PROVIDENCE – Six local colleges and universities were noted by the Wall Street Journal as being among the 500 best colleges in the country for 2025.
The national publication, along with research partners College Pulse and Statista, unveiled Tuesday its annual “Best Colleges in the U.S.” The rankings were based on student outcomes, learning environments and diversity. The Journal also considered the average annual costs for attending school, including tuition and fees.
Four of the six schools had their rankings improve
from last year, while one school made the list for the first time in a couple years. Brown University in Providence was once again the highest-ranked local school by the Journal, ranking No. 36 overall – up from No. 67 last year – with an overall score of 81.6.
The Ivy League college also received scores of 79 and 71 for learning facilities and preparation for careers, respectively, and a $61,620 added value to graduate salary, per the Journal.
Bryant University in Smithfield saw its ranking improve from No. 111 last year to No. 74 this year with an overall score of 78.7. It had a score of 79 for learning facilities; 75 for preparation for career; and a $60,619 added value to graduate salary.
The University of Rhode Island, the lone local state school on the Journal’s list, cracked the top-100 this year at No. 84 with a score of 77.5. URI was also the highest-ranked New England-based public school in the U.S. by the Journal.
URI had scores of 75 for learning facilities, 69 for preparation for career and a $39,173 added value to graduate salary.
Providence College went from No. 135 last year to No. 105 this year, according to the Journal. PC, along with an overall score of 76, had scores of 81 for learning facilities, 72 for preparation for career and a $54,263 added value to graduate salary.
Salve Regina University in Newport made the Journal’s list for the first time since 2022, ranking No. 160 with a score of 70.9. Salve had a score of 84 for learning facilities, a 74 for preparation for career and a $45,965 added value to graduate salary.
Easton-based Stonehill College, the lone Bristol County, Mass.-based school listed by the Journal, fell in the rankings from No. 157 last year to No. 173 with a score of 69.7. Stonehill earned scores of 75 for learning facilities, 71 for preparation for career and a $45,771 added value to graduate salary.
James Bessette is the PBN special projects editor, and also covers the nonprofit and education sectors. You may reach him at Bessette@PBN.com. You may also follow him on X at @James_Bessette.
