Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Rhode Island #273 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $73,243, placing University of Rhode Island in the 74.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Rhode Island #307 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Rhode Island sits in the 81.5 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by a combination of solid graduate earnings and a return on investment ranking that places it well above most peers. The university's median 4-year earnings of $73,243 and 76.3 percentile standing for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions reflect consistent graduate outcomes across its health-dominant program mix.
Azimuth ranks University of Rhode Island #273 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 81.5 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Kingston, RI, University of Rhode Island enrolls roughly 13,381 undergraduates. Retention stands at 83.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 73.3%, reflecting solid degree-completion performance relative to comparable institutions. The composite is anchored by return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of Rhode Island #307 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 79.3 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median Health-influenced earnings of $73,243, placing University of Rhode Island in the 74.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,082 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Rhode Island in the 76.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability shape the rest of the composite. University of Rhode Island admits about 72.2% of applicants, and 21.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants while 26.3% are first-generation college students — a profile that reflects a moderately selective public university with meaningful low-income enrollment. The institution sits in the 67.8 percentile for access and the 48.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility outcomes in the 85.0 percentile.
University of Rhode Island's published cost of attendance is $34,321. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $14,368, low-to-middle-income families pay around $12,923, middle-income families pay about $17,803, middle-to-higher-income families pay approximately $23,394, and higher-income families pay roughly $28,460. Azimuth ranks University of Rhode Island #733 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability ranking reflects both the institution's public-tuition structure and the aid available to students across income bands; net prices by income band are medians within those bands, so individual aid packages vary. University of Rhode Island participates in federal need-based aid programs including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, along with state and institutional aid. The institution meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study; families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $28,000; 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 $73,243, median federal debt of $22,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $251 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Rhode Island is a strong fit for students interested in health, applied sciences, and professional fields who want a public research university in RI with solid long-term earnings outcomes and broad access for first-generation and Pell-eligible students. Graduates earn in the 74.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and University of Rhode Island sits in the 76.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $5,082 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students weighing long-term return on investment. The institution enrolls a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 21.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 26.3% are first-generation — and the aid structure supports access for cost-sensitive families. Median student debt at graduation is $22,250, a figure worth weighing against the earnings trajectory when planning for repayment. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Health and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes. Students drawn to a broad liberal arts or research-intensive curriculum may find a different institutional profile a better match.
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
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the University Of Rhode Island hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Rhode Island's published cost of attendance is $34,321. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $14,368, low-to-middle-income families pay around $12,923, middle-income families pay about $17,803, middle-to-higher-income families pay approximately $23,394, and higher-income families pay roughly $28,460.
Azimuth ranks University of Rhode Island #733 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability ranking reflects both the institution's public-tuition structure and the aid available to students across income bands; net prices by income band are medians within those bands, so individual aid packages vary.
University of Rhode Island participates in federal need-based aid programs including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, along with state and institutional aid. The institution meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study; families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $28,000; 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 $73,243, median federal debt of $22,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $251 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 the University of Rhode Island earn a median of $73,243 four years after enrollment, placing the institution in the 74.2nd percentile for median earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,082 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing URI in the 76.3rd percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks URI #307 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 79.3rd percentile overall.
The earnings pattern reflects the university's concentration in Health fields, which account for 14% of graduates. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing is the largest program, with 290 graduates earning a median of $96,020 four years after enrollment. Psychology, General ranks #92 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with graduates earning $56,571 — 1.1× the national CIP-4 benchmark for the field. Azimuth ranks Biology, General #18 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 193 graduates earning $80,379.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colorado State University Global Similar quality tier (#10689 ranked) | CO | 98% | $76,813 | #10689 | Compare |
University Of Alabama At Birmingham Similar quality tier (#10692 ranked) | AL | 88% | $54,501 | #10692 | Compare |
University Of Nebraska-Lincoln Similar quality tier (#10698 ranked) | NE | 87% | $56,887 | #10698 | Compare |
New Mexico State University-Main Campus Similar quality tier (#10675 ranked) | NM | 89% | $39,067 | #10675 | Compare |
University Of Missouri-Kansas City Similar quality tier (#10707 ranked) | MO | 72% | $59,637 | #10707 | Compare |
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
27 graduates
Chemical Engineering
28 graduates
Computer Engineering
22 graduates
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
30 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
290 graduates
University of Rhode Island's program mix is anchored in health, business, and applied sciences — a portfolio shaped by the university's identity as a comprehensive public research institution on the Rhode Island coast. Health fields represent 14% of graduates, making Business the dominant concentration, followed by Engineering at 8% and Social Sciences at 8%.
Across 63 programs, 47 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, serving roughly 3,514 students annually. The program with the strongest combination of cohort scale and earnings is Nursing, which anchors the institution's economic output.
Among the highest-earning programs, Nursing leads with median earnings of $96,020 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #92 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mechanical Engineering follows with median earnings of $89,901, ranked #141 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Finance graduates earn $87,196, with Azimuth ranking the program #92 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The university's most popular programs reflect broad enrollment demand across applied and professional fields. Nursing is the largest program with 290 graduates, followed by Psychology, General (224 graduates) and Biology, General (193 graduates).
Health-oriented programs such as Nursing and Psychology, General are largely direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect labor-market outcomes in stable, in-demand sectors.
