Best PhD and Doctoral Programs in Rhode Island: Online & Campus
If you want to get your PhD or professional doctorate in a state in the U.S. that’s known for doctoral degree completion, learn more about Rhode Island. This guide walks you through graduate school options in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island is an ideal location for pursuing a PhD or professional doctorate. According to Franklin University, doctoral degree completions have been growing over the past five years in Rhode Island, with 884 doctorates offered by Rhode Island colleges and universities in 2022.
PhD programs in Rhode Island offer convenient online and part-time options to enable students to reach their academic and professional goals. This guide will help prospective doctoral students find the best PhD and doctoral programs in Rhode Island for them. In this guide, you’ll get to know top graduate schools from 2023, degree programs, projected costs, and all the key information.
Top-Rated PhD and Doctoral Programs in Rhode Island for 2024
When searching for the right PhD program in Rhode Island, it is important to consider all the available options. The three universities featured below offer a variety of high-quality, advanced-degree programs with flexible study options and reasonable costs. These programs are high-quality and serve as guiding standards for you to help you calibrate your research about other schools as well. Specifically, these universities offer online and hybrid programs to serve a range of needs and budgets.
Brown University stands out for its prestigious Ivy League status and comprehensive PhD programs in Rhode Island. The university boasts more than 3,000 graduate and medical students, 700 full-time faculty members, and 49 doctoral programs spanning applied mathematics, computer science, English, political science, psychology, and more. All PhD programs must be completed on campus, which allows students to benefit from personalized mentorship, interdisciplinary research opportunities, and state-of-the-art facilities. While tuition rates vary by program, Brown University offers robust financial aid opportunities, including fellowships, scholarships, and assistantships. Additionally, doctoral students are offered five years of guaranteed financial support, including a stipend, tuition remission, health-services fee support, and health- and dental insurance subsidies. The average tuition cost for doctoral students is $68,612 per year.
The University of Rhode Island (URI) distinguishes itself for its diverse PhD programs in Rhode Island and commitment to research excellence. The university has a diverse student body and faculty, which offers a global perspective and sensibilities. More than 70 nations are represented in the student body, and more than 18% of tenured faculty members identify as people of color. The URI offers 22 doctoral programs across multiple disciplines, including oceanography, marine affairs, pharmaceutical sciences, nursing, engineering, and psychology. Almost all programs are campus-based, either on the Kingston campus or Narragansett Bay campus, but some programs offer more flexibility with night classes or hybrid formats with online classes, such as the PhD in Computer Science. The URI offers various financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, and assistantships, making doctoral education accessible for both in-state and out-of-state students. Doctoral program costs range from $17,450 a semester to $31,952, depending on your residency status and specific program costs.
As a private institution, Johnson & Wales University offers three PhD programs in Rhode Island. While the PhD in Educational Leadership and PhD in Occupational Therapy are held on campus, the PhD in Business Administration is offered online. The program is designed specifically to meet the needs across business, healthcare, government, military, higher education, and nonprofit organizations. Doctoral students enrolled in the PhD in Business Administration will benefit from its lock-step dissertation model designed to guide students through the dissertation process for an expected three-year completion. Whether taking courses on campus or online, doctoral students benefit from personalized mentorship, industry connections, and research opportunities. Additionally, JWU provides financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, and tuition reimbursement programs. JWU’s PhD in Educational Leadership costs $5,958 per six-credit course, the PhD in Occupational Therapy costs $45,691 per academic year, while the online PhD in Business Administration costs $2,979 per three-credit course.
Types of PhD and Doctoral Programs Available in Rhode Island
When deciding what school you want to attend, it’s also important to consider which type of PhD or doctoral program is right for you. There are six main program formats offered in Rhode Island, each with pros and cons.
