Higher Education in Rhode Island

In 2008, college opportunities in Rhode Island for young and working-age adults were ranked as "fairly low." Unfortunately, the affordability of college for poor and working-class students has become worse in recent years, with such families being required to spend 54 percent of their income towards each child's college education in a public four-year school. If you find yourself in this predicament in Rhode Island, online education may be the better choice for you. You'll find that courses taken online cost less than those taken in person on a college campus.

On the other side of the coin, Rhode Island's CollegeBoundFund has been ranked number one in the nation. The plan helps parents put aside money for their children's college education by offering them tax and other benefits for doing so.

Another challenge faced by Rhode Island higher education facilities is a drop in funding for its operating budgets. In fact, this situation has occurred all across the nation. This is another reason why online education is so attractive, both for students and institutions of higher education: operating costs for Internet courses are minimal compared to the burden of in-person classes. Facility maintenance, cleaning, and upkeep, as well as insurance costs, utilities, office staff, instructors' salaries, and other expenses can really add up. Meanwhile, online courses only incur the cost of Internet hosting and upkeep, instructors' salaries, and the salaries of those employed to offer technical support. This translates into lower tuition costs and subsequent savings for students and their families.

Teachers, health care workers, and other specialized degree-seekers have special opportunities available for financial aid to make getting their degrees more affordable. If you're considering a career in one of these areas, check with an advisor to see if you're eligible for this type of financial assistance.

Rhode Island has also developed a program called "Pathways Through College" for at-risk youth who otherwise would not consider themselves "college material." Many times, these students do not believe that they can handle the work. Being exposed to college-level courses while they are still in high school can help them realize that college is nothing to be feared. And with online education, anyone can take that step.

Rhode Island offers engineering, pharmacy, oceanographic research, teacher preparation programs, and cutting-edge art and design programs in its colleges and universities. With online education, you can experience some of the best education available in the nation, all from the comfort of home.