The Community College of Rhode Island has an open admissions policy that offers Rhode Island residents an opportunity for education beyond the high school level.
A high school diploma or its equivalent is not a general admissions requirement of the college provided the student is 18 years of age, the compulsory age for high school attendance in Rhode Island. Students admitted without a high school diploma or its equivalent have the opportunity to complete their GED through the program available at CCRI. Students who are younger than 18 years of age must submit official high school or GED® transcripts indicating a graduation date prior to enrolling at the college. Submission of official high school or GED transcripts is strongly encouraged to ensure accurate course placement.
A high school diploma or its equivalent is required for admission to the following Health Sciences programs. In addition, individual departments may have specific admissions requirements that students must meet. Because many of the programs listed below have specific space limitations for admission, it is to the student’s benefit to complete special admissions requirements as soon as possible.
Dental Assisting
Dental Hygiene
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Fire Science/Emergency Medical Technician
Histotechnician
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Medical Laboratory Technology
Nursing
Phlebotomy
Physical Therapist Assistant
Renal Dialysis Technology
Radiography (X-ray)
Respiratory Therapy
Occupational Therapy Assistant
CCRI has instituted a performance-based application process for selected Health Sciences programs. Please see this page for more information.
All transcripts submitted for admission must be official and sent to CCRI’s One Stop Student Services Office directly from the respective institution. Applicants with GED® credentials should have a transcript of equivalency scores sent to CCRI from Parchment or from the General Equivalency Center. Equivalencies from correspondence schools are not acceptable.
Home-school transcripts must be official, and documentation from the local school district approving the home-schooling program should be submitted to the Office of Enrollment Services. High school transcripts from online high schools will be accepted only if the high school is regionally accredited.
In the case of secondary education received outside of the United States, transcripts must be evaluated to determine whether they meet U.S. secondary school completion requirements. A list of authorized agencies that evaluate international transcripts is available on the Admissions website.
Although the College Board SAT® test is not required for admission to CCRI, students are strongly encouraged to submit these scores to CCRI. Students who take the SAT® or ACT® may list CCRI as a report school. Test scores will provide additional information for course placement.
The Rhode Island Board of Education established the residency rules for students attending the state institutions of higher education. The residency policy is available here.
Applications are processed as they are received. Performance-based Health Science applications are competitive and accepted during designated months. Please see this page for more information.
International students can begin their studies at CCRI every fall semester. To ensure we complete the application process in a timely manner, prospective students living outside the U.S. need to submit the competed application by May 31. Students already in the U.S. must submit completed applications by June 30. The International Student Application is available here.
Once accepted, students will be issued an acceptance packet with an accompanying I-20 form (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant [F-1] Student Status).
The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) Regional Student Program allows students to attend CCRI at a regional tuition rate, which is 150 percent of the current in-state tuition rate. To be considered for the regional rate, students must be enrolled in a degree or certificate program.
For further information, please visit this page.
In 2021, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed the Student Success Act, a law granting in-state tuition to students who are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents of the United States, provided they attended a Rhode Island high school for three or more years and continue to live in Rhode Island; graduated from an approved Rhode Island high school or received a GED® credential; and signed an affidavit confirming that they are seeking legal status. Students who wish to apply for in-state tuition based upon these criteria must complete and submit an application and affidavit, which can be found on this page.
For more information, visit the website or call the One Stop Student Services Office at 401-825-2003.
For more information about additional Dual Enrollment Programs for high school students, visit the Admissions website or call CCRI’s Office of Enrollment Services at 401-825-2003.
High school seniors who wish to study at CCRI on a full-time basis during their senior year may be eligible to earn college credit and credit toward high school graduation simultaneously. The Running Start Program is for high school students who have demonstrated academic achievement and the maturity necessary to enroll in college courses during their senior year of high school, and applications are submitted their junior year in high school. Students should complete the online admissions application and Running Start form found by visiting this page.
High school juniors and seniors who wish to take CCRI courses on a part-time basis (up to eight credits) are required to complete the application process and the High School Enrichment form found by visiting this page. Course selection is made at the discretion of the high school counselor or principal. Registration may be contingent on course availability and instructor agreement.
Students enrolled in a high school P-TECH (Pathways in Technology) program can apply to be full-time CCRI students during their senior year through the CCRI Enrichment Program. The CCRI P-TECH Enrichment Program is for high school students who have demonstrated academic achievement and the personal maturity needed to enroll in full-time college courses. During their high school P-TECH program, students will have already had the opportunity to earn CCRI credits. By attending CCRI full-time in their senior year, students will be able to continue earning credits toward an associate degree. For more information, please contact Sandra Nolan, the Director of Concurrent Enrollment at 401-825-2099 or sanolan@ccri.edu.
The High School/Community College of Rhode Island Partnership Program offers high school students the opportunity to earn college credits while in high school. Students enrolled in selected high school courses that meet CCRI curriculum requirements obtain college credits upon successful completion of the high school course, high school graduation and enrollment at CCRI. Interested high school students should contact their school counselor as soon as possible so they may enroll in appropriate classes while in high school. To obtain credit, contact Sandra Nolan, the Director of Concurrent Enrollment at sanolan@ccri.edu or 401-825-2099.
State funds are available to support special programs for high school students. For more information about Prepare RI dual and concurrent enrollment programs, please visit the Rhode Island Department of Education website.
Students who qualify for veterans educational benefits may obtain enrollment and certification information by visiting this page.
As part of Rhode Island's continuing efforts to recognize the men and women of our Armed Forces, and pursuant to §30-30.2-3(2) of the R.I. General Laws, the Council on Postsecondary Education has established a policy that supports veterans and service members with Priority Registration for all Combat Veterans of the United States Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Reserves and the United States Coast Guard attending any Rhode Island public institution of higher education.
Combat veterans attending the Community College of Rhode Island wishing to obtain priority registration must self-identify to the campus veterans' certifying official(s). Veteran students seeking priority registration must submit the following:
Documentation must be submitted prior to the first day of priority registration for the first term in which priority registration is sought (generally November for spring registration and April for fall registration). Once Combat Veteran Status has been established for early registration, it will carry over to future terms. You do not need to submit an additional DD214.
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