University of Rhode Island admits 77.1% of applicants, meaning roughly 3 out of 4 applicants receive admission offers. This places URI in the Open Access category, providing broad educational opportunity compared to highly selective institutions. The peer median admission rate of 78.1% shows URI's selectivity aligns closely with similar public research universities, with URI being slightly more selective by just over 1 percentage point. This level of accessibility means most academically prepared students have realistic admission prospects, though competitive programs like Artificial Intelligence and Engineering may have higher internal standards. Students should approach URI as a match school rather than a safety, particularly for popular programs with limited enrollment capacity. The university's open access philosophy supports its mission of serving diverse student populations while maintaining academic quality. For students building balanced college lists, URI represents an accessible option among public research universities with strong post-graduation outcomes. This admission rate indicates that academic preparation and demonstrated interest matter more than perfect credentials.
A directional estimate — not a prediction
Admitted students at University of Rhode Island typically score between 1030-1270 on the SAT, with the middle 50% of enrolled students falling within this range. The SAT median reaches 1176, with Math scores ranging from 510-620 and Verbal scores spanning 520-650. URI's SAT performance ranks at the 93rd percentile nationally, indicating excellent academic preparation among enrolled students despite accessible admission rates. ACT scores range from 26-31 with a median of 28, ranking at the 97th percentile nationally. Compared to peer institutions with a median SAT of 1198, URI students score 22 points below the peer average, though this difference represents less than 2% variation. These ranges mean most admitted students score above 1030 on the SAT, with scores below 1000 being uncommon but not automatically disqualifying. Students scoring within the 1030-1270 range are academically competitive for admission and should expect to fit well within URI's academic environment. The strong test score percentiles combined with open access admission demonstrate that URI attracts well-prepared students while maintaining broad accessibility. Prospective students should view these ranges as typical rather than minimum requirements, understanding that holistic review considers multiple factors beyond standardized testing.
Understanding institutional priorities and student support
University of Rhode Island enrolls a moderately diverse student body with 21.1% Pell-eligible students and 26.3% first-generation college students. Transfer students comprise 15.6% of the student body, indicating URI welcomes students from community colleges and other four-year institutions. This composition shows the university serves students from various economic backgrounds, though the Pell share falls below the national average for public institutions. First-generation students represent more than one-quarter of enrolled students, demonstrating URI's role in expanding higher education access to families without prior college experience. The geographic diversity reflects URI's position as Rhode Island's flagship public research university, drawing students primarily from the region while attracting some from other states. Students from lower-income families should note that approximately 1 in 5 enrolled students receive Pell grants, indicating a meaningful presence of economically diverse peers. Transfer applicants should consider the 15.6% transfer enrollment as evidence of pathways from community colleges and other institutions. For prospective students evaluating fit, URI's student composition suggests an environment where first-generation and transfer students will find community while interacting with peers from varied backgrounds and academic preparation levels.
With URI's 77.1% acceptance rate, most academically prepared students have realistic admission prospects. However, students seeking alternatives should consider these options for different admission odds, locations, or value propositions.
Strong options in your region with comparable outcomes.
University of Rhode Island retains 84.1% of freshmen for their sophomore year, slightly above the peer median of 83.7%, indicating strong first-year student support and engagement. The six-year graduation rate reaches 71.0%, substantially exceeding the peer median of 65.9% by over 5 percentage points. Pell-eligible students graduate at 65.5%, creating a 5.5 percentage point gap compared to the overall completion rate. This gap, while present, remains within typical ranges for public research universities and indicates that lower-income students face some additional challenges but still achieve solid completion rates. The retention and completion rates suggest that students who gain admission to URI can expect institutional support for degree completion, with more than 8 in 10 freshmen returning for sophomore year. Lower-income students should weigh the 5.5 point Pell gap when considering institutional support, though the 65.5% Pell completion rate exceeds national averages for this population. These outcomes indicate that URI provides an environment where diverse students can succeed academically, with completion rates well above peer institutions suggesting effective student support systems and academic resources throughout the degree completion process.
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