Roger Williams University

What Roger Williams University does

Roger Williams University is a private, nonprofit coeducational university founded in 1956, headquartered in Bristol, Rhode Island, with a secondary experiential campus in Providence. It serves prospective undergraduates, graduate students, law students, adult and non-traditional learners via its Extension School, incarcerated students through a prison education partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, and pre-college youth through summer camps. The university operates eight schools of study offering 45 undergraduate majors, 10+ graduate programs, and 150+ total programs, with USNWR ranking it #35 among Regional Universities North and naming it the Best Online College in Rhode Island.

Core academic offerings include JD and Master of Studies in Law programs at the School of Law, plus specialized centers such as the Center for Advanced Financial Education (CAFE), the Mandell Trial Advocacy Center, the Center for Corporate Communication, and the Blue Fellows Program in marine science. In October 2025, RWU launched an AI-powered academic design tool enabling students to build personalized interdisciplinary pathways under its 'Powerful Combinations' branding initiative. Technology infrastructure is supplemented by FERPA-compliant records management, PCI-DSS compliant payment processing, and the RWU Digital Commons repository.

Revenue derives primarily from recurring tuition across undergraduate, graduate, law, and extension programs, with secondary one-time revenue from summer sessions and pre-college camps. Philanthropic contributions, including a $3 million endowed professorship grant from the Yeaton family (2024) and a $4 million gift from Mark Mandell for the Trial Advocacy Center (2026), provide programmatic funding but are not the operating backbone. RWU distributes through dedicated admissions channels per division — undergraduate, graduate, law, extension, and international — with multi-platform organic social marketing, campus visit programs (e.g., 'Hawks by the Bay'), and a social media ambassador program. As of mid-2026, the university was operating under new interim presidential leadership and had implemented mandatory employee furloughs to address an approximately $3.5 million budget deficit.

Name

Roger Williams University

Legal name

Roger Williams University

Website

https://rwu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Roger Williams University is a private nonprofit university in Bristol, Rhode Island, serving undergraduates, graduate, law, and extension students — including incarcerated learners — across 150+ programs, with specialized centers in finance, trial advocacy, corporate communication, and marine science.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

LLM & Post-JD Graduate Law Programs (EDAHAIAC), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA), Great Books/Core Curriculum Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAM)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate programs
• Legal education
• Continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate and Graduate Tuition: Revenue from degree programs across eight schools of study including undergraduate, graduate, associate, and juris doctorate programs.
2. School of Law: Revenue from law school programs including JDs and Master of Studies in Law.
3. Extension School: Revenue from certificates, training, dual enrollment and flexible degree options.
4. Summer Sessions and Camps: Revenue from summer college-level courses and educational camps for middle/high school students.
5. Grants and Donations: $3 million grant for endowed professorships at Gabelli School of Business, $4 million gift for Mandell Trial Advocacy Center.
6. Prison Education Program: Extension School Prison Education Program providing degrees to incarcerated students.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Roger Williams University is a private nonprofit university delivering higher education through undergraduate degree programs (45 majors across eight schools of study), graduate and certificate programs, a School of Law offering JD and Master of Studies in Law, an Extension School with rolling admission, and pre-college summer camps. Instruction is delivered across Bristol and Providence, Rhode Island campuses and online, supported by specialized academic centers, research opportunities, and experiential learning components.

Product overview

Roger Williams University is a private university offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs across multiple formats: undergraduate degrees (45 majors), graduate programs, a School of Law (Juris Doctor and Master of Studies in Law), and an Extension School with flexible certificate and degree options. The university supports these core programs with specialized centers including the Center for Advanced Financial Education (CAFE), Mandell Trial Advocacy Center, and Center for Corporate Communication. Unique offerings include the Blue Fellows Program for marine science innovation, an AI-powered academic design tool for personalized pathway planning, summer camps for pre-college students, and a prison education program. The university emphasizes experiential learning through internships, research opportunities, and the 'Powerful Combinations' approach to interdisciplinary education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gabelli School of Business: Business school within RWU offering undergraduate and graduate business programs, supported by endowed professorships.
• Center for Advanced Financial Education (CAFE)
• Mandell Trial Advocacy Center
• Center for Corporate Communication
• Blue Fellows Program
• Extension School (RWU EXT)

