Education

Eight colleges and universities have campuses in the Providence area, making an indelible impact on the region's intellectual, cultural and social life. Brown University is a leading Ivy League institution with a distinctive undergraduate academic program amongst rigorous multidisciplinary studies. A culinary leader,Johnson & Wales University (J&W) offers its students a unique blend of hands-on experience and classic academic instruction. The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is one of the country's leading visual arts, design, architecture and art education institutions. Other Providence colleges and universities include Providence College (PC), Rhode Island College (RIC), Roger Williams University (RWU),Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and the University of Rhode Island (URI). In addition to the traditional colleges and universities of Providence, The Steel Yard offers arts and technical training programs designed to increase opportunities for cultural and artistic expression, career-oriented training and small business development, with classes such as welding, blacksmithing, jewelry, ceramics and glass fusing.