University of Rhode Island Nursing Programs: What to Know (2026)
URI’s College of Nursing spans Kingston and Providence—with graduate NP coursework at the Nursing Education Center on Eddy Street—and offers pre-licensure BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN NP specialties, PhD, online post-master’s DNP, and post-graduate NP certificates. Figures below cite URI’s public pages (tuition 2026–27; NCLEX context from URI News, Sept. 2024); confirm every detail with URI and Rhode Island nursing regulators.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
URI runs nursing across two hubs: undergraduate work anchored in Kingston with clinicals statewide, and graduate NP education centered in Providence at the Nursing Education Center—so you get a flagship public university with an urban clinical graduate footprint.
Overview & Why Students Choose URI
The University of Rhode Island College of Nursing describes its mission as preparing clinicians, scholars, and leaders who improve health locally and globally. Undergraduate students complete a 120-credit pre-licensure BSN with clinical experiences in hospitals, community agencies, schools, and clinics across Rhode Island, while graduate nurse practitioner students take classes at the Nursing Education Center in downtown Providence—pairing URI’s flagship campus with an urban graduate hub.
URI emphasizes interprofessional breadth (engineering, psychology, business, nutrition, and more, per the college homepage) and research tied to population health. The college is explicit about pathway limits—transfer applicants are not admitted to the pre-licensure BSN and readmission is suspended—so applicants should map their entry type early.
A Sept. 25, 2024 Rhody Today article quoted URI as saying more than 92% of students pass the NCLEX on their first attempt; treat that as school-reported context rather than a substitute for Rhode Island Board–published cohort tables. Confirm the latest program-level outcomes with the Rhode Island Department of Health nursing licensure resources and URI disclosures.
Reasons students choose URI
Two hubs, one college
Kingston-based pre-licensure education plus the Providence Nursing Education Center gives statewide undergraduate clinical access and graduates a dedicated NP campus in Rhode Island’s largest city.
Full ladder of nursing degrees
URI stacks BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN NP specialties, online post-master’s DNP, PhD, and post-graduate NP certificates—useful if you want continuity without switching institutions.
Simulation and experiential learning
URI markets a structured simulation program spanning skills labs and high-fidelity scenarios; confirm lab access in the curriculum sheet or student handbook.
Research-intensive faculty bench
The college highlights that roughly one-third of faculty hold national fellowships and lead population-health projects—strong if you want mentorship on scholarship.
Transparent per-credit pricing
URI publishes tuition, required per-credit fees, and the nursing differential online, which makes it easier to model costs before financial aid.
Nursing Programs Offered
The structure below follows URI’s Academics/About pages reviewed March 2026. Pre-licensure, RN completion, graduate NP, doctoral, and certificate pathways are separated so admissions testing (e.g., NCLEX-focused BSN vs. APRN graduate rules) stays unambiguous.
Pre-licensure
Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing
120-credit BSN culminating in NCLEX-RN eligibility. Clinicals statewide. URI states transfer students are not admissible and readmission is suspended—plan as a direct or continuing URI student only.
Post-licensure undergraduate
RN to BS on-campus cohorts
Agency-partnered cohorts designed around working RNs; URI lists this under special on-campus programming.
RN to BS online
Online completion for licensed RNs seeking the baccalaureate.
Graduate nurse practitioner (MSN)
Master of Science — Nurse Practitioner
Fall start; full- or part-time plans. Concentrations: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP, Family NP, Psychiatric-Mental Health NP. Includes 750+ supervised clinical hours and coursework at 350 Eddy Street, Providence.
Doctoral
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
Research doctorate; URI promotes the Barcott-Kim Fellowship for nurses building faculty careers.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (post-master’s)
URI Online offers a 38-credit fully online post-master’s DNP. URI notes the in-person post-M.S. track was suspended spring 2025—depend on the online documentation for active admission cycles.
In-person M.S. to DNP
URI’s legacy page states the program is not accepting applications; monitor the College of Nursing site for reinstatement or replacements.
Post-graduate certificates
Post-master’s NP certificates
AGPCNP, FNP, or PMHNP certificates with individualized gap analysis; deadlines Feb. 15 (fall) and Oct. 15 (spring) per URI’s certificate page.
Download the curriculum sheet for your catalog year and verify prerequisites with nurse@uri.edu (undergraduate) or gradnursing@uri.edu (graduate office).
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
Rhode Island’s nursing regulator, the Board of Nursing Registration and Nursing Education (within the Rhode Island Department of Health), is the authoritative source for licensure rules, but public, easy-to-scrape school-by-school NCLEX tables were not available to this review via automated fetch. URI, however, states in university news communications that undergraduate outcomes remain strong.
