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World War I Memorial and Taunton Plaza, East Providence RIPhoto: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near East Providence

Brown University is 2.9 miles from East Providence

No college sits inside East Providence’s boundary, but Brown University’s campus in Providence, with 11,009 students on campus, is 2.9 miles from the center of town, and Community College of Rhode Island is 8.7 miles away in Warwick. About 4% of East Providence’s residents are enrolled in college, below Rhode Island (8%).

Brown UniversityJohnson & Wales University-ProvidenceRhode Island School of DesignProvidence College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of East Providence. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
13
52,920 students on campus
Nearest college
2.8 mi
College Unbound
Residents in college
4%
Below RI (8%)
Nearest community college
8.7 mi
Community College of Rhode Island · $5,550 tuition
Nearest public university
6.2 mi
Rhode Island College · $11,300 in-state
Median household income
$76K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from East Providence

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Four colleges within 5 milesBrown University admits 5% of applicants; Johnson & Wales University-Providence admits 88%; Rhode Island School of Design admits 19%. Together they have 22,410 students on campus.In-state price at Rhode Island CollegeLiving in Rhode Island, Rhode Island College charges $11,300 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $27,299. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 8.7 miles awayCommunity College of Rhode Island in Warwick: tuition and fees $5,550 a year for Rhode Island residents.Students are 4% of residentsBelow Rhode Island (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of East Providence

10 private colleges within 14.6 miles, one public college within 6.2 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miBrown UniversityCommunity College of Rhode IslandRhode Island CollegeEast Providence
University or collegeCommunity college
College UnboundUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 225 on campus · 2.8 mi · Providence$21knet priceBrown UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 11,009 on campus · 2.9 mi · Providence5%admitted$25knet price96%graduate$93kearningsJohnson & Wales University-ProvidenceUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,285 on campus · 3.1 mi · Providence88%admitted$31knet price55%graduate$43kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Rhode Island School of DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,540 on campus · 3.2 mi · Providence19%admitted$51knet price89%graduate$68kearningsProvidence CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,576 on campus · 5 mi · Providence51%admitted$49knet price86%graduate$87kearningsRhode Island CollegeUniversity or college · Public · 5,586 on campus · 6.2 mi · Providence92%admitted$9knet price48%graduate$56kearningsCommunity College of Rhode IslandCommunity college · Public · 9,996 on campus · 8.7 mi · Warwick$7knet price26%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $5,550 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Roger Williams University School of LawUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 516 on campus · 11.5 mi · Bristol$70kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Roger Williams UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,074 on campus · 11.6 mi · Bristol88%admitted$38knet price69%graduate$70kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.New England Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,751 on campus · 12.1 mi · East Greenwich67%admitted$36knet price60%graduate$49kearningsBryant UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,504 on campus · 12.4 mi · Smithfield65%admitted$41knet price80%graduate$90kearningsBristol Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,080 on campus · 13.5 mi · Fall River, MA$6knet price22%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $5,832 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Wheaton College (Massachusetts)University or college · Private nonprofit · 1,778 on campus · 14.6 mi · Norton, MA68%admitted$30knet price73%graduate$68kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where East Providence’s median household income ($75,912) falls.

Community College of Rhode Island8.7 mi · Warwick · sticker $12,725 · tuition $5,550$6,965a year
Bristol Community College13.5 mi · Fall River, MA · sticker $12,168 · tuition $5,832$7,329a year
Rhode Island College6.2 mi · Providence · sticker $17,454$12,809a year
Brown University2.9 mi · Providence · sticker $87,648$16,219a year
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)14.6 mi · Norton, MA · sticker $79,311$28,639a year
Johnson & Wales University-Providence3.1 mi · Providence · sticker $60,314$31,803a year
Providence College5 mi · Providence · sticker $80,466$33,169a year
Rhode Island School of Design3.2 mi · Providence · sticker $81,727$33,893a year
Roger Williams University11.6 mi · Bristol · sticker $61,950$37,318a year
New England Institute of Technology12.1 mi · East Greenwich · sticker $48,543$39,100a year
Bryant University12.4 mi · Smithfield · sticker $69,964$39,680a year
College Unbound2.8 mi · Providence · sticker $27,138—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of East Providence: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Brown UniversityJohnson & Wales University-ProvidenceProvidence CollegeRhode Island CollegeCommunity College of Rhode IslandRoger Williams University
Brown University96% graduate$93k earnings$11k typical debt
Community College of Rhode Island26% graduate$43k earnings$11k typical debt
Rhode Island College48% graduate$56k earnings$20k typical debt
Providence College86% graduate$87k earnings$27k typical debt
Johnson & Wales University-Providence55% graduate$43k earnings*$26k typical debt
Roger Williams University69% graduate$70k earnings*$27k typical debt
Bryant University80% graduate$90k earnings$27k typical debt
Bristol Community College22% graduate$39k earnings$8k typical debt
Rhode Island School of Design89% graduate$68k earnings$27k typical debt
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)73% graduate$68k earnings$26k typical debt
New England Institute of Technology60% graduate$49k earnings$17k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Johnson & Wales University-Providence (3); Roger Williams University (2).

Questions about college near East Providence

Is East Providence a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 East Providence residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Rhode Island (8). The nearest campus, College Unbound, is 2.8 miles away in Providence.

What colleges are near East Providence?

13 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Brown University (2.9 miles, 11,009 students on campus), Community College of Rhode Island (8.7 miles, 9,996) and Rhode Island College (6.2 miles, 5,586).

What is the closest community college to East Providence, and what does it cost?

Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick, 8.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,550 a year for Rhode Island residents; the federal net price, $6,513, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Rhode Island College cost if we live in Rhode Island?

Tuition and fees are $11,300 a year in-state and $27,299 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,378 (under $30,000 income) to $15,681 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of East Providence. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →