With our convenient location just five minutes from Routes 95, 146, 10, 6 and 195, students living anywhere in contiguous Rhode Island (sorry, Block Islanders), as well as many towns in nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut, can commute to RIC in under an hour door-to-door.
Our campus offers plenty of free, convenient parking for students driving to campus. Commuters may park in several commuter lots, open lots and approved street parking throughout campus. You'll just request a free commuter parking permit from the RIC Campus Police Department and that's it! Student parking permits do not expire.
Students driving electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids will find eight charing stations (with two spots each) conveniently located throughout campus. Users pay for vehicle charging easily, through the ChargePoint app.
Your RIC student ID will serve as an unlimited Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) bus pass. All registered and enrolled students have unlimited access to RIPTA routes, including the riders with disability bus. RIPTA serves campus directly via Route 92, with pick-up points at Kennedy Plaza, Federal Hill, the East Side, Fox Point and our satellite location, the Rhode Island Nursing Education Center at South Street Landing.
The Keefe Transportation Center is the main bus hub on the Rhode Island College campus. It’s centrally located just outside Roberts Hall, making for a short, easy walk to nearly all destinations throughout the campus.
We offer a campus shuttle to quickly move you between buildings and to nearby grocery stores, restaurants, and pharmacies. If you commute to RIC via RIPTA, the shuttle provides an easy way to get around campus and reach local businesses for quick errands.
Commuter students can do so much more than simply come to campus for classes and then leave. The full richness of the RIC experience is available to all students, regardless of whether they live on campus or commute. When you're not in class, make sure to take full advantage of all the campus life, activities and amenities RIC has to offer.
Commuters are welcome to join all student events, activities and organizations at RIC. There’s even a special student organization, Commuter’s Corner, just for you!
Our dining options are specifically designed for all students – offering welcoming spaces, quality, variety, flexibility, sustainability, and value. All amenities offered by RIC Dining Services, including Donovan Dining Hall, the Beestro Cafe and nutritional counseling are available to commuter students. There is even a special meal plan available for commuter students.
Donovan Dining, the Adams Library and the Recreation Center are all open to commuter students. There are also dedicated lounge spaces for students to gather, study and work in nearly every academic building on campus. Our Beestro, in addition to delicious lunches and dinners, also has a recreation area where students can enjoy television, video games, ping pong, air hockey, and even live performances.
Commuters benefit from all of the health and wellness services RIC provides – helping you stay healthy, balanced, and navigate the challenges you’re facing right now. We provide culturally-responsive care for all through medical services, mental health/counseling services, life-challenges support, and events and activities.
All students are encouraged to explore our academic support offerings, including preparation for college-level academics; tutoring; writing coaching; science and mathematics help; ongoing advising; study skills; time management and organization; disability accommodations, and first-generation guidance.
Our Food 4 Thought Pantry assists students, whether they live on campus or commute, with food and/or housing insecurity by providing a private and confidential opportunity to obtain food and toiletries.
Our Career & Life Design Center helps students acquire on-campus jobs while preparing for their future happiness. Staff work with students to not only design a plan to achieve their career goals but to help them develop the job-seeking skills to secure and maintain a job after graduation.