Lincoln senior students who aren’t sure where to go for college should look into URI, which was ranked first for best public university in New England for the second year in a row. The Wall Street Journal released its rankings last month and ranked URI exceptionally high in multiple categories. 

Nationally, the college was ranked thirty-fourth for public colleges, and seventy-sixth among all universities in the country. The college went up eight spots since last year overall, and had increased by one spot nationally. 

The largest university in the state, URI is known for its programs focusing on science, nursing, and engineering. As of 2025, there are 14,000 undergraduates, including 3,300 first-year students.

Guidance counselor Suzana Borba had a lot of positive comments regarding URI and its high rank. 

“It’s always been a well-respected school, [it] has a wide variety of programs, and the graduation rate is strong,” said Borba.

Lincoln students are lucky enough that they can get college credits through URI even before they graduate. Seniors can take WRT 104 (Writing to Inform and Explain) in place of senior English. The class involves writing reports, proposals, letters, reviews, academic essays, and creating websites. Upon completing the class, students receive three credits and an official URI transcript. 

“I would have loved a class like it when I was a student: it allows a degree of choice that we never really got in the old days,” said English teacher Michael Griffin, who teaches the course.

URI’s closeness to Lincoln allows for a quick commute and easy travel. It’s a college more Rhode Island students should take advantage of and consider applying to. 

“While I understand that it is more exciting to go out of state, at the end of the day, college is an investment in your future,” said Griffin. “For RI residents, the value of a URI education cannot be matched and the cost of most every other university is substantially higher.”