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programs Residential undergraduate degree programs spanning 45 majors across eight schools of study, emphasizing small classes, direct faculty access, internships, research, and real-world learning for traditional undergraduates.
• Graduate Programs Graduate and certificate programs offered on campus and online across liberal arts and professional disciplines, providing advanced credentials to students and working professionals.
• School of Law Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Studies in Law programs at the Bristol and Providence campuses, providing rigorous, personalized, and marketable legal education with trial advocacy training via the Mandell Trial Advocacy Center.
• RWU Extension School Flexible degree, certificate, training, and dual enrollment programs with rolling admission, offering opportunities for non-traditional and adult learners to start or complete degrees and enhance careers.
• Summer Camps Pre-college hands-on educational summer camps for middle and high school students exploring interests in Entrepreneurship, Engineering, Food Science, Architecture, Marine Biology, Forensic Science, and Social Justice Law.
• Prison Education Program Extension school program providing educational opportunities and degrees to incarcerated individuals, delivered in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.
• Blue Fellows Program Fellowship program preparing students for innovation in marine science, conservation, and sustainable economic development through hands-on internships with marine science laboratories, aquaculture facilities, research nonprofits, and marine businesses.
• Mandell Trial Advocacy Center Permanent educational program at the School of Law integrating coursework, controlled simulations, competitions, and practitioner engagement to train law students and practicing attorneys in trial advocacy using Mark Mandell's 'Case Framing' methodology.
• Center for Advanced Financial Education (CAFE) Academic center offering real-time investment management experience to students at the Gabelli School of Business, led by Professor Michael Melton with hands-on portfolio management training.
• Center for Corporate Communication Hub for experiential learning, research, and industry collaboration in corporate communications, providing students with real-client consulting and engagement opportunities.
• AI-Powered Academic Design Tool Online AI-powered tool that helps students design interdisciplinary academic and real-world experience combinations across RWU's 150+ programs as part of the 'Powerful Combinations' initiative.
• RWU Libraries University library system including the main library, Architecture Library, Law Library, University Archives, and digital resources such as RWU Digital Commons, supporting academic research across the university.
• Summer Sessions Summer college-level courses offered online for current RWU students, visiting undergraduates, and rising high school students to get ahead, catch up, or experience college-level learning.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of graduates find success within 6 months after graduation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026RIDOC hosts graduation ceremonies for students in the RWU Extension School Prison Education Program, enabling incarcerated individuals to earn degrees.
• Mandell, Boisclair, and Mandell, Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2026Mark Mandell together with family partners serve as founding advisors and chair an Oversight Board to guide the Mandell Trial Advocacy Center's strategic direction.
• Rhode Island Commercial and Appraisal Board of RealtorsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2025First client of RWU's Center for Corporate Communication, seeking fresh perspectives and new PR strategies through the hub for experiential learning, research, and industry collaboration.
• Marine Science Laboratories and Research NonprofitscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2025Blue Fellows Program partners providing hands-on internships with laboratories, aquaculture facilities, research-focused nonprofits, and marine businesses for students.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bryant University: Private university located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, offering undergraduate business, arts and sciences, and graduate programs. Direct peer to RWU as a competing small-to-mid-sized private institution recruiting from the same regional talent pool in Rhode Island and southern New England.
• Providence College: Private Catholic liberal arts university in Providence, Rhode Island. Competes directly with RWU for undergraduate applicants in Rhode Island, particularly in business, liberal arts, and pre-professional programs.
• Salve Regina University: Private Catholic university in Newport, Rhode Island, offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. Direct competitor for regional private-university applicants and a coastal-rhode-island alternative to RWU.
• Johnson & Wales University: Private university headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, with a strong focus on business, hospitality, culinary arts, and professional programs. Direct regional peer with comparable career-oriented, experiential learning positioning.
• Sacred Heart University: Private Catholic university in Fairfield, Connecticut, offering undergraduate, graduate, online, and professional programs with strong regional brand in southern New England. Highly comparable in size, mission, and emphasis on experiential learning.
• Fairfield University: Private Jesuit university in Fairfield, Connecticut, with undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. Comparable in scale and positioning as a mid-sized private regional university emphasizing liberal arts, business, and pre-professional pathways.
• Stonehill College: Private Catholic liberal arts college in Easton, Massachusetts, near the Rhode Island border. Comparable residential undergraduate experience and similar competition for southern New England applicants, including those considering RWU.
• University of New England: Private university in Biddeford, Maine, with undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs including law and pharmacy. Comparable as a private multi-school regional university with emphasis on experiential and professional education.
• Curry College: Private college in Milton, Massachusetts, offering undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs with a strong focus on experiential learning and small classes. Comparable mid-sized private regional peer in southern New England.

Broad incumbents

• University of Rhode Island: Public flagship research university in Kingston, Rhode Island. The dominant higher-education incumbent in the state against which RWU competes on cost, prestige, and program breadth; broad incumbent offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/myrwu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@myrwu
• Facebookfacebook.com/52890372337
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/roger-williams-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/myrwu
• TikToktiktok.com/@rogerwilliamsuniversity

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Roger Williams University