Community College of Rhode Island
#1 Most Affordable Colleges in Rhode Island- Graduation Rate
- 26% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,659 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $6,513 A-
- 62% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 11,171
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 44.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $44.9 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Most Affordable Colleges in Rhode Island.
Every $1 spent returns $44.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,144,009.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 26% — 55% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $44.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Community College of Rhode Island Matters
Community College of Rhode Island is a public community college in Warwick, RI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 11,171
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Community College of Rhode Island
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $6,513 a year after grants and scholarships — 62% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,659 ten years after enrolling — 5% above the typical college, against $10,920 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 46% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.13 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of over 11,000 students, the Community College of Rhode Island serves as a practical choice for individuals looking to start their educational journey in fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Visual & Performing Arts. It’s a place where students can find a supportive environment that caters to diverse interests and career aspirations. The programs here attract those who are eager to gain skills and knowledge in their chosen disciplines, making it a solid stepping stone for both new students and those looking to upskill.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $42,659 within ten years, which gives a good indication of the potential financial return on their investment in education. The affordability of attending this college is appealing, with a net price of just $6,513 after aid, making it accessible for many. Additionally, nearly half of the student body benefits from Pell Grants, suggesting that the college is a viable option for those who may need financial assistance to help them succeed.
When it comes to the practical aspects, graduates carry a median debt of $10,920, which is relatively manageable compared to the potential earnings. This debt load, combined with the college's focus on practical programs, can help students thrive as they transition into the workforce. Those who are proactive in their studies and take advantage of the resources available here tend to find success in their careers, making this college an attractive option for those seeking a solid foundation for their future.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Community College of Rhode Island is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Community College of Rhode Island? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Warwick, Rhode Island, Community College of Rhode Island enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 26%.
- Retention Rate
- 59%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,205
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.72
- First-Gen Students
- 53%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Community College of Rhode Island? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Community College of Rhode Island is $14,834, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,513. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,213 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,920 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,550
- Out-of-State
- $14,834
- Avg Net Price
- $6,513
- Median Debt
- $10,920
- Pell Grant Rate
- 47%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 11%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,213
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,299
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,825
- Family Income $110K+
- $8,152
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Community College of Rhode Island — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Community College of Rhode Island Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Community College of Rhode Island report median earnings of $42,659, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,476
- 8 Years
- $38,768
- 10 Years
- $42,659
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.26x
- Earning > $25K
- 48%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (452)
- 18%
- 100% (452)
- 18%
- 100% (452)
- 18%
- 100% (452)
- 18%
How Community Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Community College of Rhode Island Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Community College of Rhode Island delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,513/year ($26,052 total). Graduates earn $42,659 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,170,061 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,144,009 (44.9× your investment). The median debt is $10,920, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 26% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $26,052
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,170,061
- Net Return
- $1,144,009
- ROI Multiple
- 44.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,513
- Median Debt
- $10,920
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 26%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Community College of Rhode Island Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Community College of Rhode Island is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.53%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $64,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.53%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 9.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 15.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $87,769
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $3,811,865
- Federal Grants
- $3,805,528
- Investment Income
- $85,196
Top Programs
The fields Community College of Rhode Island awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 51%
- Health Professions 25% $70,333 early-career
- Business & Marketing 9% $39,882 early-career
- Criminal Justice 2% $35,787 early-career
- Education 2% $35,271 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 2%
- Computer Science & IT 2% $49,084 early-career
- Engineering 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Community College of Rhode Island's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Community College of Rhode Island? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Warwick, Rhode Island, Community College of Rhode Island enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 26%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Community College of Rhode Island? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Community College of Rhode Island is $14,834, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,513. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,213 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,920 in federal student loans.
Is Community College of Rhode Island Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Community College of Rhode Island report median earnings of $42,659, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Community College of Rhode Island Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Community College of Rhode Island is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.53%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $64,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Community College of Rhode Island? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Community College of Rhode Island. Its economic connectedness score is 1.13, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Community College of Rhode Island.
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Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Community College of Rhode Island? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Community College of Rhode Island. Its economic connectedness score is 1.13, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note