Students at the University of Rhode Island achieve strong long-term earnings that consistently outperform typical public university outcomes, with graduates earning nearly $70,000 ten years after enrollment.
The university delivers particularly solid results for students in high-demand fields like nursing and engineering, while maintaining strong overall financial outcomes across its comprehensive academic portfolio.
Azimuth ranks the University of Rhode Island 42nd out of 306 public four-year institutions nationwide, placing it in the 86th percentile for overall value. URI stands out for delivering strong long-term financial outcomes while maintaining the comprehensive academic breadth of a flagship research university. Graduates earn a median of $69,743 ten years after enrollment, well above typical public university outcomes, with particularly strong performance in high-demand fields like nursing, engineering, and business.
The university serves as a "Selective Achievers" institution, meaning it delivers excellent outcomes for the students it enrolls while maintaining more selective access patterns. About 21% of students receive Pell Grants and 26% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student body that includes both traditional and opportunity-seeking populations. URI's 71% six-year graduation rate demonstrates solid degree completion across its diverse academic portfolio.
As Rhode Island's flagship public research university, URI combines the resources and recognition of a major state institution with the focused attention that comes from serving a smaller state population. This positioning allows the university to maintain strong employer relationships throughout New England while offering students access to research opportunities, internships, and career networks that extend well beyond the region.
The University of Rhode Island's program portfolio reflects its comprehensive research university mission, with particular strength in health sciences, engineering, and traditional liberal arts fields. Nursing stands out as both the university's largest high-return program and a key driver of overall institutional outcomes, graduating 362 students annually with median earnings of $66,332. This program combines substantial enrollment with strong career prospects, making it a cornerstone of URI's value proposition.
Engineering programs deliver some of the university's highest individual earnings despite smaller cohort sizes. Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduates earn $72,693 with only 33 graduates annually, reflecting the field's strong demand and URI's solid reputation among regional employers. Psychology remains the university's largest program by total enrollment with 269 graduates, though earnings are more modest at $31,404, typical for a field where many graduates pursue additional education or gain experience before reaching higher salary levels.
URI's program mix demonstrates the breadth expected of a flagship research university, with strong professional programs in nursing and engineering complemented by substantial enrollment in foundational fields like psychology. The university's location in the Northeast corridor provides graduates access to diverse career opportunities, while its research focus and industry partnerships help explain why outcomes consistently exceed expectations across multiple fields of study.
The University of Rhode Island delivers strong long-term financial outcomes for graduates across its academic programs. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $69,743, placing the university in the 86th percentile nationally among public institutions. This performance reflects both the strength of URI's individual programs and the university's ability to connect students with employers who value the practical, research-grounded education that defines the URI experience.
Program-level outcomes vary significantly, with nursing leading both in scale and financial returns. Adult Health Nursing graduates 362 students annually with median earnings of $66,332, making it URI's highest aggregate-return program. Engineering programs deliver some of the strongest individual earnings, with Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduates earning $72,693 despite smaller cohort sizes of about 33 students. Psychology remains the university's largest program by enrollment with 269 graduates, though earnings are more modest at $31,404, reflecting the field's typical career trajectory requiring additional education or experience for higher-paying roles.
URI's return on investment benefits from its location in the Northeast corridor, where graduates can access job markets in Boston, New York, and throughout New England. The university's research focus and industry partnerships, particularly in engineering, health sciences, and marine sciences, help explain why graduates consistently outperform earnings expectations compared with similar institutions nationwide.
Affordability at the University of Rhode Island varies significantly by family income, with the university providing meaningful support for lower-income students while requiring higher contributions from middle and upper-income families. Low-income students pay about $12,930 annually after aid, which is competitive with other flagship public universities. Middle-income families face net prices around $16,578, while high-income families pay approximately $27,213 per year, reflecting the typical pricing structure of a well-resourced state flagship.
Debt levels at URI are moderate and manageable relative to graduate earnings. Typical students leave with about $22,250 in federal loan debt, while families who choose Parent PLUS loans borrow an average of $25,912. With median graduate earnings of nearly $70,000 ten years out, most borrowers can handle standard repayment comfortably. The university's 0% federal loan default rate indicates that graduates generally manage their debt obligations successfully, though this metric reflects broader economic conditions and URI's student population characteristics rather than institutional support alone.
What makes URI's affordability story particularly strong is the relationship between upfront costs and long-term outcomes. While net prices are not the lowest among public universities, the combination of solid graduation rates, strong earnings, and access to high-paying career fields means that most families see their investment pay off over time through graduates' enhanced earning capacity.
University Of Rhode Island Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
