A History of Growth
RWU started in 1956 as a junior college inside the Broad Street YMCA in Providence. We now offer more than 75 programs on two campuses.
Learn more about our historyAbout RWU
The ¹ú²úÍøºì¸£ÀûÒ»Çø Mission is Preparing Future Leaders and Innovators for a Rapidly Changing World
The RWU Vision
At ¹ú²úÍøºì¸£ÀûÒ»Çø (RWU), we empower students to become successful leaders and innovators in today’s dynamic and competitive landscape. Our unique educational approach emphasizes original research, engaged learning, and hands-on experiences through apprenticeships, practicums, and clinical opportunities. These real-world experiences, both on and off-campus, ensure that our students are career-ready and equipped to thrive immediately in the workforce while laying the foundation for ongoing career advancement.
RWU Core Values
We embed our core values and institutional mission into every aspect of RWU, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. By seeking interdisciplinary connections and developing innovative ideas, we transform these insights into collective action, strengthening our capabilities and guiding RWU in exciting new directions. Discover how we are transforming ¹ú²úÍøºì¸£ÀûÒ»Çø into a more distinctive, resilient, and enduring institution, dedicated to preparing our graduates for success in their careers and contributions to society.
These core values will help us to achieve our institutional mission – to build the university the world needs now.
- We will meet the educational needs of a diverse, multigenerational community of learners.
- We will work with local and global communities to address problems that matter most to society.
- We will provide transformative educational experiences to all students, enabling them to fulfill their potential as lifelong learners, professionals, and citizens.
- We will create a community in which diversity is visible in its population and culture, and by implementing explicit institution-wide practices that advance equity and belonging.
- We will commit to ongoing collaborations that promote education, inquiry, and the implementation of sustainable practices, enhancing both human and environmental well-being on our campuses and within our communities.
- We will be financially accessible to all who aspire to a ¹ú²úÍøºì¸£ÀûÒ»Çø education.
The RWU Difference
The RWU Difference is defined by what distinguishes our students: engaging in real-world learning, leveraging powerful combinations of experiences, and recognizing the significance of location to help you soar like a hawk.
Explore the DifferenceRWU is a Top Ranked University
#1
Bristol was ranked the Safest College Town in the U.S. by in 2022
#35
Best Regional University
in the Northeast
#1
Best Online Colleges
in Rhode Island by in their 2024 rankings
Strategic Action Plan
With our unique mix of liberal arts and professional programs, top-notch faculty, the state’s only law school, and hubs of innovation in Providence and Bristol, Rhode Island, RWU is poised to align our efforts and provide what the world needs from a modern, comprehensive university.
Helping Communities Near & Far
RWU is dedicated to engaged, hands-on learning and teaching that helps strengthen society. Every student is provided the opportunity to participate in a real-world learning experience that helps a community partner locally or globally. School of Law students offer pro bono legal services, with many completing more than 100 hours of service before graduation. Every RWU student makes an impact on our society – from working in the Rhode Island community to participating in a study-abroad program overseas.
Powerful Combinations
At ¹ú²úÍøºì¸£ÀûÒ»Çø, the most impactful education is the one you design for yourself. Through Powerful Combinations of academic programs, internships, research, and student activities, RWU students create unique pathways that align with their passions and set them apart in the job market.
Location Matters
At ¹ú²úÍøºì¸£ÀûÒ»Çø, location matters for your education. With two distinctive campuses in Bristol and Providence, Rhode Island, RWU offers the perfect balance of a safe, close-knit waterfront community and a vibrant urban hub. Our students thrive in a university that is just the right size—small classes, strong faculty mentorship, and access to hands-on experiences in Rhode Island, Boston, New York, and beyond.
More About RWU
Careers at RWU
View open employment opportunities and learn more about joining our devoted community of students, faculty and staff.
Explore Open Positions
Administrative Offices
Looking for assistance? Find the appropriate RWU administrative office for your needs here.
Find an OfficeRWU Newsmakers
RWU Professor Receives Grant to Strengthen Rhode Island’s STEM Workforce
Biology Professor Avelina Espinosa will implement a training program that introduces high school students to electrochemical genosensing while training college students for biotechnology career pathways in the Ocean State.
¹ú²úÍøºì¸£ÀûÒ»Çø Heads Reseeding Initiative to Strengthen Rhode Island’s Quahog Fisheries
RWU researchers and students partner with state and industry leaders to expand hatchery production, strengthen disease monitoring, and accelerate restoration of Rhode Island’s iconic quahog populations in Narragansett Bay.
Real Estate Externship Connects ¹ú²úÍøºì¸£ÀûÒ»Çø Students with Industry Leaders in New York City
The Cummings Institute for Real Estate continues to offer students hands-on learning and career shaping connections through its immersive externship program.
¹ú²úÍøºì¸£ÀûÒ»Çø Opens Student-Run Thrift Center to Advance Campus Sustainability
A new student-led initiative provides free clothing and household goods while diverting usable items from landfills.
¹ú²úÍøºì¸£ÀûÒ»Çø Students Celebrate Black History Month through an Event Series
Students with the Multicultural Student Union host a series of events that immerse attendees in tradition, culture, education, and fun.
