Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Rhode Island College #232 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $59,430, placing Rhode Island College in the 44.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Rhode Island College sits in the 84.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting strong graduate outcomes relative to comparable institutions. Rhode Island College's composite ranking reflects a consistent pattern across access, mobility, and affordability — serving a broad student population in Providence at public-tuition pricing while delivering graduate earnings that hold up well against comparable institutions. The institution's health-dominant program mix anchors much of this performance, channeling a substantial share of graduates into stable, in-demand careers that support the earnings profile reflected in these rankings.
Azimuth ranks Rhode Island College #232 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Providence, RI, Rhode Island College enrolls roughly 5,049 undergraduates. Retention stands at 73.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 48.1%, figures that reflect the realities of a regional public institution serving a student body with significant work and family obligations. What anchors Rhode Island College in the composite is mobility. The institution sits in the 83.6 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by strong outcomes for the large share of students who arrive from lower-income backgrounds. 42.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 44.7% are first-generation college students — access numbers that place Rhode Island College in the 72.1 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program family is Health, and the institution's concentration in health-related and education fields channels graduates into stable, locally rooted career paths. Return on investment is the lower-ranked pillar in the composite. Rhode Island College sits in the 58.3 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $59,430, below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions. Graduates earn about $8,780 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Rhode Island College in the 84.0 percentile for among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those earnings figures reflect RI's regional labor market and a student population whose post-graduation outcomes represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree-equivalent baseline of $36,082, even where they fall below selective-peer averages. Affordability sits in the 90.7 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, shaped by public-tuition pricing and broad financial-aid reach.
Rhode Island College prices its education accessibly across income levels, a pattern that reflects its public mission in Providence. Low-income families pay approximately $6,378 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $8,701, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at roughly $15,681. Azimuth ranks Rhode Island College #134 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. That standing reflects the college's public-tuition structure and its commitment to keeping costs within reach for students from a wide range of financial backgrounds. Need-based aid plays a meaningful role in shaping what families actually pay. Rhode Island College participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and the gap between the published cost of attendance of $17,454 and the net prices families pay across income bands reflects the reach of that aid. Students who qualify for Pell Grants and Rhode Island state aid programs often see their net costs fall well below the sticker price, making the college a genuinely affordable option for low- and middle-income families in the region. Families weighing the net price illusion — the difference between what a college advertises and what students actually pay — will find Rhode Island College's income-band pricing relatively transparent. For families considering how debt fits into the overall picture, median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,512; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,430, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Rhode Island College is a strong fit for students in RI who are drawn to health, education, and human-services fields and want a public institution that delivers reliable post-graduation outcomes without taking on excessive debt. Graduates earn in the 44.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Rhode Island College sits in the 84.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $8,780 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for a regional public institution anchored in applied and health-oriented programs. The access profile is broad: 42.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 44.7% are first-generation college students, and the institution's net price structure and median debt of $20,500 reflect a school designed to serve cost-sensitive families. Pell-eligible students complete at a rate of 55.0%, indicating that broad access does not come at the expense of graduation outcomes. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Rhode Island College is concentrated in Health and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking a broad STEM or business-research environment may find a better match elsewhere. The admission rate of 91.8% means access is broadly open to qualified applicants.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Rhode Island College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
37 graduates
Computer Science
44 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
151 graduates
Management Information Systems and Services
15 graduates
Mathematics
8 graduates
Rhode Island College's program mix is anchored in Health, with substantial enrollment in education and social-science fields — a portfolio shaped by the institution's role as Rhode Island's public comprehensive college and a major pipeline for the state's healthcare and teaching workforce. Nursing is the largest program with 151 graduates, followed by Psychology, General, Social Work, Teacher Education, and Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General.
Across 39 programs serving roughly 1,269 students annually, 28 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. The concentration in health and education reflects a local-labor orientation: graduates in these fields typically stay in-region, filling roles in hospitals, school districts, and community organizations.
The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in health-related programs. Computer Science leads with median 4-year earnings of $83,259 from a cohort of 44 graduates, and Azimuth ranks the program #159 among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
Nursing follows with 151 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $83,068, and Azimuth ranks it #238 among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Accounting program graduates 50 students with median 4-year earnings of $68,616, and Azimuth ranks the program #224 among nonprofit four-year institutions.
These nursing and health programs form the financial backbone of Rhode Island College's degree output, combining steady regional demand with earnings that outpace most other fields at the institution. Several of Rhode Island College's largest programs — including Social Work and Teacher Education — are fields where a meaningful share of graduates continue to graduate school, meaning four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory.
The health programs, by contrast, are direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect actual labor-market outcomes in Rhode Island's healthcare sector. The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with national and regional hiring demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fashion Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier in Northeast (#9622 ranked) | NY | 60% | $62,696 | #9622 | Compare |
Oregon Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier (#9621 ranked) | OR | 95% | $72,273 | #9621 | Compare |
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Similar quality tier (#9630 ranked) | IL | 87% | $53,390 | #9630 | Compare |
University Of Alabama In Huntsville Similar quality tier (#9631 ranked) | AL | 69% | $61,767 | #9631 | Compare |
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Similar quality tier (#9612 ranked) | IL | 98% | $56,346 | #9612 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Rhode Island College prices its education accessibly across income levels, a pattern that reflects its public mission in Providence. Low-income families pay approximately $6,378 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $8,701, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at roughly $15,681.
Azimuth ranks Rhode Island College #134 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. That standing reflects the college's public-tuition structure and its commitment to keeping costs within reach for students from a wide range of financial backgrounds.
Need-based aid plays a meaningful role in shaping what families actually pay. Rhode Island College participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and the gap between the published cost of attendance of $17,454 and the net prices families pay across income bands reflects the reach of that aid.
Students who qualify for Pell Grants and Rhode Island state aid programs often see their net costs fall well below the sticker price, making the college a genuinely affordable option for low- and middle-income families in the region. Families weighing the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) — the difference between what a college advertises and what students actually pay — will find Rhode Island College's income-band pricing relatively transparent.
For families considering how debt fits into the overall picture, median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,512; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,430, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Rhode Island College earn median earnings of $59,430 four years after enrollment, placing Rhode Island College in the 44.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $8,780 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 84.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures still represent lifetime returns relative to RI's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $36,082 — the state median earnings of working adults without a college credential.
The program mix at Rhode Island College is anchored in Health, which accounts for 13% of degrees, followed by Education at 11% and Arts at 6%. Nursing combines meaningful cohort scale with solid earnings, making it a notable contributor to the institution's overall return profile.
Azimuth ranks Nursing #238 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 151 graduates earning median earnings of $83,068. The Psychology, General program graduates 144 students with median earnings of $52,758, and Azimuth ranks Social Work #63 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 101 graduates earning median earnings of $53,312.
