Among best nationally according to the Wall Street Journal
The WSJ/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. ranking
rates the top 500 universities in the country. The University of Rhode Island
was ranked 84th overall—15 spots ahead of the next closest New England public
university, the University of Connecticut, which ranked 99th. Rhode Island and
Connecticut were the only two New England public universities to earn a spot in
the top 100.
By the numbers
URI’s ranking among the nation’s top 500 universities
- No. 1
ranked public university in New England
- No. 12
ranked public flagship university in the U.S.
- No. 35
ranked public university in the U.S.
- No. 84
ranked university overall (of 500) in the U.S.
- One of
only two New England public universities ranked in the top 100
“This ranking reflects our values, so it is not surprising to me that we are one of the highest ranked public flagship universities,” URI President Marc Parlange said. “URI makes a difference in people’s lives, and that’s what this ranking recognizes. We are committed to providing broad access to a high-quality academic experience and to ensuring that students have the support and resources they need to succeed. And we are incredibly proud of the success and impact of our graduates, who are making a real difference throughout Rhode Island and around the globe.”
The ranking focuses on how well colleges prepare students
for career and financial success, as well as overall student satisfaction,
providing a comprehensive measure of schools excelling in these areas and
responding to concerns about the rising cost of college tuition. Among other
things, the ranking assesses how much a school improves students’ chances of
graduating and their future earnings, balancing these outcomes with feedback
from students on college life.
On average, more than 90 percent of URI graduates are
employed or pursuing graduate studies within six months of their graduation,
according to a survey of recent graduates.
While URI ranked 84th out of 500 among all ranked
universities, it ranked 35th among public universities nationwide.
Interest in the state’s flagship research university reached
an all-time high this year. URI received a record 26,900 first-year
undergraduate applications for the fall 2024 semester, as well as a record
number of applications to its graduate programs. Approximately 3,100 first-year
students recently joined more than 500 transfer students, more than 2,000
graduate students, and thousands of returning URI students, to comprise a
student body of more than 17,000.
More than 89% of URI students receive some form of financial
aid, and financial aid support at the University increased to more than $150
million this year—a record high for the University—providing continuing support
for, and investment in, URI undergraduate and graduate students.
The WSJ/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. ranking
was developed and executed in collaboration with research partners College
Pulse and Statista. The rankings score colleges based on student outcomes
(70%), learning environment (20%) and diversity (10%). Student outcomes include
salary impact, years to pay off net price and graduation rate impact.
