Johnson & Wales University-Online
Providence, RI 02903
About Johnson & Wales University-Online
Johnson & Wales University-Online is a private research university in Providence, Rhode Island, enrolling about 2,202 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 90.97% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $43,418 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Johnson & Wales University-Online charges about 0.5× the national private non-profit median tuition ($13,365).
- Versus the Rhode Island median, sticker tuition is about 0.3×.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $43,418.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Johnson & Wales University-Online is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 436% 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.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson & Wales University-Online | $13,365 | $20,252 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Rhode Island (state median) | $39,847 | — | 14 |
| Suburban (locale median) | $13,135 | $18,048 | 684 |
| 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 Johnson & Wales University-Online really?
Key findings
- Johnson & Wales University-Online charges about 0.5× the national private non-profit median tuition ($13,365).
- Versus the Rhode Island median, sticker tuition is about 0.3×.
Johnson & Wales University-Online tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $13,365
Finding Johnson & Wales University-Online charges about 0.5× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $13,365. That is about 0.5× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Rhode Island median ($39,847), sticker tuition is about 0.3×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 12% 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 private non-profit 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 Johnson & Wales University-Online versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Johnson & Wales University-Online versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Johnson & Wales University-Online is $20,252.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $20,252 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). Versus suburban campuses, net price runs $2,204 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 Johnson & Wales University-Online, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Johnson & Wales University-Online: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Johnson & Wales University-Online—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
Median earnings should be read with net price, debt, and completion—not as a standalone quality score.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$13,365
Avg. net price
$20,252
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $19,916 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $20,580 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $19,319 |
| $110,001+ | $25,364 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $53,460. 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 Johnson & Wales University-Online is known for
Top program completions
- Business Administration and Management, General92
- Foodservice Systems Administration/Management69
- Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management51
- Hospitality Administration/Management, General46
- Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General30
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 64% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Johnson & Wales University-Online a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Johnson & Wales University-Online is a good school for those looking for strong graduate earnings outcomes in College Scorecard data.
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 Johnson & Wales University-Online.
Campus
Location
Providence, RI
City / state
- ZIP
- 02903
- NCES locale
- Suburb
Compared with Suburban campuses nationally, net price is 12% above the median for Suburban campuses ($18,048 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- New England
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Size
Enrollment
2,202
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 3,183
- Graduate
- 630
- Full-time share
- 24%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$26,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 36.23%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Johnson & Wales University-Online.
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 Johnson & Wales University-Online 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 Johnson & Wales University-Online in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2016–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $14,823 | $14,823 | $12,871 |
| 2017 | $13,365 | $13,365 | $18,449 |
| 2018 | $13,365 | $13,365 | $18,779 |
| 2019 | $13,365 | $13,365 | $18,499 |
| 2020 | $13,365 | $13,365 | $18,929 |
| 2021 | $13,365 | $13,365 | $21,414 |
| 2022 | $13,365 | $13,365 | $20,242 |
| 2023 | $13,365 | $13,365 | $21,611 |
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
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Johnson & Wales University-Online reported total enrollment of about 2,202 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 31% male and 69% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (44.5%), Black or African American (24.5%), and Hispanic or Latino (20.2%). About 36.23% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 34.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
23.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Johnson & Wales University-Online in 2024 is 2,202 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 3,183 students. Graduate enrollment is about 630 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
52.2%
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
0.00% 100% Completion Time
0.00% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 0.00% of students graduating from Johnson & Wales University-Online completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 35% male / 65% female
- Foodservice Systems Administration/Management: 28% male / 72% female
- Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management: 51% male / 49% 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.
Johnson & Wales University-Online graduates earn a median of $43,418 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Johnson & Wales University-Online.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $43,418. Median federal loan debt: $26,000. Average net price used in cost models: $20,252.
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 Johnson & Wales University-Online graduates report median earnings of $43,418 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 Johnson & Wales University-Online.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (49 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Johnson & Wales University-Online.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Johnson & Wales University-Online graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Johnson & Wales University-Online—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Rhode Island median 7.6 pp above median (92.4%)
- New England median 46.7 pp above median (53.3%)
- U.S. median 42.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $10,481
- Rhode Island median 0.93× the median ($11,226)
- New England median 1.1× the median ($9,262)
- U.S. median 1.4× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $5,531
- Rhode Island median 0.52× the median ($10,675)
- New England median 0.54× the median ($10,182)
- U.S. median 0.76× 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.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
Johnson & Wales University-Online at a glance
Johnson & Wales University-Online
Johnson & Wales University-Online is a private non-profit institution in Providence, RI, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Business Administration and Management, GeneralFoodservice Systems Administration/ManagementLogistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian44.5%Black or African American24.5%Hispanic or Latino20.2%
Schools near Johnson & Wales University-Online
Other campuses in Providence, RI when available, plus nearby institutions in Rhode Island.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within Rhode Island, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Johnson & Wales University-Online located?
Johnson & Wales University-Online is located in Providence, RI.
What is Johnson & Wales University-Online's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Johnson & Wales University-Online is 91.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 446 applicants and 242 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Johnson & Wales University-Online's tuition?
Johnson & Wales University-Online tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $13,365 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $20,252 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Johnson & Wales University-Online cost?
Reported tuition is $13,365 and average net price is $20,252 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,200 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Johnson & Wales University-Online?
Johnson & Wales University-Online reports undergraduate enrollment of about 3,183 students, White (44.5%), Black or African American (24.5%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Johnson & Wales University-Online?
About 34.6% of students at Johnson & Wales University-Online are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Johnson & Wales University-Online earn?
Median earnings are $35,802 six years after entry and $43,418 ten years after entry.
How much debt do Johnson & Wales University-Online students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $26,000.
Is Johnson & Wales University-Online public or private?
Johnson & Wales University-Online is a private nonprofit institution located in Providence, RI.
Is Johnson & Wales University-Online an HBCU?
No. Johnson & Wales University-Online is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Johnson & Wales University-Online a tribal college?
No. Johnson & Wales University-Online is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Johnson & Wales University-Online a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Johnson & Wales University-Online does not meet that proxy (reported share 20.2%).
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
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.