built from University of Rhode Island's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.
Getting into University of Rhode Island comes down to four decisions, each one visible in the data on this page.
CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at University of Rhode Island carries about a 3.21 core GPA and a 1230 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.
The admitted middle 50% is 1020 to 1280 SAT. Submit a score at 1150 or higher; below 1020, apply test-optional if the policy allows.
University of Rhode Island rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.
Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by University of Rhode Island's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at web.uri.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.
How many students apply to University of Rhode Island, and how many get in?
25,391 students applied to University of Rhode Island for fall 2023; 19,568 were admitted (77.1%). 3,289 enrolled. Only about 17% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. University of Rhode Island enrolls about 13,381 undergraduates in total, 58% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 17 to 1.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for University of Rhode Island?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Rhode Island scored between 1020 and 1280 on the SAT (average 1160). A score above 1280 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1020 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. University of Rhode Island is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.
What University of Rhode Island looks for
What University of Rhode Island weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
University of Rhode Island signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from University of Rhode Island's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at University of Rhode Island
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.
How much does University of Rhode Island cost after financial aid?
University of Rhode Island's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $34,321 per year. Tuition and fees are $16,942 for RI residents and $37,146 for out-of-state students, a $20,204 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $21,440 a year, and it ranges from $14,368 for families earning under $30,000 to $28,460 for families earning over $110,000. 22% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.
What do University of Rhode Island graduates earn, and how many graduate?
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of Rhode Island student who received federal aid earns $69,743 a year, up from $57,446 at six years. 73% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 84% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $22,250; 49% of undergraduates take federal loans.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.
How University of Rhode Island compares in Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island ranks #5 most selective of 7 schools in Rhode Island in our database.
Among the 7 Rhode Island schools we track, University of Rhode Island ranks #5 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Brown University (5%) and Providence College (51%) sit nearby, which makes Rhode Island a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.
Similar to University of Rhode Island
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
If University of Rhode Island is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: James Madison University, University of Maryland Baltimore County, and University of Memphis. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What is University of Rhode Island's acceptance rate?
University of Rhode Island admitted 19,568 of 25,391 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 77.1% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 17% of admitted students enrolled.
What SAT score do you need for University of Rhode Island?
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1020 to 1280 on the SAT. A score above 1280 is in the top quarter of admits. University of Rhode Island is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.
Is University of Rhode Island test-optional?
Yes. University of Rhode Island reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.
How much does University of Rhode Island cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Rhode Island, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $21,440 a year against a sticker price of about $34,321. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $14,368 on average.
What do University of Rhode Island graduates earn?
Median earnings ten years after entering University of Rhode Island are $69,743 a year among students who received federal aid, and 73% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).
What does University of Rhode Island value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, University of Rhode Island weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does University of Rhode Island favor in-state applicants?
As a public university, University of Rhode Island generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.
How can I improve my chances at University of Rhode Island?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of Rhode Island specifically.
How does residency affect admission to University of Rhode Island?
As a public university, University of Rhode Island typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.
Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.