Applicants, Acceptance Rate, Yield Trends at RWU

-16.34%

Applicants - since 2015

9.22%

Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate at RWU over the past 10 years is 85.49%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 87.71%. The acceptance rate at RWU is relatively high, giving applicants a greater chance of admission.

The acceptance rate has decreased each year for the past 3 years, indicating increasing selectivity.

The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 14.04%, and the 2025 yield is 13.04%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 4.02% from 2015 to 2025.

The number of RWU applicants decreased by 2.54% (209 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants decreased by 16.34% overall.

Key Takeaways: RWU Admission Metrics

Acceptance Rate Overview

The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 87.71%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that RWU is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.

Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns

The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 13.04%. This stable yield rate reflects consistent conversion of admissions offers into actual enrollments at RWU. The stability indicates predictable enrollment outcomes and sustainable admission practices.

Application Volume & Admission Trends

For the 2025 admission cycle, RWU received approximately 8,029 applications, admitted 7,042 students, and enrolled 918 students. The declining application volume may indicate shifts in student interest patterns or broader demographic changes affecting college enrollment. Understanding these trends is crucial for prospective students and families assessing RWU's position in the competitive admissions landscape.

Acceptance Rate Changes

RWU 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at RWU over the past decade show a consistent pattern of increasing selectivity, with the acceptance rate declining year-over-year for 3 consecutive years. The average acceptance rate over this period is 85.49%, while the most recent rate stands at 87.71%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.

For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 87.71%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 82.57% and for women is 88.05%.

The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at RWU have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 78.48% 74.64% 81.66%
2016-17 79.26%
0.77%
74.38%
-0.26%
83.28%
1.62%
2017-18 82.29%
3.04%
78.98%
4.61%
85.33%
2.04%
2018-19 86.09%
3.80%
83.19%
4.21%
88.72%
3.39%
2019-20 85.35%
-0.75%
81.79%
-1.40%
88.48%
-0.24%
2020-21 86.01%
0.66%
82.17%
0.38%
89.31%
0.83%
2021-22 91.00%
4.99%
88.99%
6.82%
93.00%
3.69%
2022-23 90.99%
-0.01%
89.36%
0.38%
92.36%
-0.64%
2023-24 87.78%
-3.21%
85.89%
-3.47%
89.31%
-3.05%
2024-25 87.71%
-0.07%
86.32%
0.43%
89.00%
-0.31%
Average 85.49% 82.57% 88.05%
Roger Williams University Acceptance Rate Trends Over Time - Historical Admission Rate Data Visualization Chart

Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes

RWU has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 13.58% in 2015 to 13.04% in 2025, representing a 4.02% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 14.04%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.

The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at RWU from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 4.02% over this period.

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 13.58% 14.03% 13.24%
2016-17 15.55%
1.96%
16.76%
2.73%
14.65%
1.41%
2017-18 14.50%
-1.05%
16.02%
-0.74%
13.20%
-1.45%
2018-19 13.21%
-1.29%
14.76%
-1.26%
11.89%
-1.31%
2019-20 14.64%
1.44%
16.46%
1.70%
13.17%
1.27%
2020-21 13.24%
-1.41%
14.71%
-1.74%
12.07%
-1.10%
2021-22 14.00%
0.76%
15.00%
0.29%
12.01%
-0.05%
2022-23 14.54%
0.53%
15.87%
0.87%
13.44%
1.43%
2023-24 14.13%
-0.40%
14.69%
-1.18%
13.69%
0.25%
2024-25 13.04%
-1.10%
14.44%
-0.26%
12.06%
-1.63%
Average 14.04% 15.27% 12.94%
Roger Williams University enrollment rate trends chart showing historical yield changes from 2015 to 2025

Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes

Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 8,832, the average number of admitted is 7,527, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 1,058.

The number of RWU applicants decreased by 2.54% (209 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants decreased by 16.34% overall.

The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Roger Williams University from 2015 to 2025.

YearApplicantsAdmittedEnrolled
2015-16 9,597 7,532 1,023
2016-17 9,829
2.42%
7,790
3.43%
1,211
18.38%
2017-18 9,515
-3.19%
7,830
0.51%
1,135
-6.28%
2018-19 9,147
-3.87%
7,875
0.57%
1,040
-8.37%
2019-20 8,906
-2.63%
7,601
-3.48%
1,113
7.02%
2020-21 8,775
-1.47%
7,547
-0.71%
999
-10.24%
2021-22 8,163
-6.97%
7,428
-1.58%
1,040
4.10%
2022-23 8,121
-0.51%
7,389
-0.53%
1,074
3.27%
2023-24 8,238
1.44%
7,231
-2.14%
1,022
-4.84%
2024-25 8,029
-2.54%
7,042
-2.61%
918
-10.18%
Average 8,832 7,527 1,058
Roger Williams University - 10 Year Applicants, Admissions, and Enrollment Trends Chart

Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges

The following table compares Roger Williams University' acceptance rate to similar schools.

20242025Change %
Roger Williams University87.78%87.71%-0.08%
Brown University5.39%5.23%3.06%
Providence College50.89%48.72%4.45%
Johnson & Wales University-Providence88.41%83.70%5.63%
Bryant University65.46%65.65%-0.29%
Johnson & Wales University-Online90.97%54.26%67.66%

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