here for the latest job news, tips, and more!
Smallest State Offers Big Benefits
Rhode Island Colleges Lure Out-of-State Students
Although Rhode Island is the smallest state in the U.S., it is home to big name colleges and universities. Among nationally ranked private institutions-including Brown, Bryant, Rhode Island School of Design, and Salve Regina-are top-notch public colleges such as the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI), the largest public, two-year, comprehensive college in New England. And with benefits like less traffic, free parking, and even cost savings, our neighbor to the south has a lot to offer continuing education students.
In fact, many Massachusetts residents are crossing the border to take advantage of the perks. When Worcester resident Jeannine Follett was considering where to pursue a certificate in human resources, she headed straight for Rhode Island.
Commuting from Worcester, Follett takes Route 146 for what she says is an easy, 35- minute drive to Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I. Other Massachusetts towns within a 50- mile radius of Bryant include those along the Route 495 belt as far south as Fall River. It is also convenient to Attleboro, Canton, Braintree, and Stoughton, among others.
Brown University in Providence has seen a recent increase from 2 percent to 10 percent in Bay State continuing education students. "It parallels with real estate development, as more and more people are migrating down Route 95 to shoulder cities in southeastern and southwestern Massachusetts that border Pawtucket and Providence," says Ed Ferszt, Brown's associate dean for curriculum for summer and continuing studies.
Annette Cerilli, director of Bryant's Executive Development Center, agrees, noting that she has seen more out-of-state students in the past three years. "Less traffic, ample parking, and a safe and secure campus are important to our continuing education students, particularly those who take evening classes. And given that many of our certification programs teach bodies of knowledge equivalent to Boston institutions, price may become a deciding factor; some programs are half the cost for the same outcome."
Out-of-state residents looking to attend Rhode Island's public institutions-CCRI, Rhode Island College, and the University of Rhode Island-can take advantage of tuition incentives through the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) Regional Student Program (RSP), which provides eligible New England residents with a tuition break at out-of-state New England public colleges and universities.
"Students are eligible for the RSP Tuition Break when enrolled in an approved degree program offered by a specific public college or university in another New England state," explains Wendy Lindsay, director of RSP. "Students are also RSP-eligible at some institutions when their home is closer to an outof- state college than an in-state college."
According to NEBHE, in the 2006-2007 academic year, 1,491 residents of other New England states, primarily Massachusetts, were enrolled under the RSP at Rhode Island's three public institutions.
What most people don't realize about higher education in Rhode Island, says Brown's Ferszt, is the number of students, colleges, and universities; there are nearly 30,000 students in Providence alone. "It's a microcosm with a tremendous amount of student-driven activity. People are looking for that kind of educational community, and they've found it here."
Rhode Island's CollegesRhode Island colleges offer continuing education programs that range from fashion design to business to foreign language to culinary arts. The list of colleges includes: |
|
| Community College of Rhode Island | New England Institute of Technology |
| Rhode Island College | Providence College |
| University of Rhode Island | Rhode Island School of Design |
| Brown University | Roger Williams University |
| Bryant University | Salve Regina University |
| Johnson & Wales University | Zion Bible Institute |
| Naval War College | |
