Bryant University
Bryant University is a private university in Smithfield, Rhode Island, with about 3,600 undergraduate students and 200–300 graduate students. It combines business education with the liberal arts and sciences to prepare students for careers and leadership roles. Originally located in Providence, the university moved to its current Smithfield campus in the 1970s after the land was donated by alumnus Earl Tupper, founder of Tupperware and namesake of Bryant’s bulldog mascot.
The curriculum at Bryant is centered around business, regardless of major. About 80% of students choose a major in the College of Business, but they’re required to at least minor (it’s optional to double-major) in a field from another school. Students who choose a major in either the College of Arts & Sciences or the School of Health & Behavioral Sciences must minor in business, ensuring that all students graduate with a balanced academic foundation and at least some knowledge of business principles. Classes are taught by faculty, average 25 students and are capped at 35 students. Most students major in business fields, including finance, marketing, management, accounting, and international business. Introduced in 2026, the newest major and minor are in Applied Artificial Intelligence, alongside recent additions such as Leadership & Innovation, Data Science, and Arts & Creative Industries. Bryant also offers a four-year accelerated MBA program.
Admission has been test-optional for a decade. Early action is the most popular application round, but the university also offers early decision and regular decision deadlines. There are many merit scholarships available, and students should check with the admissions office to confirm which programs are direct-admit each year.
All Bryant students are enrolled in a first semester course called “Student Success” which is an introduction to college academic life. In their second semester, they take a course taught by the Center for Career Education to learn about career resources and maximize opportunities at Bryant. For three days right before the start of their first spring semester, Bryant students participate in IDEA. They work in small groups with real businesses to solve real problems. Each group brainstorms and pitches their best solution, which is often adopted by the business, and there are prizes for the teams with the best pitches. Additionally, 90% of Bryant students have interned by the time they graduate.
There are twenty-five Bryant Bulldog NCAA Division I athletic teams, plus club teams and intramural tournaments. The Student Programming Board, a student-run organization that plans many of the major social and entertainment events on campus, is the largest of 130+ clubs and organizations on campus. Greek life is optional, and around 10% of students join one of the eight chapters. 85% of undergraduates live on campus all four years, and half study abroad at some point in their Bryant careers. The walkable campus has only one entrance and exit. The business school is located in Fidelity Office Park, across the street from the main campus, and there is a Bryant shuttle in case students don’t want to walk.
Who would thrive at Bryant:
Bryant is a great fit for a student who wants to study business in combination with other academic interests, or who thinks business might be their future major, but wants room to change their mind if they discover another passion. Bryant students are friendly and community-minded. They have school spirit, ambition and a desire to work on real-world problems. They also take advantage of the balance between a residential suburban campus and the opportunities of a nearby city.
Fun Facts:
The land where the Bryant campus is currently located was donated by alumnus Earl Tupper, founder of Tupperware
The Bryant mascot is a Bulldog, and there’s a live bulldog named “Tupper” who hangs out in the library
There’s an underground walkway connecting a few buildings on campus (Ask your tour guide if they know which ones!)
The New England Patriots held their summer training camps at Bryant before moving into Gillette Stadium
Bryant’s residential halls are named after Rhode Island towns and cities
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