Full-Time PhD/Doctoral Programs in Rhode Island
A full-time doctoral program in Rhode Island often takes four to six years to complete. These programs usually include a combination of PhD-level coursework and a dissertation, which can take two years or longer beyond the coursework to complete. Full-time programs are available in almost any discipline and are typically offered via in-person formats. Popular full-time doctoral programs in Rhode Island include the University of Rhode Island’s PhD in Computer Science and PhD in Psychology.
Part-Time PhD/Doctoral Programs in Rhode Island
Part-time PhD programs in Rhode Island take longer to complete than full-time programs, often five to seven years in total. If you have a full-time job and other responsibilities and want to do a PhD, this could be a good option. Many part-time programs also offer flexible study options, including online program formats. Popular part-time doctoral programs in Rhode Island include the University of Rhode Island’s PhD in Education and PhD in Nursing.
Fully Funded PhD/Doctoral Programs in Rhode Island
If funding a PhD is holding you back, consider pursuing a fully funded program that covers the cost of tuition and sometimes offers a living stipend in exchange for working as a teaching or research assistant. These programs are fairly common at the doctoral level, especially for in-person programs. Popular fully funded doctoral programs in Rhode Island include all of Brown University’s 49 doctoral programs, offering five years of guaranteed financial support, including a stipend, tuition remission, health-services fee support, and health- and dental-insurance subsidies to doctoral students.
No-GRE PhD/Doctoral Programs in Rhode Island
The GRE is the entrance exam for many graduate programs. If you want to attend graduate school but don’t want to take the GRE, consider a no-GRE PhD or doctoral program. Beyond this one entry requirement, no-GRE programs vary greatly in discipline, delivery (i.e., online versus in-person), and content requirements. No-GRE doctoral programs in Rhode Island include Brown University’s PhD in Applied Mathematics and PhD in Cognitive Science.
Accelerated PhD/Doctoral Programs in Rhode Island
Consider an accelerated program if you want to finish your PhD in less than five years. Accelerated PhDs are available in one-year online formats as well as in longer formats. These programs usually require a dissertation, but they often have fewer PhD-level courses than other programs.
There aren’t any accelerated PhD programs in Rhode Island currently available. Universities like Brown University and the University of Rhode Island (URI) offer traditional doctoral programs across various disciplines, and while they may not explicitly advertise accelerated options, students with advanced standing or significant research experience may be able to expedite their degree completion through individual arrangements with their academic advisors and departments.
No Dissertation PhD/Doctoral Programs in Rhode Island
A dissertation is a common requirement for most PhD and doctoral programs in Rhode Island. While a dissertation can be an enriching experience, it can also take over two years to complete. If you want to complete your PhD faster than is usually necessary, consider a program with no dissertation requirement. Such programs may require a smaller capstone project instead of a dissertation. PhD programs in Rhode Island without a dissertation requirement include Brown University’s PhD in BioMed: Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry.
Rhode Island’s Most In-Demand PhD Programs
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy is in high demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 12% job growth through 2032, much faster than the national average for other career fields. A PhD in occupational therapy is perfect for people passionate about helping and treating people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities to help them with vocational, daily living, and other skills that promote independence. PhD programs will allow students to apply fieldwork and lab experiences to gain direct practice and skills within the field.
Quality Examples of On-Campus Programs
Psychology
A PhD in psychology enables you to hone your expertise to help others as a clinical psychologist. While you can work in the counseling field without your doctorate, a PhD is needed to serve as a clinical psychologist or research lead in the field.
Quality Examples of On-Campus Programs
Computer Science
A PhD in computer science is ideal for people with a strong passion for advancing knowledge and solving complex problems in the field of computing. Typically, candidates for a PhD in computer science possess a solid foundation in computer science fundamentals, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and a desire to conduct original research.
Quality Examples of On-Campus Programs
Quality Examples of Hybrid/Online Program
Business Administration
North Dakota is a state rich in oil and natural resources, which is part of the reason that engineering is such a significant contributor to North Dakota’s economy and one major reason many people choose to study in this state. From biomedical to petroleum engineering and beyond, you’ll find plenty of specializations to choose from, especially if you’re interested in some aspect of environmental engineering.