According to the Sept. 25, 2024 Rhody Today release, “more than 92 percent of URI students pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) on their first attempt.” That statement is school-reported narrative without a cohort size or exam year on the page—use it as context and still confirm the exact first-time percentage for your intended entry cohort through URI outcomes materials and Rhode Island’s nursing education oversight channels.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-attempt pass (publicly cited snapshot) | More than 92% on first attempt (URI-communicated figure referenced Sept. 25, 2024 news coverage). Confirm current cohort data with URI and the Rhode Island Board of Nursing Registration and Nursing Education. |
| Source | URI News / Rhody Today (Sept. 25, 2024); Rhode Island Department of Health — Nursing Licensure; NCSBN Rhode Island board profile. |
Pass rates move with every graduating class. Ask URI for the latest NCLEX report it submits to regulators, then cross-check how Rhode Island publishes (or provides upon request) program-specific outcomes.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
URI’s graduate nursing pages note that international applicants whose primary language is not English must submit TOEFL scores, and every applicant must meet Rhode Island RN licensure eligibility for NP clinical tracks. Use the checklist below as a starting point—not legal advice—and confirm each item with URI’s International Center, the College of Nursing graduate office, and the Rhode Island Board of Nursing Registration and Nursing Education.
- English proficiency: Minimum TOEFL/IELTS scores for admission and clinical clearance.
- Credential evaluation: URI may require official transcripts or evaluations; confirm acceptable agencies.
- Rhode Island licensure pathway: Internationally educated nurses may need CGFNS, VisaScreen, or other steps before NCLEX or APRN endorsement—coordinate with the Board early.
- Visas & clinical contracts: Online coursework still may require occasional onsite intensives (especially in APRN tracks); F-1 students must confirm CPT/OPT implications with URI International Student & Scholar Services.
Rhode Island rejoined the Nurse Licensure Compact effective Jan. 1, 2024; immigration and multistate practice rules remain complex—verify your scenario with professionals who know both federal immigration law and Rhode Island nursing regulations.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
URI’s nursing pathways have different gates: competitive first-year admission to the major, internal progression standards, and graduate requirements that include RN licensure eligibility in Rhode Island plus APRN clinical hour minimums.
Pre-licensure BSN (first-year applicants)
URI is test-optional for general admission but stresses math/science strength, a required nursing statement, and early application for prospective nurses. Applicants who are denied the nursing major but qualify for URI may sometimes pivot to another major on a space-available basis.
Progression after enrolling at URI
According to URI Academic Advising, students need a cumulative GPA ≥3.00, completion of URI 101, and grades of C or better in prerequisite science, chemistry, writing, and NUR 100 courses before fully entering the nursing sequence. Individual courses also require C or better where noted in the catalog.
Application timeline
| Applicant type | Deadline / rhythm | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First-year nursing (recommended) | Early Action Dec. 1 | URI “strongly encourages” this timeline for nursing applicants. |
| RN-to-BSN / graduate | Varies | Use the Graduate School application for MSN/DNP/PhD/certificate routes; RN-to-BSN students follow URI Online or college cohort instructions. |
| Post-master’s certificates | Feb. 15 (fall) / Oct. 15 (spring) | URI warns that incomplete files will not be reviewed—submit early for references. |
| Online post-master’s DNP | Example: Aug. 4, 2026 (per URI Online page reviewed Mar. 2026) | Deadlines roll forward each cycle—verify the live calendar. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (nursing-specific) | Not publicly disclosed on the pages reviewed; treat the major as selective. |
| Progression GPA (pre-licensure) | ≥3.00 cumulative plus course grades outlined by URI advising. |
| TEAS / HESI | Not listed in URI’s published first-year nursing major requirements (2026 review); confirm whether internal testing was added via the College of Nursing. |
| Graduate MSN benchmarks | BSN from CCNE- or NLN-accredited program; GPA ≥3.0 (≥3.3 preferred); RI RN eligibility; goals statement; three recommendations (one from master’s/doctoral nurse); ≥1 year RN experience required (2 preferred per MSN page). |
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
URI Enrollment Services publishes 2026–27 per-credit tuition and mandatory fees. Nursing majors also pay a program differential. Housing, meals, transportation, books, and course-specific fees are extra—use URI’s cost-of-attendance estimator for a full budget.
