Rankings / By State
Best Colleges in Rhode Island
- 11
- Schools
- $67,523
- Avg. Earnings
- 69%
- Avg. Graduation
- $31,395
- Avg. Net Price
- $22,050
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 11 schools run from $42,659 to $93,487, a 2.2× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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Community College of Rhode Island delivers the most for the money: roughly $42,659 in median earnings against $6,513 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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Community College of Rhode Island is the lowest-cost school here at $6,513 a year in net price.
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Brown University graduates 96% of its students, versus a 69% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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Brown University carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.12× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- Community College of Rhode Island costs $6,513 a year and Rhode Island School of Design costs $50,507. Yet their graduates earn $42,659 and $68,140, nowhere near the $43,994 price gap.
- On value, Community College of Rhode Island beats Brown University: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
- Graduation rates split the field: Brown University finishes 96% of students while Community College of Rhode Island finishes 26%. Same ranking, very different odds of leaving with a degree.
The Takeaway
A consistent pattern: the schools that finish at the top get there by delivering strong earnings, manageable debt, and real mobility rather than by charging more or rejecting more applicants. Those outcomes are what define educational value.
What This Means for Students
For students evaluating these schools, begin with Community College of Rhode Island and Brown University. Look past sticker price: pull each school's net price for your income level, compare it against projected earnings, and let the data guide the decision instead of the brand.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $70K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Brown University #1 overall | $93,487 ▲ +38% vs avg | $25,184 | 96% | 81 |
| 2 Rhode Island College #2 overall | $56,318 ▼ -17% vs avg | $9,478 | 47% | 71 |
| 3 University of Rhode Island #3 overall | $69,743 ▲ +3% vs avg | $21,440 | 72% | 70 |
| $42,659 ▼ -37% vs avg | $6,513 | 26% | 67 | |
| $90,008 ▲ +33% vs avg | $41,219 | 80% | 66 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Colleges in Rhode Island
This analysis ranks 11 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $67,523 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 69% and an average net price of $31,395.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Community College of Rhode Island — Net Price: $6,513 | Graduation Rate: 26%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Brown University — 96% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Brown University — Median alumni earnings: $93,487
CollegeRanker Primary Research
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Rhode Island Opportunity Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about higher education and opportunity in Rhode Island?
$69,743
Median earnings (10yr)
72%
Median graduation rate
$36,483
Median net price
1.5%
Avg. mobility rate
Higher education is intensely local: most students enroll close to home and stay to work nearby, so a state's colleges are also its talent pipeline. This ranking looks at the mix of public and private institutions across Rhode Island, asking who keeps graduates in-state, who delivers earnings against the local cost of living, and who moves residents up the income ladder.
Start with the medians across these 11 schools. Graduates earn a median of $69,743 ten years after enrollment, or about $21,743 above the $48,000 a typical American worker earns. The median graduation rate is 72%, and the typical net price (what students pay after grants) runs $36,483 a year with about $26,000 in federal debt. Pell grants reach 25% of students on average, and the average mobility rate, the share of students lifted from the bottom income quintile to the top, is 1.5%.
What we’re seeing: the schools that matter most for Rhode Island pair affordability with outcomes that keep talent local. A median net price of $36,483 and median earnings of $69,743 show which institutions strengthen the regional economy rather than simply enrolling students.
The podium
Build your ranking
Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Brown University lands at #1 with a 81/100 composite, led by academic quality (86/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (78/100). Graduates earn a median $93,487 a decade after enrolling, 38% above this list's average, and net price runs $25,184 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Rhode Island College lands at #2 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (67/100). Graduates earn a median $56,318 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,478 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
University of Rhode Island lands at #3 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $69,743 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $21,440 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Community College of Rhode Island lands at #4 with a 67/100 composite, led by value per dollar (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $42,659 a decade after enrolling, 37% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,513 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Bryant University lands at #5 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (28/100). Graduates earn a median $90,008 a decade after enrolling, 33% above this list's average, and net price runs $41,219 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Providence College lands at #6 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (24/100). Graduates earn a median $87,054 a decade after enrolling, 29% above this list's average, and net price runs $48,523 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Salve Regina University lands at #7 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (29/100). Graduates earn a median $72,975 a decade after enrolling, 8% above this list's average, and net price runs $36,967 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Rhode Island School of Design lands at #8 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (28/100). Graduates earn a median $68,140 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $50,507 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Roger Williams University lands at #9 with a 63/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (29/100). Graduates earn a median $70,266 a decade after enrolling, 4% above this list's average, and net price runs $37,999 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
East Greenwich, RI · 67% accepted · $36,483 net
Why it ranks #10
New England Institute of Technology lands at #10 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (31/100). Graduates earn a median $48,684 a decade after enrolling, 28% below this list's average, and net price runs $36,483 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Providence, RI · 88% accepted · $31,027 net
Why it ranks #11
Johnson & Wales University-Providence lands at #11 with a 53/100 composite, led by academic quality (75/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (33/100). Graduates earn a median $43,418 a decade after enrolling, 36% below this list's average, and net price runs $31,027 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 11 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
Choosing a college can feel overwhelming, especially when weighing options in a specific state like Rhode Island. With 11 colleges to consider, each institution brings unique strengths and challenges. Understanding what these schools have in common can help families make informed decisions about their educational paths.
The schools on this list stand out for their graduation rates, post-graduate earnings, and manageable debt levels. For instance, the average earnings across these colleges is $67,523, and the average graduation rate is 69%. These metrics matter because they provide insight into the long-term value of a college degree and its ability to support students in achieving financial stability.
Take Brown University and the University of Rhode Island, for example. Brown boasts impressive earnings of $93,487 with a graduation rate of 96%, while URI’s earnings are lower at $69,743 and it has a 72% graduation rate. This contrast illustrates the tradeoffs students might face: a higher net price at Brown versus URI's more affordable tuition. It's crucial to consider both the financial implications and potential outcomes as you scroll through the rankings below.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 10 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1.5%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. New England Institute of Technology leads the group at 1.9%, with Salve Regina University (1.7%) and Bryant University (1.6%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 6.8% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Community College of Rhode Island enrolls the most, at 15.7%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 29.8% across the list, peaking at 53.7% at Bryant University.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.69, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Rhode Island School of Design is highest at 1.86.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
When we look closely at the data, a clear pattern emerges. Brown University outperforms the University of Rhode Island not just in earnings but also in graduation rates. Brown's 96% graduation rate contrasts sharply with URI's 72%. This suggests that while URI may be a more affordable option, students at Brown are more likely to complete their degrees and earn significantly higher incomes after graduation.
After reviewing the list, think about what matters most to you. If affordability is a priority, consider Community College of Rhode Island, where the net price is just $6,513. On the other hand, if long-term earnings are your main concern, Brown University stands out with a high average income of $93,487. Balance these metrics with factors like program fit, campus culture, and location to find the right match for your needs.
The journey from college to a stable life is shaped by the choices we make today. A family weighing their options in Rhode Island must recognize that attending a school with strong outcomes can impact their future significantly. The decision made now can influence not just earnings, but also long-term career satisfaction and stability. It’s about finding a school that aligns with both financial and personal aspirations.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Colleges in Rhode Island: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Colleges in Rhode Island ranking? +
Brown University in Providence, RI ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Colleges in Rhode Island ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $93,487 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 96% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Brown University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $93,487 ten years after enrollment, well above the $67,523 average across the 11 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Community College of Rhode Island leads: graduates earn a median $42,659 against net price of about $6,513 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Brown University has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 96%, compared with a 69% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $31,395 a year across the 11 ranked schools with cost data. Community College of Rhode Island is among the most affordable at roughly $6,513. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Colleges in Rhode Island ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 11 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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