In '18 I was a resident of Virginia & a full time college student in Rhode Island, earned money at my college, but no RI tax was taken out, do I have to file a RI return?

If you are a Rhode Island nonresident who has to file a federal return and has income from Rhode Island sources, you must file a Rhode Island nonresident return.

So, if you are being claimed by your parents and you made some money, you probably are obligated to file a federal return which would make you obligated to file the RI return.