A new study by the Education Trust finds that 5 out of 9 four-year colleges in Rhode Island lag behind the national average. The study also shows that colleges themselves influence the number of students who obtain their bachelor’s degrees.
| Institution | Median SAT | % receiving Pell grants* | Graduation rate for 1997-2003** |
| Brown University | 1,395 | 9.7% | 95.7% |
| R.I. School of Design | 1,200 | 14.1% | 92.3% |
| Providence College | 1,205 | 8.4% | 84.8% |
| Bryant University | 1,090 | 13.9% | 65.8% |
| University of R.I. | 1,095 | 22.5% | 55.8% |
| Salve Regina University | 1,065 | 16.9% | 54.5% |
| Roger Williams University | 1,068 | 15.7% | 47.3% |
| Rhode Island College | 980 | 24.6% | 41.9% |
| Johnson & Wales University | 925 | 35.6% | 39.2% |
| National average | n.a. | n.a. | 56.9% |
* Federal Pell grants are for the neediest students. ** Nationally, the graduation rate standard has shifted from four to six years. Just 37 percent of college students graduate within four years, compared to 63 percent who finish in six years.
Source: The Education Trust
