Best colleges for art and design in Rhode Island
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in art or design, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for art and design in Rhode Island9 schools
9 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Rhode Island.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in art or design, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Brown University
Providence, RI · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#1 in Rhode Island
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A · Top 9%
- 2
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, RI · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
- 3
Providence College
Providence, RI · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 5% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
- 4
Salve Regina University
Newport, RI · Private nonprofitTop 12% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
- 5
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI · PublicTop 15% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 26%
- 6
Roger Williams University
Bristol, RI · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
- 7
New England Institute of Technology
East Greenwich, RI · Private nonprofitTop 23% for low debt
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
- 8
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
Providence, RI · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
- 9
Rhode Island College
Providence, RI · PublicTop 14% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A · Top 8%
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown University | About $25,000 | $11,428 | $93,487 | 96% |
| Rhode Island School of Design | About $51,000 | $27,000 | $68,140 | 89% |
| Providence College | About $49,000 | $27,000 | $87,054 | 86% |
| Salve Regina University | About $37,000 | $27,000 | $72,975 | 77% |
| University of Rhode Island | About $21,000 | $22,250 | $69,743 | 73% |
| Roger Williams University | About $38,000 | $26,940 | $70,266 | 69% |
| New England Institute of Technology | About $36,000 | $16,668 | $48,684 | 60% |
| Johnson & Wales University-Providence | About $31,000 | $26,000 | $43,418 | 55% |
| Rhode Island College | About $9,000 | $20,500 | $56,318 | 48% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 19
- Alaska 3
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 17
- California 75
- Colorado 15
- Connecticut 21
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 7
- Florida 29
- Georgia 32
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 47
- Indiana 36
- Iowa 24
- Kansas 21
- Kentucky 22
- Louisiana 16
- Maine 13
- Maryland 20
- Massachusetts 44
- Michigan 30
- Minnesota 30
- Mississippi 7
- Missouri 32
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 15
- Nevada 4
- New Hampshire 8
- New Jersey 26
- New Mexico 6
- New York 85
- North Carolina 39
- North Dakota 5
- Ohio 59
- Oklahoma 15
- Oregon 14
- Pennsylvania 74
- Puerto Rico 17
- South Carolina 25
- South Dakota 9
- Tennessee 27
- Texas 54
- Utah 8
- Vermont 8
- Virginia 33
- Washington 16
- West Virginia 11
- Wisconsin 29