Tuition and fees are set on an academic-year basis and are lower for residents of Rhode Island than for out-of-state students. For current levels, consult the Graduate Bulletin .

Financial aid is available to students in several forms:

Graduate Assistantships are the most common form of support for entering students. Duties usually consist of about six contact hours as a laboratory instructor in an elementary course. Graduate Assistantships are usually renewable for up to six years for the Ph.D. students in good standing. This means grades not less than C in all courses with the minimum grade average of B, active participation in one of the departmental research programs starting from the summer of the first year, and taking the qualifying exam after the first three semesters at URI.

Graduate Research Assistantships are awarded, usually to advanced students, for work on a specific research project under the supervision of a particular professor. Stipends for assistantships depend on the students level. Stipends are given for a nine-month academic-year term, but with additional summer salary generally available.

Fellowships and Scholarships are awarded by the Graduate School to outstanding students in Doctor of Philosophy programs from among nominees selected by the department chairperson. Scholarships for tution and fees only are occasionally available to otherwise unsupported students. Neither fellowships nor scholarships require any formal duties.