Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Rhode Island
Colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Rhode Island8 schools
8 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in Rhode Island.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Brown University
Providence, RI · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#1 in Rhode Island
- Pays back in about 2.2 years
- Earnings $93,487 ten years out
- 2Tie
Bryant University
Smithfield, RI · Private nonprofitTop 5% for earnings
- Pays back in about 4.0 years
- Earnings $90,008 ten years out
- 2Tie
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI · PublicTop 15% for earnings
- Pays back in about 4.0 years
- Earnings $69,743 ten years out
- 4
Providence College
Providence, RI · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 5% for earnings
- Pays back in about 5.0 years
- Earnings $87,054 ten years out
- 5
Salve Regina University
Newport, RI · Private nonprofitTop 12% for earnings
- Pays back in about 6.0 years
- Earnings $72,975 ten years out
- 6
Roger Williams University
Bristol, RI · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- Pays back in about 6.9 years
- Earnings $70,266 ten years out
- 7
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, RI · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Pays back in about 10.2 years
- Earnings $68,140 ten years out
- 8
New England Institute of Technology
East Greenwich, RI · Private nonprofitTop 23% for low debt
- Pays back in about 450.4 years
- Earnings $48,684 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown University | $25,184 | $11,428 | $93,487 | 96% |
| Bryant University | $41,219 | $26,849 | $90,008 | 80% |
| University of Rhode Island | $21,440 | $22,250 | $69,743 | 73% |
| Providence College | $48,523 | $27,000 | $87,054 | 86% |
| Salve Regina University | $36,967 | $27,000 | $72,975 | 77% |
| Roger Williams University | $37,999 | $26,940 | $70,266 | 69% |
| Rhode Island School of Design | $50,507 | $27,000 | $68,140 | 89% |
| New England Institute of Technology | $36,483 | $16,668 | $48,684 | 60% |
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 5
- Arizona 3
- Arkansas 5
- California 54
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 15
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 19
- Indiana 19
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 5
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 7
- Maryland 14
- Massachusetts 38
- Michigan 19
- Minnesota 17
- Missouri 13
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 4
- New Jersey 16
- New York 67
- North Carolina 15
- Ohio 28
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 9
- Pennsylvania 54
- South Carolina 6
- Tennessee 7
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 5
- Virginia 19
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 13