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 Roger Williams University Mission is Preparing Future Leaders and Innovators for a Rapidly Changing World
The RWU Vision
At Roger Williams University (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 Roger Williams University 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 Roger Williams University 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
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 Roger Williams University, 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 Roger Williams University, 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
Roger Williams University Celebrates First-Gen Students with Week of Belonging and Empowerment
First-Generation College Celebration Week brought together students, faculty, staff, and alumni to affirm shared experiences and build a stronger community of support.
Discovering a Hidden Record of Survival: How Roger Williams University Students Chronicled a Story of Slavery and Freedom
RWU undergraduates lead a multi-university research effort to authenticate a rare firsthand narrative that documents a man’s self-emancipation from slavery to global maritime freedom.
Roger Williams University Community and Historians Work to Restore Indigenous Voices to the Thanksgiving Story
At Thanksgiving Retold, historians Don “Strong Turtle” Brown, Jr. and Richard Pickering joined The Co-Lab in guiding the RWU community through a deeper, Indigenous-centered examination of the holiday’s origins.
A More Complex Picture of Rhode Island’s First Couple, Roger and Mary Williams
Roger Williams University History Professor Charlotte Carrington-Farmer talks about her new book about state founder Roger Williams, and a new exhibit about his wife, Mary Williams.
Roger Williams University Professor Receives $40,000 NIH Grant for Biomedical Engineering Research on Early Detection of Breast Cancer
Associate Professor of Engineering Ahmet Akosman was awarded a grant to further his work in creating more accessible methods to detect breast cancer early.
