Colleges in Rhode Island
11 colleges in Rhode Island that award bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates: 2 public and 9 private. 1 of them, mostly state colleges, award bachelor's degrees in fewer than a quarter of their undergraduate awards. Among colleges where most degrees awarded are bachelor's, the lowest average net price is at Rhode Island College ($9,478 a year after grants). Numbers are averages for students receiving federal aid; open a school to see what a family at your income pays.
| College | City | Type | Undergrads | Acceptance | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown University | Providence | Private | 7,226 | 5% | $25,184 | 96% | $93,487 |
| Bryant University | Smithfield | Private | 3,194 | 65% | $41,219 | 80% | $90,008 |
| College Unbound | Providence | Private | 491 | — | $21,108 | — | — |
| Johnson & Wales University-Providence | Providence | Private | 3,868 | 88% | $31,027 | 55% | $43,418 |
| New England Institute of Technology | East Greenwich | PrivateMostly 2-year · 24% bachelor's | 1,718 | 67% | $36,483 | 60% | $48,684 |
| Providence College | Providence | Private | 4,229 | 51% | $48,523 | 86% | $87,054 |
| Rhode Island College | Providence | Public | 5,049 | 92% | $9,478 | 48% | $56,318 |
| Rhode Island School of Design | Providence | Private | 2,084 | 19% | $50,507 | 89% | $68,140 |
| Roger Williams University | Bristol | Private | 3,946 | 88% | $37,999 | 69% | $70,266 |
| Salve Regina University | Newport | Private | 2,121 | 68% | $36,967 | 77% | $72,975 |
| University of Rhode Island | Kingston | Public | 13,381 | 72% | $21,440 | 73% | $69,743 |
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, latest reported year. Graduation within 6 years; earnings are the median 10 years after starting college.
Best value in Rhode Island for your income
The Rhode Island colleges that pay back fastest for a family at your income: what it costs to finish after grants, set against how much more former students earn than high school graduates in Rhode Island. Pick your income.
| # | College | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Earnings, 10 yrs | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brown UniversityPrivate | $5,858 | $24,486 | $93,487 | under 1 |
| 2 | Providence CollegePrivate | $25,296 | $101,690 | $87,054 | 2.2 |
| 3 | Rhode Island CollegePublic, in-state price | $8,701 | $40,373 | $56,318 | 2.5 |
| 4 | University of Rhode IslandPublic, in-state price | $17,803 | $75,129 | $69,743 | 2.5 |
| 5 | Bryant UniversityPrivate | $36,130 | $145,604 | $90,008 | 2.9 |
| 6 | Salve Regina UniversityPrivate | $31,264 | $128,182 | $72,975 | 3.9 |
| 7 | Rhode Island School of DesignPrivate | $25,872 | $114,096 | $68,140 | 4.0 |
| 8 | Roger Williams UniversityPrivate | $33,623 | $137,518 | $70,266 | 4.5 |
Colleges where most degrees awarded are bachelor's, ranked by years of earnings gain needed to repay the cost to finish at this income. Cost to finish = net price after grants × the average years graduates took (IPEDS). Earnings gain = former students' median earnings 10 years after starting (College Scorecard) minus $39,880 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in Rhode Island (Census ACS 2020-2024). Before taxes, interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
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