Rhode Island’s healthcare education landscape is concentrated around a small number of strong institutions. While the state offers fewer total programs than larger neighbors, the quality of available programs is high, and the NEBHE Tuition Break makes programs in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and other New England states accessible at reduced cost for RI residents.
Medical School (MD)
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University (Providence). Degree: MD. Accreditation: LCME. Class size: approximately 144 students. Tuition: approximately $67,000 per year. Brown’s medical school is known for its integrated curriculum, emphasis on medical humanities and community health, and the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME), an eight-year combined BS/MD program that is one of the most selective in the country. Clinical rotations occur at Rhode Island Hospital, The Miriam Hospital, Women and Infants Hospital, the Providence VA, and affiliated community sites across the state. Apply through AMCAS®. Website: medical.brown.edu. See our Physician (MD/DO) career page.
Rhode Island does not have an osteopathic (DO) medical school. RI students interested in the DO pathway apply to schools in neighboring states (UNECOM in Maine, Touro in New York) or nationally. See our DO Pathway page.
Physician Assistant (PA) Programs
Rhode Island does not have a standalone CAAHEP/ARC-PA accredited PA program as of this writing. RI students pursuing PA careers apply to programs in neighboring states, including Quinnipiac University (CT), Yale (CT), Sacred Heart University (CT), Bay Path University (MA), MCPHS University (MA/Boston), Tufts University (MA), and many others throughout the region. The NEBHE Tuition Break may apply to some New England public university PA programs not available in RI. See our CASPA® guide and PA career page.
Nursing Programs
University of Rhode Island (Kingston): BSN (traditional four-year), accelerated BSN (for second-degree students), RN-to-BSN completion, MSN, and DNP programs. URI’s nursing program is CCNE-accredited and is the largest nursing program in the state. In-state tuition: approximately $15,000 per year for undergraduates. Website: web.uri.edu/nursing. Rhode Island College (Providence): BSN program, RN-to-BSN, and MSN programs. RIC’s nursing program is affordable (in-state tuition approximately $10,000 per year) and accessible for Providence-area students. Salve Regina University (Newport): BSN program. Brown University: Brown does not offer a traditional nursing program but does offer graduate-level nursing pathways through its medical school affiliations for advanced practice roles.
Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI): Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program at Warwick and Lincoln campuses. CCRI’s ADN program provides an affordable entry point to nursing; graduates are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN® and can pursue RN-to-BSN completion programs at URI, RIC, or other institutions. CCRI also offers Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) training. See our RN career page and NP career page.
Pharmacy (PharmD)
University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy (Kingston). Degree: PharmD. Accreditation: ACPE. Program length: 6 years (2 years pre-pharmacy + 4 years professional PharmD) or 4 years post-baccalaureate. In-state tuition: approximately $15,000 per year (pre-pharmacy) and $22,000 per year (professional years). URI’s pharmacy program is one of the most affordable in New England for RI residents and has a strong reputation for pharmaceutical research, clinical training, and graduate placement. Apply through PharmCAS®. Website: web.uri.edu/pharmacy. See our PharmCAS® guide and Pharmacist career page.
Physical Therapy (DPT)
Rhode Island does not currently have a CAPTE-accredited DPT program. RI students pursuing physical therapy apply to programs in neighboring states including Sacred Heart University (CT), University of Hartford (CT), Quinnipiac University (CT), Northeastern University (MA), Boston University (MA), UMass Lowell (MA), and others. The NEBHE Tuition Break may apply to some public university DPT programs in New England. See our PTCAS guide and PT career page.
Other Health Science Programs at URI
Speech-Language Pathology: URI offers an MS in Speech-Language Pathology (CAA-accredited), preparing graduates for CCC-SLP certification. See our SLP career page. Dietetics and Nutrition: URI’s College of Health Sciences offers programs in nutrition and dietetics that prepare students for the RDN credential. See our Dietitian-Nutritionist career page. Health Studies: URI offers a BS in Health Studies that provides foundational coursework for various health profession graduate programs. Kinesiology: URI’s kinesiology program provides preparation for careers in physical therapy, athletic training, exercise science, and wellness.
Allied Health Programs at CCRI
Dental Hygiene: CCRI offers an AS in Dental Hygiene (CODA-accredited) at its Lincoln campus. Graduates are eligible for NBDHE licensure. See our Dental Hygienist career page. Radiologic Technology: CCRI offers an AS in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT-accredited). See our Radiologic Technologist career page. Respiratory Therapy: CCRI offers an AS in Respiratory Care (CoARC-accredited). See our Respiratory Therapist career page. Medical Laboratory Technology: CCRI offers training for medical laboratory technicians. See our Medical Laboratory Scientist career page. Emergency Medical Services: CCRI offers EMT and paramedic training programs. See our EMT and Paramedic career page.
Cross-Border Programs and NEBHE Tuition Break
Rhode Island students should actively consider programs in neighboring states, particularly for professions where RI does not have a local program (dental school, PA, DPT, OT, optometry, podiatry, and others). The NEBHE Tuition Break program allows RI residents to attend public colleges in other New England states at reduced tuition for programs not available at RI public institutions. This can save thousands of dollars per year compared to full out-of-state tuition. Visit nebhe.org/tuitionbreak to search eligible programs by state and field of study. For detailed program listings in neighboring states, see our Connecticut Education Programs, New York Education Programs, and Massachusetts Education Programs directories.
How to Use This Directory
This directory provides a starting point for your research. When you identify programs of interest, visit the official program website, attend information sessions, contact admissions with specific questions, and review current tuition, curriculum, clinical rotation sites, board pass rates, and employment outcomes. Programs update their requirements regularly, so always verify current details before applying. Rhode Island’s limited number of in-state programs means you should cast a wider geographic net than students in larger states; the New England region effectively functions as your extended home market, and the NEBHE Tuition Break ensures that out-of-state does not automatically mean unaffordable.
Public Health and Social Work Programs
Brown University School of Public Health (Providence): MPH, MS, and PhD programs in epidemiology, biostatistics, behavioral and social health sciences, health services policy and practice, and environmental health. Brown’s public health school is relatively small compared to programs at Columbia or Harvard, but its intimate size means more direct faculty mentorship and the opportunity to work on community-engaged research projects with meaningful impact in Rhode Island communities. Website: brown.edu/academics/public-health. See our Public Health career page.
Rhode Island College School of Social Work: BSW and MSW programs preparing graduates for clinical social work (LICSW) licensure. RIC’s social work program is affordable for RI residents and provides field placements across community mental health centers, hospitals, schools, and social service organizations in Providence and surrounding areas. See our Clinical Social Worker career page. Providence College: Offers a BSW program and health-related undergraduate programs.
Rhode Island students should remember that the NEBHE Tuition Break and Brown’s generous financial aid policies can make healthcare education more affordable than sticker prices suggest. For professions where Rhode Island lacks a local program (dentistry, PA, DPT, optometry, podiatry), the combination of NEBHE Tuition Break and institutional financial aid at programs in neighboring states can close much of the cost gap between in-state and out-of-state attendance. Research financial aid options thoroughly before assuming that an out-of-state program is unaffordable.
References
Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School. “Admissions.” Brown, 2025. https://medical.brown.edu/. Accessed March 2026.
URI College of Pharmacy. “Programs.” URI, 2025. https://web.uri.edu/pharmacy/. Accessed March 2026.
CCRI. “Health Science Programs.” CCRI, 2025. https://www.ccri.edu/. Accessed March 2026.
NEBHE. “Tuition Break.” NEBHE, 2025. https://www.nebhe.org/tuitionbreak/. Accessed March 2026.