Best Colleges in Rhode Island (2026)
Updated
Best Colleges in Rhode Island ranks 9 four-year institutions in Rhode Island. Schools are ordered by Azimuth's overall score for Rhode Island, highest first.
The score combines four pillars, weighted 30% return, 30% mobility, 20% access and 20% affordability, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page. Brown University ranks 1st on this list and reports $94,678 in median earnings for its graduates four years after completing.
Rhode Island College and University of Rhode Island follow, with median earnings of $59,430 and $73,243 respectively.
The list includes 2 public and 7 private nonprofit schools. Rhode Island College posts the lowest average net price at $9,478, while Brown University shows the highest six-year completion rate at 96%.
Brown University ranks 131st on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years after completion | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brown University · Providence, RI | $94,678 | $25,184 | -$420* | 5.4% |
| Brown University ranks 1st on this list and posts a six-year completion rate of 96%. | |||||
| 2 | Rhode Island College · Providence, RI | $59,430 | $9,478 | $6,378 | 91.8% |
| Rhode Island College, a public university in Providence, reports median earnings of $59,430 for its graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | University of Rhode Island · Kingston, RI | $73,243 | $21,440 | $14,368 | 72.2% |
| University of Rhode Island posts a six-year completion rate of 73% and ranks 280th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 4 | Bryant University · Smithfield, RI | $90,592 | $41,219 | $32,698 | 65.5% |
| Bryant University carries an average net price of $41,219 alongside a six-year completion rate of 80%. | |||||
| 5 | Providence College · Providence, RI | $83,143 | $48,523 | $28,152 | 50.9% |
| Providence College ranks 924th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $83,143 for its graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | Salve Regina University · Newport, RI | $70,451 | $36,967 | $26,939 | 68.2% |
| Salve Regina University posts an average net price of $26,939 for families earning under $30,000 and a six-year completion rate of 77%. | |||||
| 7 | Johnson & Wales University-Providence · Providence, RI | $54,530 | $31,027 | $25,530 | 88.4% |
| Johnson & Wales University-Providence reports median earnings of $54,530 for its graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 88%. | |||||
| 8 | Roger Williams University · Bristol, RI | $68,129 | $37,999 | $29,778 | 87.7% |
| Roger Williams University ranks 8th on this list and shows a six-year completion rate of 69%. | |||||
| 9 | Rhode Island School of Design · Providence, RI | $56,554 | $50,507 | $29,135 | 18.7% |
| Rhode Island School of Design admits 19% of applicants and reports median earnings of $56,554 for its graduates four years after completing. | |||||
* Net price can be negative: when grants and scholarships exceed the listed cost of attendance, students can receive the difference as a refund for other expenses.
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by Azimuth's overall score for Rhode Island, highest first. The score combines four pillars, weighted 30% return, 30% mobility, 20% access and 20% affordability, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page. The earnings figures cited on this page are the median earnings of federally aided completers at each institution, across all fields, who were working and not enrolled four years after completing. The list does not measure fit or teaching quality. Brown University ranks 131st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, while Rhode Island College ranks 240th. The nine schools include 2 public and 7 private nonprofit institutions.
Related rankings
- Best Colleges for Social Mobility in Rhode Island