Extension School
Your gateway to flexible, affordable, and career-driven education.
An RWU Education that meets you where you are.
Welcome to the RWU Extension School—your gateway to flexible, affordable, and career-driven education. Join a supportive community dedicated to helping you succeed with courses that align with today’s most in-demand skills and industries. Whether you're a working professional, recent high school graduate, or returning student, our diverse programs are tailored to fit your life and future career needs.
How We Meet Community Needs
RWU EXT is about meeting the needs of the community. We are a place for all types of learners and partner for community organizations and industry leaders who are implementing solutions that benefit the larger community.
How We Serve All Learners
RWU EXT is not just geared toward one type of student. We are organized to serve all learners, whether they are teenagers trying to get ahead, adult students looking to complete degrees, or individuals looking for job training or professional development for themselves or their employees.
How We Remove Barriers
RWU EXT removes barriers and provides opportunities. We work with students to ensure they or their families aren't blocked from an education for reasons of preparation, affordability, or time constraints.
Apply Now
Defy your doubts. There is no better time than now to begin working on a degree path, or finish a path you started, or take a course to advance in your career. Our variety of course offerings and affordable tuition will get you where you want to go.
Learn More and Apply NowYou Did The Work, Now Earn The Degree
Use what you already know through relevant learning, work, or life experience and apply it towards a degree. You can bring in as many as 90 credits towards a bachelors degree. Learn how you can maximize your life experience for a degree. We recognize a number of formal and non-formal experiences and activities as prior learning.
A Place for Our Active or Retired Military
RWU EXT is where military members deployed overseas, serving here at home, or those who have already served can get started on their next steps. We collaborate and maintain partnerships with education officers throughout the military branches so we can best serve our military families and offer services and resources like military discount and a Student Veteran Organization (SVO).
A Place for Partnerships
We are a thought partner and leader, working to solve problems, innovate, disrupt, and build new systems that create a positive and measurable impact for families, communities, and the State. Whether it’s designing custom courses or opening up our courses and trainings to your employees, we are prepared to provide the support and know-how that is required to meet your specific goals and needs.
Degrees & Certificates
Develop stackable credentials, certificates, degrees, and micro-credentials in collaboration with industry-leading employers and delivered by industry-leading subject matter experts, filling specific needs with our developed curriculum when external certifications do not exist.
Trades
Prepare students for in-demand jobs that do not need a traditional credentialed pathway. Students develop specialized skills that address the industry's current and future needs.
Early College Students
Provide high school students with college-level courses, earn college credit, and accelerate time to degree and entrance into the workforce.
Coursework
Allow students to stay on track for timely graduation, retake courses in which they struggled, or get ahead to graduate early.
Professional Certifications & Licensures
Provide preparation and training to earn external credentials and licensures demonstrating the skill or knowledge needed to perform a specific job/ function.
Recent News
Roger Williams University Officially Introduces Extension School, Expanding Access to Workforce and Professional Education
Rebrand from University College to RWU Extension School reinforces commitment to lifelong learning and industry partnerships.
RWU Extension School Dean Receives Award for Work with Justice-Impacted Community
Gena Bianco was conferred the Freedom of Education Award by the Reentry Campus Program.
RWU and CVS Health Celebrate 10th Anniversary of Executive Learning Series for Diverse Suppliers
The longstanding partnership between RWU and CVS Health has driven success and innovation for diverse entrepreneurs and business leaders nationwide.
RWU Launches Don P. and Elaine M. Hayden Scholarships for Trades Education
Funded by a $250,000 grant from the Hayden Foundation, the scholarships will provide full financial support for students enrolled in RWU’s trades programs and help address a critical labor shortage in the state of Rhode Island.
RWU Partners with Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England to Offer Reduced Tuition on University College Courses
All adult volunteers with GSSNE are eligible to receive financial discounts toward their education, from professional certifications to undergraduate and graduate degrees
