Alternative Admission Programs
Performance-Based Admission Program (PBA)
The Performance-Based Admission (PBA) Program at Rhode Island College is designed for adult students who have
minimal or no previous college work and do
not have traditional freshman admissions credentials (such as SAT scores or a full college preparatory program from high school).
Eligibility Guidelines for PBA Applicants
- Applicants should be at least 20 years of age.
- Applicant must have
no more than 12 attempted college credits.
- Applicants must possess a high school diploma or the GED equivalent.
- Candidates whose first language is other than English must demonstrate proficiency in English by successfully completing Intermediate ESL or Rhode Island College's ESL Placement Examination.
Upon acceptance to the PBA Program, students are considered degree candidates and are required to:
- Complete the college's writing and mathematics requirements
- Meet regularly with the assigned PBA Advisor
- Successfully complete 6 college courses (18 credits) which must include CC 125 (College Learning Strategies)
- Maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average
- Begin the General Education program and do remedial coursework if prescribed by the PBA advisor.
Academic Advisement/Counseling for Enrolled PBA Students
- Enrolled students are required to work with an advisor from the Office of Academic Support and Information Services (OASIS) through their first six college courses. The advisor helps the student with academic choices, college procedures and policies, and other questions that may arise while the student is in the program.
- Rhode Island College has learning centers to help students strengthen academic skills in writing and mathematics, study skills and time management.
- Upon successful completion of six courses and a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA within one year, the student will be "released" from Performance-Based Admission (conditional admission), is considered a regular degree candidate at Rhode Island College and will be assigned an advisor from the department of his/her major.
Project ExCEL (Excellence in College for English Learners)
Project ExCEL (Excellence in College for English Learners) is an academic initiative at Rhode Island College aiming to expand college access for talented bilingual students. Because the process of acquisition of academic English for non-native speakers of English is complex and extends over several years, many highly capable, literate and academically talented advanced bilinguals often do not have all the mainstream English courses required for admission to a four-year college or university. In close partnership with high school and other counselors, Project ExCEL @ RIC enrolls bright, accomplished bilinguals with established success in academic subjects and provides them the opportunity to pursue a Rhode Island College degree.
Admissions requirements
- Successful completion of high school ESL courses
- 3 units of mathematics
- 2 units of laboratory science
- 2 units of social science
- 2 units of foreign language (may be waived if a student exhibits proficiency in multiple languages)
- 5 additional units of diversified study
Visit the
Project ExCEL homepage to see how multilingual students are supported throughout their academic career.
