Bristol, Rhode Island Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Bristol, Rhode Island: median public in-state tuition $45,978 (+706.6% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $77,127 (+29.8% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 96.9% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $25,000 (+85.2% vs U.S.) 3,946 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Bristol serve students across Rhode Island with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 3,946 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $45,978. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Bristol, Rhode Island and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Bristol vs Rhode Island & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol, Rhode Island | $45,978 | $37,645 | $25,000 | 67.4% | 3,946 |
| Rhode Island (state median) | N/A | N/A | $16,358 | 62.0% | 62,567 |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,468,409 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Bristol, Rhode Island vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol, Rhode Island | $77,127 | 96.9% | 81.1% | 2.6% | — | 86.2% | 0.32 |
| Rhode Island (state median) | $73,388 | 94.8% | 83.6% | 2.6% | — | 85.8% | 0.32 |
| United States | $59,402 | 93.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.36 |
Other cities in Rhode Island (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol, Rhode Island | $45,978 | $37,645 | $25,000 | 67.4% | 3,946 | $77,127 | 96.9% |
| Providence | $44,581 | $24,524 | $22,970 | 49.4% | 25,256 | $64,870 | 93.5% |
| Newport | $31,791 | $30,309 | $20,163 | 72.9% | 2,189 | $73,336 | 96.9% |
| Newport | $31,791 | $30,309 | $20,163 | 72.9% | 2,189 | $73,336 | 96.9% |
| Cranston | N/A | $18,790 | $7,830 | N/A | 283 | N/A | N/A |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,468,409 | $59,402 | 93.0% |
Top college in Bristol, Rhode Island by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 67.4%, Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University
Top college in Bristol, Rhode Island by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 96.9%, Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University
Most selective college in Bristol, Rhode Island (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 87.7%, Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University
Top college in Bristol, Rhode Island by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $82,314, Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University
Top college in Bristol, Rhode Island by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $98,701, Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University
Top college in Bristol, Rhode Island by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $59,549, Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University
Top college in Bristol, Rhode Island by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $69,515, Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University
Top college in Bristol, Rhode Island by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $77,127, Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University
Top college in Bristol, Rhode Island by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $155,819, Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University
Most affordable college in Bristol, Rhode Island (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $37,645, Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University
Top college in Bristol, Rhode Island by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 81.1%, Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University
In-state tuition: Bristol, Rhode Island vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Bristol, Rhode Island median in-state tuition is $45,978, +706.6% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Bristol, Rhode Island vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Bristol, Rhode Island is $25,000 (+85.2% vs U.S. median $13,500).
Median earnings (10 years out): Bristol, Rhode Island vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Bristol, Rhode Island center around $77,127 (+29.8% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Bristol, Rhode Island vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 96.9% at the median Bristol, Rhode Island campus (+3.9 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Bristol, Rhode Island median public in-state tuition is $45,978, about +706.6% vs the national median.
Median graduate debt is $25,000 (+85.2% above the U.S. median of $13,500). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Bristol, Rhode Island are $77,127, about +29.8% vs the U.S. campus median ($59,402).
The median campus reports 96.9% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 93.0% (+3.9 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 81.1% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 2.6% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 86.2% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Roger Williams University (96.9%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Bristol, Rhode Island is 67.4% (national institution average about 49.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Bristol?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Bristol, Rhode Island with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Bristol?
Median in-state tuition in Bristol is $45,978 and median net price is $37,645. For Rhode Island overall, medians are N/A and N/A; U.S. medians are $5,700 and $9,912.
What do graduates earn in Bristol?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Bristol is $77,127 vs $73,388 for Rhode Island and $59,402 nationally.
What is student debt like for Bristol colleges?
Median completer debt in Bristol is $25,000 vs $16,358 for Rhode Island and $13,500 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Bristol?
Top campuses on this page include Roger Williams University (graduation) and Roger Williams University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Bristol?
Among 2 College Scorecard campuses in Bristol, Rhode Island, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, none report at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment, and none report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Rhode Island college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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