Cost & financial aid brief
University of Rhode Island Tuition, Costs & Financial Aid
How much does University of Rhode Island cost after financial aid?
Aid reduces the published cost for the average aid recipient, with lower average net prices concentrated in the lower family-income bands. Against a published cost of $34,321, the average net price is $21,440, an average savings of $12,881.
Aid covers about 38% of the published cost for the average aid recipient. Across the income bands, average net prices are $14,368, $12,923, $17,803, $23,394, and $28,460, from lowest to highest income.
The lower-income bands have lower average prices than the upper bands, a pricing pattern consistent with aid being more concentrated toward families with less income.
The published cost of attendance at University of Rhode Island is $34,321. Azimuth ranks the university #730 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.
After grants and scholarships, the average net price for aid recipients from families earning under $30,000 is $14,368, for those earning $48,001 to $75,000 it is $17,803, and for those earning over $110,000 it is $28,460. The spread between the lowest and highest bands is $14,092.
Aid covers about 38% of the published cost for the average aid recipient. The average net price across all aid recipients is $21,440, which is $5,806 above the $15,634 median for comparable institutions (same type and size).
Borrowers who finish carry a median of $22,250 in federal student loans, $2,174 above the $20,076 peer median. 92.0% of federal aid recipients take federal loans.
Parents who borrow hold a separate median of $28,000 in Parent PLUS loans. If repaid over ten years, the median federal student debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $253 a month.
Student loans: what does repayment look like?
Federal borrowing is widespread at University of Rhode Island, with 92.0% of federal aid recipients taking federal loans. Among federal-loan borrowers who complete, median federal student loan debt is $22,250.
At comparable institutions (same type and size), the peer median is $20,076, and the university’s median is $2,174 above that mark. Parent borrowers are a separate population, with median Parent PLUS borrowing of $28,000.
High federal borrowing and debt above the peer median point in the same direction.
The investment picture pairs higher-than-expected earnings with borrowing that sits above the peer median. University of Rhode Island graduates working and not enrolled have median earnings of $73,243 four years after completion, placing earnings in the 81st percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Graduates earn about $3,755 more than expects for similar students. Earnings beyond expectations, the gap between what graduates earn and what the model expects for similar students, falls in the 67th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings scenarios put earnings at $51,384 in the downside case and $92,299 in the upside case; the typical scenario matches the reported median. Median federal student loan debt at completion is $22,250, which is $2,174 above the $20,076 peer median, the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size).
That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $253 a month if repaid over ten years. Earnings beat the model, while median debt remains above the peer comparison.
For the separate population of Parent PLUS parent borrowers, median borrowing is $28,000. For student borrowers, that debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $253 a month if repaid over ten years.
Repayment figures are in the Financial GPS card below. Borrowing populations and model assumptions.
Parent loans: what can the family afford?
How Parent PLUS borrowing affects families
- Median Parent PLUS debt
- $28,000
- Estimated parent payment
- $356/mo
| Income | Risk level |
|---|---|
| $35,000 | High pressure |
| $50,000 | High pressure |
| $75,000 | High pressure |
| $100,000 | Caution |
| $150,000 | Safe |
| $200,000 | Safe |
The model holds the parent balance fixed and varies parent income. Read the assumptions and limits.
Student and parent loans: the monthly payments
Financial GPS
What does repayment look like?
- Institution median student debt
- $22,250
- Institution Parent PLUS debt
- $28,000
Federal loans only; private or institutional loans aren’t included.
- Estimated student payment · monthly
- $253/mo
- Estimated Parent PLUS payment · monthly
- $356/mo
- Modeled student + parent payments
- $609/mo
Payments use school-wide median balances, not a specific major’s.
Student payment as a share of available income
At median graduate earnings of $73,243, with a $22,590 annual allowance for basic expenses:
6.0% of income above the allowance · Excellent
- Excellent Under 8% · selected scenario
- Good 8–under 12%
- Concerning 12–20%
- High risk Over 20%
How this estimate works
These are modeled earnings scenarios, not observed earnings percentiles. Annual student payments ÷ (earnings − basic-expense allowance). The starting allowance, $22,590, uses the published framework’s 2024 baseline; it is not a current local living-cost estimate. Change it for your budget, including taxes and other obligations. This combines school-level figures for illustration, not a typical individual’s budget or an official school rating. Parent PLUS is separate.
Payment assumptions
Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates.
Data & methodology
Sources and reporting periods: methodology.
Analysis and methodology by Daniel Rogers, founder of College Azimuth.
Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.
Figure notes link to sources and limitations. About College Azimuth.
Net price and borrowing. The 2023–24 income-band averages include living costs and cover eligible first-time, full-time aid recipients; public-school figures reflect in-state tuition. They are not individual aid offers. Peer matching supplies overall net prices, not matched income-band averages. College Scorecard data and documentation.
A personal student-risk assessment also needs your major and borrowing plan; these school-level illustrations do not assign you a personal risk zone.
Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates. Private-loan figures from the Common Data Set are separate from these federal repayment illustrations.