Rhode Island College
Providence, RI 02908
About Rhode Island College
Rhode Island College is a public research university in Providence, Rhode Island, serving roughly 5,049 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 91.82% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $56,318 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Rhode Island College charges about 2.1× the national public median tuition ($11,300).
- Versus the Rhode Island median, sticker tuition is about 0.3×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 48.13%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $56,318.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Rhode Island College is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 1385% 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
Rhode Island College awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 107 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island College | $11,300 | $9,478 | 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.
Average net price is 16% below published tuition at Rhode Island College
Key findings
- Rhode Island College's average net price ($9,478) is 16% below published tuition ($11,300).
- Rhode Island College charges about 2.1× the national public median tuition ($11,300).
- Versus the Rhode Island median, sticker tuition is about 0.3×.
Rhode Island College tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $11,300
Finding Rhode Island College charges about 2.1× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $11,300. That is about 2.1× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Rhode Island median ($39,847), sticker tuition is about 0.3×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 5% below.
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 Rhode Island College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Rhode Island College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Rhode Island College is $9,478.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $9,478 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). Versus rural campuses, net price runs $9,222 below 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 Rhode Island College’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 16% lower after grants and scholarships.
Rhode Island College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Rhode Island College—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
$11,300
Out-of-state tuition
$27,299
Avg. net price
$9,478
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $6,378 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $6,989 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $8,701 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $12,809 |
| $110,001+ | $15,681 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $45,200. 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 Rhode Island College is known for
Top program completions
- Social Work160
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse134
- Psychology, General102
- Accounting69
- Health Professions and Related Programs50
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 20% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 990
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Rhode Island College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Rhode Island College 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 Rhode Island College.
Campus
Location
Providence, RI
City / state
- ZIP
- 02908
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is about 0.5× the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- New England
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Size
Enrollment
5,049
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 9,871
- Graduate
- 1,001
- Full-time share
- 86%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$20,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 42.05%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Rhode Island College.
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 Rhode Island College 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 Rhode Island College 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 | $7,602 | $18,300 | $9,938 |
| 2014 | $7,602 | $18,300 | $9,509 |
| 2015 | $8,197 | $19,858 | $9,613 |
| 2016 | $8,206 | $19,867 | $10,480 |
| 2017 | $8,776 | $21,289 | $10,366 |
| 2018 | $8,929 | $21,692 | $10,523 |
| 2019 | $9,578 | $23,043 | $10,922 |
| 2020 | $10,260 | $24,735 | $12,144 |
| 2021 | $10,702 | $25,900 | $10,986 |
| 2022 | $10,966 | $26,499 | $12,599 |
| 2023 | $10,986 | $26,519 | $10,988 |
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 990 (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
Rhode Island College reported total enrollment of about 5,049 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 32% male and 68% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (47.9%), Hispanic or Latino (28.4%), and Black or African American (11.7%). About 42.05% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 44.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
85.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Rhode Island College in 2024 is 5,049 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 9,871 students. Graduate enrollment is about 1,001 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
73.3%
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
27.14% 100% Completion Time
48.13% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 27.14% of students graduating from Rhode Island College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Social Work: 11% male / 89% female
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 14% male / 86% female
- Psychology, General: 18% male / 82% 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.
Rhode Island College graduates earn a median of $56,318 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Rhode Island College.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $56,318. Median federal loan debt: $20,500. Average net price used in cost models: $9,478.
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 Rhode Island College graduates report median earnings of $56,318 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 Rhode Island College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (107 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Rhode Island College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Rhode Island College graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Rhode Island College—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$42M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Rhode Island median 0.18× the median ($239.1M)
- New England median near the median ($42.9M)
- U.S. median 1.6× the median ($26.4M)
- Rhode Island median 0.15× the median ($50,168)
- New England median 0.33× the median ($23,268)
- U.S. median 0.63× the median ($12,100)
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): $11,523
- 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: $10,795
- Rhode Island median near the median ($10,675)
- New England median 1.1× the median ($10,182)
- U.S. median 1.5× 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.
Rhode Island College at a glance
Rhode Island College
Rhode Island College is a public institution in Providence, RI, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Social WorkRegistered Nursing/Registered NursePsychology, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian47.9%Hispanic or Latino28.4%Black or African American11.7%
Schools near Rhode Island College
Other campuses in Providence, RI when available, plus nearby institutions in Rhode Island.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within Rhode Island, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Rhode Island College located?
Rhode Island College is located in Providence, RI.
What is Rhode Island College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Rhode Island College is 91.8% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 4,988 applicants and 4,045 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Rhode Island College's tuition?
Rhode Island College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $11,300 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $9,478 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Rhode Island College cost?
Reported tuition is $11,300 and average net price is $9,478 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,414 annually.
Why is Rhode Island College's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Rhode Island College, published tuition is $11,300 while average net price is $9,478—about 16% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Rhode Island College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($9,478), completion (48.1% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($56,318). 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 Rhode Island College?
Rhode Island College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 9,871 students, White (47.9%), Hispanic or Latino (28.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Rhode Island College?
About 44.7% of students at Rhode Island College are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Rhode Island College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Rhode Island College reports midpoint SAT about 990.
What do graduates of Rhode Island College earn?
Median earnings are $46,882 six years after entry and $56,318 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Rhode Island College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 48.1% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Rhode Island College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $20,500.
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
- Providence, Rhode Island city profile
- 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.