Rhode Island public colleges - anyone have recommendations?

I'm a junior from Rhode Island and I've started looking into public colleges around here. Does anyone have recommendations on which colleges are worth considering? What makes each of them unique or interesting?

Hello! I'm glad to hear you're considering public colleges in Rhode Island. Rhode Island has a small selection of public institutions, but there are two main public colleges to look into:

1. University of Rhode Island (URI): URI is the largest public university in Rhode Island, and it's located in Kingston. URI offers more than 90 undergraduate majors across several colleges, including the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, and College of Engineering. URI is also known for its strong programs in marine and oceanography sciences, due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.

The campus has many research opportunities and has a beautiful location with access to beaches nearby. As a flagship state university, URI can be a good fit if you're looking for a bigger school with a wide variety of academic programs and extracurricular opportunities.

2. Rhode Island College (RIC): RIC is a smaller public college located in Providence. RIC offers over 60 undergraduate programs with a particular focus on teacher education, nursing, and social work. Since RIC is smaller in size, it can offer a more intimate learning environment with smaller class sizes in comparison to URI. RIC is also more affordable than URI, which can be advantageous if cost is a significant factor for you.

Both institutions have merits depending on the size of the college you prefer, your intended major, and the type of campus experience you're looking for. Of course, college visits (if possible) to each campus could help you gauge which one is the best fit for you, or you could also explore their websites and social media platforms to learn more about each school's campus life, academics, and student organizations.

Finally, if you want any additional help in building out your college list, I'd recommend using CollegeVine's college search engine, which allows you to filter schools along a range of metrics beyond location and public/private status, including academic programs offered, selectivity, and so on. You'll also get suggestions for schools that may be a good fit, based on your profile and preferences for your college experience.

Good luck on your college search!