Roger Williams University

Location and Contact Information

One Old Ferry Rd
Bristol, RI 02809-2923
USA
Main Tel: (401) 253-1040
Web Site

The campus is in a large suburb.

Overview

Roger Williams University, commonly known as RWU, is an American liberal arts university. RWU is located in Bristol, Rhode Island. This private university, established in 1956 sits on 120 acres. RWC offers post graduate and master’s degrees. The schools and colleges of the university include:

  • Feinstein College of Arts and Sciences
  • Gabelli School of Business
  • School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation
  • School of Education
  • School of Engineering, Computing and Construction Management
  • School of Justice Studies

There is a wide range of student clubs and organizations at the university including the Student Senate, the Accounting Club, the Graphic Design Club, the German Club and the Stage Company. The students also maintain a literary magazine, a radio station and a newspaper called the Hawk’s Herald.

Highlights (vs. Other Schools)

  • Many students concentrating in architecture and planning, media, security and law enforcement, and therapy and counseling.
  • High percentage of students are from out-of-state.
  • High faculty salary.
  • Number of dorm rooms for students.
  • Superior share of faculty on tenure track.
  • Large number of students.
  • Large number of programs of study offered.
  • High male/female ratio.

School characteristics:

  • The school is private, not-for-profit.
  • Academic calender: Semester.
  • Carnegie classification: Baccalaureate Colleges, General.

Features of note:

  • The school offers a faculty tenure system.
  • There are one or more libraries on-campus.
  • Campus housing is available.
  • Students have meal (board) plans.
  • Students may study abroad.
  • Distance learning is available.
  • Part-time classes are available.
  • ROTC.

Tuition and Financial Aid (2009-2010)

ItemCost
State Tuition and fees$ 28,700
Room$ 6,610
Board$ 5,680
Books and supplies$ 900
Other$ 1,868

Financial Aid

Roger Williams University participates in US Title IV financial assistance programs.

In 2009-2010, 88% of students received financial aid of some sort.

Grants% of
Students		Average
Amount
Any Grant81%$10,509
Institutional Grant81%$9,783
Federal Grant10%$4,809
Pell Grant10%$3,499
Other Federal Grant9%$1,563
State or Local Grant10%$867

Loans% of
Students		Average
Amount
Student Loan62%$8,912
Federal Loan62%$5,054
Other Loan15%$16,118

(Please refer to BrainTrack's financial aid articles section for background information.)

Similar Schools

Based on proprietary BrainTrack computer comparisons against all other US colleges, these schools appear to be most similar to Roger Williams University:

Click a column header to sort.

 SchoolLocationEnrollment
1Catholic University of AmericaWashington, DC6,705
2Rhode Island School of DesignProvidence, RI2,352
3Hobart William Smith CollegesGeneva, NY2,078
4Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteTroy, NY6,777
5Savannah College of Art and DesignSavannah, GA9,120
6New York Institute of Technology-Manhattan CampusNew York, NY2,758
7Wentworth Institute of TechnologyBoston, MA3,816
8Pratt Institute-MainBrooklyn, NY4,946
9Lawrence Technological UniversitySouthfield, MI4,252
10New York Institute of Technology-Old WestburyOld Westbury, NY9,073

Degrees Awarded (in 2009-2010)

DegreeTotal
Earned		Different
Programs
Bachelor89742
Master836
Associate103
Postbaccalaureate certificate86
< 1 year certificate 1

Faculty

Tenure (2009-2010):

Full-Time Faculty  Total
With tenure  136
Without tenure; working toward tenure  66
Without tenure; tenure not available  12

Students

Student enrollment was 4,609 in 2009-2010 (4,038 full-time equivalent).

About 46% of the freshmen class in 2009-2010 was male and women were 54% of the class.

Undergrads are 94% of enrolled students and graduate students are 6%.

Students under 25 years old represent 84% of the student body. About 6% of the school is at least 40 years of age.

Admissions Summary (2009-2010)

ApplicantsAdmitted
Men57%
Women65%
All61%

SAT Test Scores:

SATMiddle 50%
Verbal495-580
Math510-600
Writing490-580

Room and Board

Roger Williams University provides on-campus housing for 2,791 of its 4,038 (full-time) students (as of 2009-2010).

Students may purchase a meal plan which includes 19 meals weekly.

Athletics

The school is in the Commonwealth Coast Conference for major sports.

Graduate School Focus

Roger Williams University offers graduate (post-Bachelor) studies. The highest degree offered is the Master.

Graduate offerings include continuing professional education.The school's Graduate School Carnegie Classification is Postbaccalaureate Professional (Education Dominant).

Programs of Study

(Number of degrees in 2009-2010 in parentheses)

ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING (85 awarded)

  • Architecture (BArch, BA/BS, MArch, MA/MS, PhD)

ART STUDIES (7 awarded)

  • Art/Art Studies

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT (171 awarded)

  • Accounting
  • Business Administration and Management
  • Finance
  • International Business/Trade/Commerce
  • Management Information Systems
  • Marketing/Marketing Management

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (2 awarded)

  • Computer Science

CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (9 awarded)

  • Environmental Science

DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS (12 awarded)

  • Dance
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts

EDUCATION AND TEACHING (23 awarded)

  • Elementary Education and Teaching
  • Health Teacher Education
  • Reading Teacher Education

ENGINEERING (25 awarded)

  • Engineering
  • Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering

ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN (53 awarded)

  • Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
  • Manufacturing Technology/Technician

FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK (39 awarded)

  • Public Administration

FINE ARTS (5 awarded)

  • Art History, Criticism and Conservation

LAW (35 awarded)

  • Legal Assistant/Paralegal
  • Legal Professions and Studies

LIBERAL ARTS (121 awarded)

  • American/United States Studies/Civilization
  • Creative Writing
  • English Language and Literature
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures
  • Historic Preservation and Conservation
  • History
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Political Science and Government
  • Social Sciences

MATHEMATICS (6 awarded)

  • Mathematics

MEDIA (97 awarded)

  • Communication and Media Studies
  • Graphic Communications

MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION (0 awarded)

  • Environmental Health
  • Health/Health Care Administration/Management

RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY (0 awarded)

  • Philosophy

SCIENCE (51 awarded)

  • Biology/Biological Sciences
  • Chemistry
  • Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography

SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (135 awarded)

  • Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration

THERAPY AND COUNSELING (122 awarded)

  • Forensic Psychology
  • Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
  • Psychology