Roger Williams University (RWU)
Private nonprofit four-year university in Bristol, RI that costs an average of $37,645 a year after financial aid, admits 88% of applicants and graduates 67% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$37,645
Acceptance rate
88%
Graduation rate
67%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$77,127
Private nonprofitLarge suburb3,946 undergraduates
Cost of RWU
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $66,939 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $45,978 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $17,656 |
| Books and supplies | $900 |
| Average net price after aid | $37,645 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $28,854 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $29,971 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $30,430 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $36,865 |
| $110,001+ | $42,874 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with RWU's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 88% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,223 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 580–660 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 560–650 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 24–29 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 67% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 81% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $59,549 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $77,127 |
| Rank in Rhode Island (earnings) | 4th of 10 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $25,000 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $284 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 21% |
| Students with federal loans | 57% |
Majors and programs at RWU
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (67)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 31 | $82,314 | $26,500 |
| Construction Management | 107 | $77,613 | $27,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 27 | $75,225 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | 27 | $72,515 | $24,271 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 82 | $66,562 | $27,000 |
| Legal Support Services | 18 | $55,603 | — |
| Architecture | — | $55,092 | $26,967 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 192 | $52,981 | $26,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 90 | $51,694 | $26,441 |
| Political Science and Government | 28 | $49,594 | $24,159 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 23 | $48,133 | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 16 | $47,537 | — |
| Public Health | 25 | $47,399 | $20,350 |
| Security Science and Technology | 38 | $47,393 | $24,875 |
| Marketing | 130 | $46,289 | $26,000 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 11 | $44,223 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 34 | $44,081 | $26,730 |
| Legal Professions and Studies, Other | 59 | $43,777 | $27,000 |
| Biology | 55 | $43,229 | $26,856 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 75 | $42,189 | $26,000 |
| Graphic Communications | 1 | $41,370 | — |
| Psychology | 122 | $40,572 | $25,500 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 36 | $40,444 | $27,000 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 57 | $32,186 | $27,000 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | 9 | — | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 3 | — | — |
| Applied Mathematics | 1 | — | — |
| Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation | 2 | — | — |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 164 | — | $23,250 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 3 | — | — |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | 1 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 15 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | 14 | — | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 1 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | 2 | — | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 4 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 36 | — | — |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | — | — | — |
| Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis | 2 | — | — |
| Dance | 7 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 3 | — | — |
| Economics | 8 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 6 | — | — |
| Engineering | 46 | — | $27,000 |
| English Language and Literature | 4 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 11 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 2 | — | — |
| Historic Preservation and Conservation | 7 | — | — |
| History | 17 | — | — |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| International Business | 21 | — | — |
| International/Globalization Studies | 10 | — | — |
| Journalism | 10 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 3 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 2 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 5 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 5 | — | — |
| Music | 5 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 17 | — | — |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 5 | — | — |
| Physics | — | — | — |
| Public Administration | 13 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 7 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | — | — |
| Social Sciences | 20 | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | — | — | — |
Certificate programs (9)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 1 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 4 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 29 | — | — |
| Historic Preservation and Conservation | 1 | — | — |
| Legal Professions and Studies, Other | 1 | — | — |
| Legal Support Services | 2 | — | — |
| Public Administration | 2 | — | — |
| Social Sciences | 1 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (5)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Support Services | 36 | $47,841 | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 8 | — | — |
| Legal Professions and Studies, Other | 65 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 6 | — | — |
| Social Sciences | 5 | — | — |
Master's degree programs (20)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Administration | 16 | $74,854 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 56 | $64,601 | $37,504 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 53 | $63,262 | $77,819 |
| Architecture | — | $62,409 | — |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 73 | $61,695 | $66,007 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 42 | $54,329 | $39,148 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 26 | $52,693 | — |
| Computer Science | — | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 16 | — | — |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | — | — | — |
| Construction Management | — | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 1 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | — | — | — |
| Historic Preservation and Conservation | 12 | — | — |
| Law | — | — | — |
| Legal Professions and Studies, Other | 2 | — | — |
| Psychology | — | — | — |
| Social Sciences | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
Professional degree programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | — | $63,199 | $120,892 |
Graduate certificate programs (10)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | 2 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 1 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | — | — | — |
| Historic Preservation and Conservation | — | — | — |
| Legal Professions and Studies, Other | 3 | — | — |
| Legal Support Services | 2 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | — | — | — |
| Public Administration | — | — | — |
| Security Science and Technology | 1 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Rhode Island
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson & Wales University-Providence | Providence | $29,952 | 88% | $53,928 |
| Providence College | Providence | $49,594 | 51% | $90,260 |
| Bryant University | Smithfield | $39,186 | 65% | $104,456 |
| Brown University | Providence | $26,976 | 5.4% | $99,974 |
| Salve Regina University | Newport | $36,528 | 68% | $73,336 |
| Rhode Island School of Design | Providence | $50,513 | 19% | $69,341 |
| Johnson & Wales University-Online | Providence | $22,071 | 91% | $53,928 |
| College Unbound | Providence | $20,804 | — | — |
About RWU
| Type | Private nonprofit four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Bristol, RI |
| Setting | Large suburb |
| Undergraduates | 3,946 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 10 to 1 |
| Accreditor | New England Commission on Higher Education |
| Website | rwu.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is RWU's acceptance rate?
Roger Williams University admits 88% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,223 on the SAT.
How much does RWU cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $66,939 a year (tuition and fees: $45,978). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $37,645 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $28,854.
How much do RWU graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $77,127 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 4th of 10 similar colleges in Rhode Island. The best-paid bachelor's program is computer science ($82,314 a year after graduation).
What is RWU's graduation rate?
67% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 81% of first-year students return for a second year.