A PhD in business administration is perfect for those who aspire to become scholars, researchers, educators, or leaders in the field of business. Prospective candidates should possess a strong academic background in business or related fields, exemplary analytical and critical thinking skills, and a passion for conducting rigorous research. Students will typically focus on advanced topics within various subfields of business, such as management, marketing, finance, accounting, operations, strategy, and organizational behavior.
Quality Examples of On-Campus Program
Quality Examples of Hybrid/Online Program
Chemistry
A PhD in chemistry is perfect for people with a deep passion for scientific inquiry, a strong foundation in chemistry and related disciplines, and a desire to pursue advanced research and scholarship. Prospective students should possess excellent analytical, problem-solving, laboratory skills and a curiosity-driven mindset.
Quality Examples of On-Campus Programs
Obtaining a PhD or Doctoral Degree from an Online Rhode Island School
Hybrid and online PhD and doctoral programs offer the same high-quality education as in-person programs. Class hours are typically more flexible and fit around a typical work schedule. They also sometimes provide asynchronous learning formats where you attend classes at your own pace instead of on a set schedule.
With fully online PhD programs, you usually don’t have to visit campus. Rhode Island only offers one fully online doctoral degree from Johnson & Wales University. The institution’s online PhD in Business Administration is the only doctoral program in the state that can be completed completely online with no residency or campus requirements. A dissertation is still required for graduation. Per the school, the dissertation process for the DBA comprises a series of courses specifically designed to guide you from the proposal stage through chapter completion, which culminates in the dissertation defense. This approach creates a schedule intended to make on-time completion manageable.
For hybrid programs, such as the URI’s PhD in Computer Science, you’ll likely have to be on campus part of the time. This program offers classes on campus and some classes online.
Discovering Doctoral Funding Opportunities in Rhode Island
Various financial aid opportunities are available to help offset the cost of getting a PhD or doctoral degree in Rhode Island. These include scholarships, grants, fellowships, work-study programs, and graduate research assistantships. Ivy League institution Brown University offers at least five years of guaranteed financial support, including a stipend, tuition remission, health-services fee support, and health- and dental-insurance subsidies to doctoral students enrolled in any of its 49 doctoral programs.
PhD students at the University of Rhode Island have the option to apply for Dean’s Fellowships. These competitive awards enable students to pursue graduate studies and research without rendering any service to the university. The university’s fellowships provide a nine-month (academic year) and full-time summer stipend totaling $42,000.00, health insurance, dental insurance, the remission of tuition, a waiver of the graduate standard student fees (registration fee, health services fee, technology fee, student services fee), and a parking permit reimbursement for the Fall and Spring semester.
The Potential Payoff of a Rhode Island PhD
Having a PhD launches you as an expert in the field, often leading to increased pay. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that, on average, people with a PhD than those with a master’s or bachelor’s degree. Some fields, such as physical therapy and counseling, require a PhD to get a good entry-level job.
Salaries vary by profession. The table below shows you what to expect in average wages in Rhode Island for the most popular positions that require a PhD.
| Job Title | Related Doctoral Degree(s) | Median Earnings | 90th Percentile Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropologist | PhD in Anthropology | $65,000 | $102,150 |
| Biomedical Engineer | PhD in Biomedical Engineering | $109,000 | $154,350 |
| Economist | PhD in Economics | $132,650 | $216,900 |
| Epidemiologist | PhD in Public Health / Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) | $88,000 | $132,230 |
| Marine Biologist | PhD in Marine Biology | $ 75,740 | $110,590 |
| Operations Research Analyst | PhD in Computer Science | $71,000 | $148,920 |
| Professor | PhD | $84,380 | $182,710 |
| Psychologist | Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) / PhD in Psychology | $101,290 | $157,420 |
| Research Scientist | PhD | $119,640 | $233,110 |
| Statistician | PhD in Statistics | $89,000 | $163,360 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023