Rhode Island College

What Rhode Island College does

Rhode Island College is a public higher education institution founded in 1854 and headquartered on a 180-acre, 47-building campus in Providence, Rhode Island. It operates as part of the Rhode Island system of public higher education and serves undergraduate, graduate, and professional students through schools including the Zvart Onanian School of Nursing, the School of Social Work, the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development, and the School of Business. The institution is designated a Hispanic and Minority Serving Institution and is ranked #1 among public master's universities in New England by Washington Monthly, supported by a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

The college generates revenue primarily through tuition and fees, state appropriations, philanthropic gifts and endowments (notably a $3 million donation from Edward Avedisian — the largest single gift in institutional history), workforce development grants, and fee-based cybersecurity training services. Its product surface has expanded beyond traditional degree programs to include a $24 million Cyber Range facility at the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies, a Healthcare Technology Workforce Center launched in partnership with Care New England that integrates Epic Electronic Health Record training, and AI-powered social work simulation technology developed with Teatro ECAS. Specialized academic facilities include the Rhode Island Nursing Education Center (RINEC), a joint nursing instruction site with the University of Rhode Island.

The institution's go-to-market is a hybrid of student-recruitment-driven admissions (campus tours, open houses, the RIC Ready Summer Preview Program, and digital channels) and event- and partnership-driven employer engagement (Healthcare Technology Workforce Center, Banking Micro-Pathway with Citizens Bank, cyber training for businesses and government). Pricing is anchored on in-state tuition as the most affordable high-quality four-year degree in the region, augmented by the Hope Scholarship (last two years tuition-free for a four-year degree) and a 40% Northeast Neighbors Discount across MA, CT, ME, NH, VT, NY, NJ, and Pike County PA. Workforce training and cybersecurity services add a fee-for-service revenue layer for B2B and B2G clients.

Name

Rhode Island College

Legal name

Rhode Island College

Website

https://ric.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1854

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Rhode Island College is a public master's-level institution in Providence, Rhode Island, serving undergraduate and graduate students through schools including Nursing, Social Work, Education, and Business, with specialized facilities in cybersecurity training, healthcare workforce development, and AI-enabled clinical simulations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Nursing education
• Cybersecurity workforce training

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from undergraduate and graduate tuition, fees, and related educational services for enrolled students.
2. State Funding and Appropriations: Public higher education institution receiving state government funding and appropriations as part of Rhode Island's public university system.
3. Private Donations and Endowments: Charitable contributions from donors including the largest gift in RIC history ($3 million from Edward Avedisian) supporting nursing program endowed professorship and scholarships.
4. Workforce Development Grants and Partnerships: Workforce development funding from financial institutions (Citizens Bank $1.5M commitment) and grants supporting training programs and apprenticeships.
5. Cybersecurity Training Services: Fee-based cybersecurity training programs for local businesses and government agencies using the cyber range facility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rhode Island College is a public higher education institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across multiple schools including Business, Nursing, Social Work, and Education and Human Development. The college also operates specialized workforce training facilities including a $24 million Cyber Range for cybersecurity training and a Healthcare Technology Workforce Center developed in partnership with Care New England for digital health education. Revenue is generated through tuition and fees, state appropriations, philanthropic donations, and B2B training services for employers and government agencies.

