Performance-Based Admission Program

Individuals who are at least 20 years old, who have been away from formal schooling for some time, who have little or no college credit and who lack some of the usual college entrance requirements may be considered for freshman admission through the Performance-Based Admission (PBA) Program. 

Rhode Island College is a member of The Common Application group. Applicants must submit the following materials to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by June 1 for fall semester enrollment and November 15 for spring semester enrollment:

1.    A completed application accompanied by a $50 nonrefundable application fee.  Students may apply online or download a copy of application materials at www.commonapp.org.

2.    Official copies of high school transcripts.

3.    Scores on the High School General Educational Development (GED) tests (if the candidate has not earned a traditional high school diploma).

4.    An interview.

Each student who is accepted into Rhode Island College through the PBA Program will develop a special plan of study with the program advisor before the beginning of the first semester of classes. The plan of study will specify any special condition (e.g., remedial courses in mathematics or English-language courses), a schedule for ongoing consultation with an advisor and a specific six-course program, which will include the college writing course, three General Education Distribution courses and two other elective courses. Students must complete the six-course program with a minimum GPA of 2.0 to be allowed to continue their studies. Upon successful completion of the plan of study, students will be continued as degree candidates without condition.

Students who need remedial coursework in either of these disciplines will be permitted to take these courses as part of their programs, but credits earned will not count toward either the degree requirements or the six-course PBA Program plans.

Adult students whose primary language is not English may also be accepted into the college through this program and may be required to complete one or more English as a Second Language (ESL) courses before undertaking the regular six courses in the PBA Program. Before undertaking the six-course PBA Program, these students are expected to demonstrate a facility with the English language that is comparable to a score of 79 on the Web-based version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), 213 on the computer-based version or 550 on the paper-based version; 960 on the English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT); or 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Students who do not make satisfactory progress will be dismissed from the college. Appeals of dismissal decisions can be made to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.