Welcome School, CBO, and College Counselors
Counselors are a key partner in helping Roger Williams University serve both our current and future students. At RWU, our holistic approach to making admission decisions considers the whole student, and allows a greater number of students access to an RWU education.
We would love it if you visited us this academic year! We have a special sign up just for Counselors.
Stay informed! We send out quarterly counselor newsletters to keep you apprised of everything happening at RWU, share upcoming events for counselors, etc.
RWU at a Glance
RWU is a private, liberal arts university located in beautiful Bristol, Rhode Island, a convenient distance from Providence, Newport, and Boston. Named after the founder of Rhode Island and 17th-century revolutionary, we are a university devoted to making society a better, more socially just place.- We are seeking students that not only want to dive into their classroom learning but also want to enhance our close-knit and dynamic community. Here at RWU, we value and understand the importance of community, acceptance, and diversity so that we can continue to build the university the world needs now.
- Our Bristol campus is home to six academic schools offering 50 majors and 70+ minors, providing students with diverse and unique program offerings. With an average class size of 19, students are able to personalize their college experience and establish relationships with professors, mentors, and their peers.
Early Action: November 15
Regular Decision: February 1
HONORS Program Preferred Deadline: November 15
Application Requirements
- Common Applications
- High School Transcript(s)
- Essay/Personal Statement
- One Letter of Recommendation
Test-Optional Policy
Submission of standardized test scores for admission consideration is optional. Students may self-reports their scores, as detailed on our requirements page.
Portfolio
Students applying to Architecture are required to submit portfolios for consideration for direct-entry.
If you'd like to talk with us 1:1 about your student's application status, please reach out to our admission team with any questions. Listing of admission counselors by territory. You can always call the office at 401-254-3500 or email us.
You can also track your student's application statuses with Slate.org! We encourage our counselor community to use this tool to assist with checking application statuses for their students that apply to RWU. View checklist requirements, upload documents, and track applicant decisions. Didn't know about Slate.org? Find out more about Slate.org.
Merit scholarships are awarded by automatic review in consideration of academic performance, rigor of curriculum, standardized test scores (if submitted) and other personal characteristics and accomplishments. Merit awards renew annually with travel grants available for out-of-region students, which equates to 31-61% of tuition cost.
Additional scholarship opportunities:
- Intercultural Leadership Ambassador Scholarship (ILA) - students who qualify will have demonstrated academic achievement, leadership and positive contributions to their communities. Qualifying students also identify with one of the following: first generation college student; speak a first language other than English or live in a home where English is not the primary language; live or attend high school in an under-resourced community; or live in a geographically underrepresented community. The program includes a scholarship covering 95% of tuition for four consecutive years of undergraduate study in addition to a co-curricular program which provides mentorship and academic support while furthering the holistic and leadership growth of recipients throughout their time at RWU.
Need-based financial aid requires that students submit the FAFSA by February 1 (FAFSA Code: 003410); RWU does not use the CSS profile.
Profile of Admitted Student
- GPA Middle 50%: 3.11-3.85
- SAT Middle 50%: 1140-1290
- ACT Middle 50%: 26-30
- Students of Color: 21%
- First Generation Students: 24%
- Out-of-State Students: 87%
For most up-to-date tuition and fees, visit the Office of the Bursar website.
Visit Experience Options
We provide a variety of visit experiences to explore our waterfront campus. Offerings include information sessions and tours, special presentations, virtual tours (with student-led guides), and open houses. Learn more and to register for our visit experiences. To request a virtual counselor tour, please email us.
Counselor Experience
Each spring, our invitational Counselor Experience welcomes school counselors, independent counselors and CBO advisors to join our campus community for a day and gain perspectives on our academic programs, support services, student life, dining options and application review process. We wrap up the day with a cocktail reception overlooking Mt. Hope Bay where you'll connect directly with many members of the RWU community who will ultimately play important roles in the success of your students who choose Roger. For 2024, our Counselor Experience will take place on Friday, April 25th, 2025! For more information, please email counselors@rwu.edu.
Regional Events
We travel extensively in the fall and spring to connect with your students and families. We also host regional counselor events periodically. Check back on this website or read our counselor newsletter for updates!
Contact Us
Our undergraduate admission counselors would be happy to chat with you about your students, schedule a visit to campus or answer any questions you may have. Feel free to contact your admission counselor.
Join our counselor mailing list to learn more about RWU and keep up-to-date with our application deadlines, visit opportunities and exciting news from our community.