| Component | Amount (2026–27, unless noted) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate tuition (per credit) | $654 in-state · $1,556 out-of-state · $1,145 regional (per URI tuition table). |
| Nursing differential (undergraduate, per credit) | $79 (listed alongside other program differentials). |
| Technology + student services fees (per credit) | $16 technology + $49 student services (undergraduate band). |
| Semester flat fees (typical undergraduate) | $30 registration + $32 activity fee each semester (per schedule). |
| Graduate tuition (per credit) | $951 in-state · $1,852 out-of-state · $1,427 regional; $30 registration; $5 graduate association fee; $16 technology + $49 student services per credit. Nursing graduate differential shown as $111 with URI note that some differentials apply to new admits effective Fall 2026—confirm your admit term. |
| Source | URI Enrollment Services — Tuition & Fees. Confirm amounts with the Bursar each summer. |
File the FAFSA, review URI Scholarships, and ask the College of Nursing about endowed awards and graduate assistantships (URI notes assistantships may cover tuition plus stipend for qualifying full-time grad students).
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Publicly cited outcomes for URI nursing focus heavily on licensure examination success and national rankings. Treat rankings (e.g., U.S. News undergraduate nursing peer survey) as one input—not the whole story—and pair them with clinical fit and cost.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-attempt pass (snapshot) | URI communicated that more than 92% of students pass on the first attempt (cited Sept. 25, 2024 Rhody Today article). Confirm the latest cohort with URI and Rhode Island regulators. |
| National ranking context | The same 2024 URI release notes the BSN tied at No. 54 among 686 ranked programs in U.S. News; methodology is peer reputation-based—read the U.S. News nursing methodology before comparing schools. |
| Job placement / salary | Not publicly disclosed in the materials reviewed for this page. Use URI Career Services and employer surveys for the newest data. |
| Source | URI News (Sept. 25, 2024). |
Is URI the Right Fit for You?
Choose URI if you want a public flagship with nursing facilities in both Kingston and Providence, a full degree ladder, and clinically heavy graduate NP training. Reconsider if you need to transfer into pre-licensure nursing from another college—URI currently blocks that route—or if you require a guaranteed evening-only pre-licensure format.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Plan to start as a URI first-year student (or eligible readmission if reopened) and can maintain ≥3.0 science performance.
- Want AGPCNP, FNP, or PMHNP training anchored in Providence’s academic medical neighborhood.
- Value interdisciplinary electives and research mentorship within a land- and sea-grant university.
- Need an online RN-to-BSN or online post-master’s DNP while staying enrolled at a research university.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Require transferring into a traditional BSN from another institution (currently not permitted per URI).
- Expect immediate readmission after leaving the nursing sequence (readmission suspended as of the 2026 site review).
- Want an in-person, campus-based post-master’s DNP in Rhode Island (URI suspended the traditional track in spring 2025; online is the advertised pathway).
- Prefer a private, cohort-only college without a large research enterprise.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Rhode Island is geographically compact but clinically dense: tertiary hospitals, community health centers, long-term care, schools, and public health departments all compete for nursing talent. URI assigns BSN clinical experiences across those settings so students see prevention, acute care, behavioral health, and population work in real systems—not just med-surg blocks.
| Setting | Why it matters for URI students |
|---|---|
| Providence metro hospitals & specialty centers | Major academic hubs, trauma, pediatrics, and psychiatry expose NP students to high-acuity practice minutes from the Nursing Education Center. |
| Community health & public health agencies | BSN community courses (e.g., NUR 443/444) align with URI’s population-health mission and Rhode Island’s outpatient infrastructure. |
| Coastal & rural catchments | Smaller community hospitals and visiting nurse associations provide contrast cases for students living in Kingston or commuting from south-county towns. |
Confirm your assigned clinical sites each semester through the College of Nursing clinical office—agreements rotate as contracts renew.
Student Experience & Campus Life
Undergraduate nursing students plug into URI’s main Kingston campus life—student organizations, Division I athletics, and research symposia—while completing simulation intensives in dedicated nursing labs. The Sept. 2024 URI news feature highlighting NCLEX outcomes also notes dozens of nursing majors inducted into Sigma Theta Tau and Phi Kappa Phi, signaling an active honors culture.
Graduate students spend more time in Providence’s Nursing Education Center, so consider housing and commuting realistically if you live outside the Route 95 corridor. URI Career Services, the International Center, and Counseling Center remain available in Kingston even when coursework is Providence-based.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Main campus
- Kingston, RI
- University address
- 45 Upper College Road, Kingston, RI 02881, US
- Graduate nursing classrooms
- Nursing Education Center, 350 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903
- Telephone (main)
- (401) 874-1000
- Undergraduate nursing email
- nurse@uri.edu
- Graduate nursing email
- gradnursing@uri.edu
- Website
- uri.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Bookmark the URI Nursing Academics hub and download the curriculum sheet for your catalog year.
