University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI 02881
About University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island is a public research university in Kingston, Rhode Island, with about 13,381 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 72.16% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $69,743 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- University of Rhode Island charges about 3.1× the national public median tuition ($16,942).
- Versus the Rhode Island median, sticker tuition is about 0.4×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 73.31%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $69,743.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at University of Rhode Island is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 713% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
University of Rhode Island awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 130 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Rhode Island | $16,942 | $21,440 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Rhode Island (state median) | $39,847 | — | 14 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is University of Rhode Island really?
Key findings
- University of Rhode Island charges about 3.1× the national public median tuition ($16,942).
- Versus the Rhode Island median, sticker tuition is about 0.4×.
University of Rhode Island tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $16,942
Finding University of Rhode Island charges about 3.1× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $16,942. That is about 3.1× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Rhode Island median ($39,847), sticker tuition is about 0.4×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 42% above.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at University of Rhode Island versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at University of Rhode Island versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at University of Rhode Island is $21,440.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $21,440 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). Versus rural campuses, net price runs $2,740 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At University of Rhode Island, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
University of Rhode Island: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for University of Rhode Island—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$16,942
Out-of-state tuition
$37,146
Avg. net price
$21,440
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $14,368 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $12,923 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $17,803 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $23,394 |
| $110,001+ | $28,460 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $67,768. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What University of Rhode Island is known for
Top program completions
- Psychology, General277
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse261
- Business Administration and Management, General212
- Speech Communication and Rhetoric183
- Computer and Information Sciences, General130
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 17% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1160
- Midpoint ACT: 28
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is University of Rhode Island a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
University of Rhode Island is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for University of Rhode Island.
Campus
Location
Kingston, RI
City / state
- ZIP
- 02881
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 15% above the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- New England
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
13,381
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 17,345
- Graduate
- 2,834
- Full-time share
- 95%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$22,250
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 21.76%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for University of Rhode Island.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at University of Rhode Island was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for University of Rhode Island in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $12,450 | $28,016 | $18,179 |
| 2014 | $12,506 | $28,072 | $18,382 |
| 2015 | $12,862 | $28,852 | $19,177 |
| 2016 | $12,884 | $28,874 | $19,216 |
| 2017 | $13,792 | $30,042 | $19,431 |
| 2018 | $14,138 | $30,862 | $20,334 |
| 2019 | $14,566 | $31,686 | $20,607 |
| 2020 | $15,004 | $32,578 | $18,638 |
| 2021 | $15,332 | $33,354 | $19,925 |
| 2022 | $15,880 | $34,362 | $19,694 |
| 2023 | $16,408 | $35,804 | $19,899 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1160 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 28 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
University of Rhode Island reported total enrollment of about 13,381 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 42% male and 58% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (73.1%), Hispanic or Latino (12.3%), and Black or African American (4.6%). About 21.76% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 26.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
95.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at University of Rhode Island in 2024 is 13,381 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 17,345 students. Graduate enrollment is about 2,834 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
83.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
59.08% 100% Completion Time
73.31% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 59.08% of students graduating from University of Rhode Island completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Psychology, General: 17% male / 83% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 11% male / 89% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 57% male / 43% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
University of Rhode Island graduates earn a median of $69,743 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of University of Rhode Island.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $69,743. Median federal loan debt: $22,250. Average net price used in cost models: $21,440.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway University of Rhode Island graduates report median earnings of $69,743 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for University of Rhode Island.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (130 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at University of Rhode Island.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for University of Rhode Island graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for University of Rhode Island—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$287.6M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Rhode Island median 1.2× the median ($239.1M)
- New England median 6.7× the median ($42.9M)
- U.S. median 11× the median ($26.4M)
- Rhode Island median 0.35× the median ($50,168)
- New England median 0.75× the median ($23,268)
- U.S. median 1.4× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 69.4%
- Rhode Island median 23.0 pp below median (92.4%)
- New England median 16.2 pp above median (53.3%)
- U.S. median 11.5 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $11,089
- Rhode Island median near the median ($11,226)
- New England median 1.2× the median ($9,262)
- U.S. median 1.5× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,555
- Rhode Island median near the median ($10,675)
- New England median near the median ($10,182)
- U.S. median 1.4× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
University of Rhode Island at a glance
University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island is a public institution in Kingston, RI, classified as Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Psychology, GeneralRegistered Nursing/Registered NurseBusiness Administration and Management, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian73.1%Hispanic or Latino12.3%Black or African American4.6%
Schools near University of Rhode Island
Other campuses in Kingston, RI when available, plus nearby institutions in Rhode Island.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade B) within Rhode Island, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is University of Rhode Island located?
University of Rhode Island is located in Kingston, RI.
What is University of Rhode Island's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at University of Rhode Island is 72.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 25,391 applicants and 19,568 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is University of Rhode Island's tuition?
University of Rhode Island tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $16,942 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $21,440 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does University of Rhode Island cost?
Reported tuition is $16,942 and average net price is $21,440 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $15,607 annually.
What explains University of Rhode Island's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($21,440), completion (73.3% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($69,743). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at University of Rhode Island?
University of Rhode Island reports undergraduate enrollment of about 17,345 students, White (73.1%), Hispanic or Latino (12.3%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend University of Rhode Island?
About 26.3% of students at University of Rhode Island are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for University of Rhode Island?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, University of Rhode Island reports midpoint SAT about 1160 and midpoint ACT about 28.
What do graduates of University of Rhode Island earn?
Median earnings are $57,446 six years after entry and $69,743 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at University of Rhode Island?
The 150%-time completion rate is 73.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do University of Rhode Island students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $22,250.
Is University of Rhode Island public or private?
University of Rhode Island is a public institution located in Kingston, RI.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Rhode Island college profile
- Rhode Island college costs
- Rhode Island colleges by ROI
- University of Rhode Island vs Brown University vs Rhode Island College
- New England regional profile
- Rural college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Rhode Island
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.