Rhode Island Colleges & Universities
Top college and university libraries in Rhode Island
These college and university libraries stand out for their collections, special collections and archives. Public access varies, so each entry says how visitors can use the library.
John Hay LibraryBrown University
The John Hay Library houses Brown University Library's rare books and manuscripts, the University Archives and the library's special collections. Opened in 1910 opposite the Van Wickle Gates, it served as Brown's main library until the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library took over that role in 1964.
John Carter Brown LibraryBrown University
The John Carter Brown Library is an independently funded research library whose rare books, manuscripts and maps cover European exploration and colonization of the New World until about 1825. It is open to everyone: its exhibitions can be visited during Reading Room hours, and researchers reserve a seat by appointment.
John D. Rockefeller Jr. LibraryBrown University
Nicknamed the Rock, the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library is Brown's primary library for the humanities, social sciences and fine arts. Built between 1962 and 1964 to a design by Danforth Toan, it was the first building in the area constructed in the Brutalist style, and it houses the East Asian Collection.
Phillips Memorial LibraryProvidence College
Constructed in 1969, Phillips Memorial Library holds 242,000 volumes and gives access to 3.5 million volumes as a member of the HELIN library consortium of Rhode Island.
The most beautiful college library in Rhode Island
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John Hay LibraryBrown University
Andrew Carnegie funded the John Hay Library and asked that it be named for his late companion, Secretary of State John Hay. Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge designed the Beaux-Arts building, which was built of white marble quarried in Dorset, Vermont, and dedicated on November 10, 1910.
Last verified: November 2, 2026. Visitor rules, hours and borrowing policies change, so check the library's website before you go.
About colleges and universities in Rhode Island
In the state of Rhode Island, there is one college or university per every 100 square feet of space. The tiniest state in the United States, Rhode Island consists of just 1,200 square miles - yet it has 12 colleges or universities within its borders. There is a large public research university in Rhode Island, as well as elite private universities and even a federal Navy college. It may be a small state in size, but it is a premier destination for higher education.
The University of Rhode Island is the largest public research university in the state, and it is located in Kingston. The University of Rhode Island also has three extension campuses in other locations throughout the state. The university was founded in 1892, and located on the site of a farm, it was originally intended to be strictly an agricultural college. Today, the University of Rhode Island is still a land-grant institution, but it also is a sea-grant and urban-grant institution. The academic programs at URI are wide and varied, with some of its best programs including its nursing program, engineering program, oceanography program, pharmacy program and landscape architecture program. Two Rhode Island governors graduated from URI, as well as a plethora of professional athletes.
Brown University holds several distinctions in the state of Rhode Island. Not only is it the oldest school in the state and the only Ivy League school, it is also the only school in Rhode Island that was founded before the American Revolution. Brown University is located in 1764, and eventually became the first university in the United States to accept students regardless of the religion that they practiced. Brown is one of the most elite schools in the country, with an acceptance rate of about 8 percent. Students who attend this university have the opportunity to pick one of the concentrations, or majors, available, or if they do not find one that suits them they can develop an independent course of study. Brown has produced many politicians, business people and other prominent figures throughout history, and some of its more notable alumni include John F. Kennedy Jr., author Jeffrey Eugenides and former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno.
The smallest school in Rhode Island is the Naval War College, a public federal university that is run by the United States Navy. Its enrollment consists of about 550 students, and it is a research institution that studies ideas for naval warfare.