- Line up prerequisites (BIO 220–223, CHM 103/124, NUR 100, writing) or graduate requirements (stats, RN license, experience).
- Ask URI directly if any entrance exam beyond the general application is required for your cohort—public pages reviewed in 2026 did not list TEAS for first-year nursing.
- Save advising contacts from URI’s Nursing (B.S.) page (401.874.5348 / 401.874.5350) for quick answers.
- MSN applicants should practice the Providence commute or plan housing near the Nursing Education Center.
- Model tuition using the 2026–27 per-credit table plus the nursing differential before accepting aid packages.
- Calendar critical deadlines: Dec. 1 nursing EA target, certificate deadlines, and the next online DNP date from URI Online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the University of Rhode Island a good school for nursing?
URI’s College of Nursing is CCNE-accredited across its BSN, MSN, DNP, and post-graduate APRN programs, runs statewide clinical education, and publicly cites strong NCLEX performance (more than 92% first-attempt passes in a Sept. 25, 2024 university news article). Rankings such as U.S. News undergraduate nursing peer scores provide additional context—read their methodology. Confirm current accreditation listings and outcomes with CCNE, URI, and the Rhode Island Board of Nursing Registration and Nursing Education.
Does URI require the TEAS exam for its nursing major?
URI’s published first-year “Additional Requirements by Major” text emphasizes math/science rigor and a nursing statement but does not mention TEAS. Policies may still change—verify with the College of Nursing before you budget for testing.
What GPA do I need to stay on track for URI’s pre-licensure BSN?
URI Academic Advising lists a 3.00 cumulative GPA plus grades of C or better in BIO 220–223, CHM 103 and 124, NUR 100, WRT 104/106, and URI 101. Individual nursing courses also require at least a C where stated.
Can I transfer into URI’s traditional BSN from another college?
No—URI’s pre-licensure BSN states that transfer students are not admissible and readmission is suspended. Consider RN-to-BSN or starting as a first-year URI applicant instead.
Where do URI MSN students take classes?
URI states that all graduate nursing classes meet at the Nursing Education Center, 350 Eddy Street, Providence, RI.
Which nurse practitioner tracks does URI offer?
The MSN prepares Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, Family, and Psychiatric-Mental Health nurse practitioners, each with 750+ clinical hours. Post-master’s certificates mirror those specialties.
What NCLEX-RN data is available for URI?
Rhody Today (Sept. 25, 2024) quoted URI as saying more than 92% of students pass NCLEX on their first attempt. That is a school communication without cohort size on the page—pair it with any Board-published program reports you can obtain.
When should I apply to URI as a prospective nursing major?
URI strongly encourages nursing applicants to meet the Dec. 1 Early Action deadline. Later rounds may have scarcer seats because nursing is capacity-limited.
Does URI still offer an in-person DNP in Rhode Island?
URI Online markets the active post-master’s DNP as fully online. The college notes the traditional in-person post-M.S. DNP was suspended as of spring 2025—treat the online track as the current pathway unless URI posts a reinstatement.
References
- University of Rhode Island — College of Nursingweb.uri.edu/nursing
- URI — Pre-licensure BSN (policies, curriculum)web.uri.edu/nursing/academics/bs-nursing
- URI — MSN Nurse Practitionerweb.uri.edu/nursing/academics/master-of-science-degree
- URI Online — Doctor of Nursing Practiceuri.edu/online/…/doctor-of-nursing-practice
- URI — Tuition & Fees (2026–27)web.uri.edu/enrollment/tuition-and-fees
- URI News — NCLEX & ranking context (Sept. 25, 2024)uri.edu/news/2024/09/uri-college-of-nursing-undergrad-programs-ranked-among-top-8-percent-in-nation
- URI — First-year admission by major (nursing statement, Dec. 1 guidance)web.uri.edu/admission/first-year/by-major
- URI Academic Advising — Nursing, B.S. (progression GPA)web.uri.edu/advising/nursing-b-s
- Rhode Island Department of Health — Nursing licensurehealth.ri.gov/licensing/nurses
- NCSBN — Rhode Island board profilencsbn.org/rhode-island.htm
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nursesbls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, for NCLEX attribution, URI tuition table alignment, DNP modality changes, and separation of pre-licensure versus RN completion requirements.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; always verify with URI and the Rhode Island Board of Nursing Registration and Nursing Education.
Published: March 31, 2026 · Last reviewed: March 31, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy