Students at Roger Williams University achieve strong long-term earnings that consistently outperform national averages, particularly benefiting from the university's career-focused programs and Northeast location.
Graduates see meaningful financial returns that place the institution among the top performers nationally for both overall and low-income student earnings.
Roger Williams University delivers strong long-term financial outcomes for graduates, ranking in the 84th percentile nationally for earnings performance among similar institutions. Located in Bristol, Rhode Island, this private nonprofit university combines the personalized attention of a medium-sized institution with career-focused programs that consistently produce graduates earning well above national averages.
Ten years after enrollment, RWU graduates earn a median of $70,266, reflecting the university's emphasis on practical, career-oriented education. The institution serves a more selective student population, with about 16% of students receiving Pell Grants and roughly 20% being first-generation college students. Despite this selectivity, RWU maintains strong outcomes for the low-income students it does enroll, with these graduates earning $51,500 at the ten-year mark.
As a "Selective Achievers" institution, Roger Williams University demonstrates how a private university can balance academic quality with meaningful economic mobility. The combination of strong earnings outcomes, professional program focus, and Rhode Island's proximity to major Northeast job markets makes RWU a compelling choice for families seeking a return on their educational investment.
Roger Williams University's program portfolio reflects its focus on career-oriented education that translates directly into employment opportunities. Construction Management stands out as the highest-earning program, with graduates earning around $68,618 early in their careers, benefiting from strong demand in the building industry and RWU's hands-on training approach. This program combines technical knowledge with project management skills that are highly valued by employers throughout New England.
Criminal Justice represents RWU's largest program by enrollment, graduating 108 students annually with solid mid-career earnings around $38,721. The program's size reflects both student interest and the university's established reputation in law enforcement and corrections education. Other professional programs consistently deliver competitive outcomes, with the university's emphasis on practical skills and industry connections helping graduates transition effectively from classroom to career.
As a focused institution graduating moderate-sized cohorts each year, RWU provides strong employer visibility within its target industries and maintains meaningful alumni networks that support job placement and career advancement. The university's location in Rhode Island, with access to job markets throughout New England, enhances these program strengths by providing graduates with diverse professional opportunities across the Northeast corridor.
Roger Williams University graduates achieve strong long-term earnings that place the institution in the 84th percentile nationally for return on investment. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $70,266, well above typical outcomes for similar private institutions. This performance reflects RWU's focus on career-oriented programs and its location in the Northeast corridor, where graduates have access to diverse professional opportunities.
The university's strongest financial outcomes come from its construction management program, where graduates earn around $68,618 early in their careers, combining high demand in the building industry with RWU's hands-on training approach. Criminal justice programs, which enroll the largest number of students with 108 graduates, produce solid mid-career earnings around $38,721, while other professional programs consistently deliver competitive outcomes. The university's program mix emphasizes practical skills and industry connections, helping explain why graduates often exceed earnings expectations in their chosen fields.
RWU's location in Rhode Island provides graduates access to job markets throughout New England and the broader Northeast, from Boston's technology and finance sectors to Connecticut's insurance industry and New York's diverse professional landscape. This geographic advantage, combined with the university's alumni network and career services, helps graduates translate their education into meaningful career advancement and long-term financial success.
Roger Williams University operates as a higher-cost private institution, with affordability ranking in the 5th percentile nationally, meaning it is more expensive than most comparable schools. Low-income families pay about $29,475 annually after aid, while middle-income families see net costs around $34,861, and higher-income families pay approximately $41,052 per year. These price points reflect RWU's positioning as a private university with smaller class sizes and more individualized attention.
The university's aid strategy focuses primarily on merit-based assistance rather than need-based grants, which explains why net prices remain substantial even for lower-income students. Families should expect to rely more heavily on loans and family resources compared to public institutions or more heavily-endowed private colleges. However, RWU's strong earnings outcomes help justify these higher upfront costs for families who can manage them, as graduates typically earn enough to service their educational debt comfortably over time.
Roger Williams University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