Product overview

Rhode Island College is a public higher education institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across multiple schools including the School of Business, School of Social Work, and Zvart Onanian School of Nursing. The college operates specialized facilities including a $24 million Cyber Range for cybersecurity training and the Healthcare Technology Workforce Center for digital health education. Educational programs include Epic EHR training integration, AI-powered social work simulations, and traditional degree programs. Financial aid offerings include the Hope Scholarship (covering last 2 years tuition-free) and Northeast Neighbors Discount (40% off for regional applicants).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs Baccalaureate degree programs across multiple academic schools designed for traditional high school graduates, transfer students, and Early Enrollment Program high school students seeking a four-year degree at an affordable public institution. Includes access to specialized facilities like the Cyber Range and the Hope Scholarship (last 2 years tuition-free) and Northeast Neighbors Discount (40% off out-of-state tuition).
• Graduate Degree Programs Master's and doctoral graduate degree programs and graduate certificates offered to working professionals and recent baccalaureate graduates seeking advanced credentials, professional licensure, and career advancement. Programs span nursing, social work, education, business, and other disciplines and are supported by the Office of Graduate Studies.
• Professional Studies and Continuing Education Non-degree certificate programs and continuing education courses designed for working professionals and adult learners seeking flexible, targeted skill development outside a traditional degree pathway.
• Cybersecurity Training Programs Advanced cybersecurity workforce training services delivered through Rhode Island College's $24 million Cyber Range facility at the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies. Provides immersive, realistic cyberattack simulations to local businesses and government agencies to address cybersecurity skills gaps.
• Healthcare Technology Workforce Center A healthcare technology workforce center initially launched at Rhode Island College's College of Business in partnership with Care New England. Develops digitally fluent healthcare professionals through curriculum enhancements, digital tools, and clinical training including Epic Electronic Health Record training for careers in digital health, cybersecurity, AI, and data analytics.
• Epic EHR Training Program Epic Electronic Health Record training integrated into Rhode Island College's healthcare education programs through a strategic partnership with Care New England. Prepares students for careers in digital health, cybersecurity, AI, and data analytics, addressing healthcare workforce shortages and digital health competency gaps.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% off tuition for Northeast Neighbors Discount
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Skills for Rhode Island's FuturecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2026Workforce development organization partnered with Citizens Bank and RIC for employment and training programs including apprenticeships and micro-pathway initiatives.
• Crossroads Rhode IslandcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 2026Workforce organization partner in Citizens Bank's $1.5M workforce development commitment, providing training and employment pathways with RIC as educational institution partner.
• Community College of Rhode IslandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2026Educational institution partner in workforce development initiatives including Citizens Bank's Banking Micro-Pathway and apprenticeship programs, creating educational pathways between institutions.
• Care New EnglandflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2026Care New England collaborating with RIC to integrate Epic electronic health record training into healthcare education programs, preparing students for careers in digital health, cybersecurity, AI, and data analytics while enhancing workforce resilience.
• Care New England Health SystemflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2026Care New England and Rhode Island College partnering to establish a healthcare technology workforce center initially launching at RIC's College of Business. The center focuses on developing skills through curriculum enhancements, digital tools, and clinical training including Epic Electronic Health Record training integration.
• Teatro ECASminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025Providence-based theater providing actors for RIC's AI-powered social work simulation technology, enabling Spanish-speaking students to gain practical clinical skills through realistic patient interaction scenarios.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of Rhode Island: URI is Rhode Island's flagship public research university and the most direct peer to RIC, sharing state funding, in-state applicant pools, and public-mission positioning. RIC and URI also co-locate nursing education at the Rhode Island Nursing Education Center (RINEC).
• Community College of Rhode Island: CCRI is Rhode Island's public community college and an explicit partner with RIC on workforce development pathways (Citizens Bank Banking Micro-Pathway, apprenticeships). It is also a feeder for RIC transfer students and competes for the same price-sensitive in-state demographic.
• Bryant University: Bryant is a private university in Smithfield, RI with AACSB-accredited business programs that directly overlap RIC's School of Business offerings and compete for the same Rhode Island business-school applicants.
• Providence College: Providence College is a private Catholic university in Providence offering undergraduate and graduate programs, competing with RIC for in-state and Northeast regional students across liberal arts, business, and social work programs.
• Bridgewater State University: Bridgewater State is a Massachusetts public comprehensive master's university and one of RIC's closest structural analogs in the New England regional public master's segment — similar size, mission, and student demographic targeting.
• Salem State University: Salem State is a Massachusetts public comprehensive master's university with comparable enrollment scale, graduate offerings, and a focus on serving diverse, working-class student populations — directly comparable to RIC's HSI/MSI positioning.
• Eastern Connecticut State University: Eastern Connecticut State is a Connecticut public liberal arts and professional studies university that serves a similar regional, commuter-heavy student population with comparable affordability and graduate program mix.
• Johnson & Wales University: Johnson & Wales is a private university headquartered in Providence with strong business, hospitality, and culinary programs, competing with RIC for in-state Providence students seeking career-oriented undergraduate and graduate education.
• Southern Connecticut State University: Southern Connecticut State is a Connecticut public comprehensive master's university with similar graduate program breadth, urban regional positioning, and workforce development partnerships with healthcare and corporate employers.
• Salve Regina University: Salve Regina is a private Catholic university in Newport, RI offering graduate and undergraduate programs that compete with RIC for Rhode Island students seeking social work, education, and business graduate credentials.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RICNews
• Facebookfacebook.com/50448467750
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rhode-island-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/rhodeislandcollege
• TikToktiktok.com/@ric.news

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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 Rhode Island College