Best College ROI in Ri 2026
11 colleges in Ri analyzed for return on investment. Brown University leads with a ROI Score of 96/100 (STRONG BUY).
Ri has 11 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 2 public institutions and 9 private ones. Across the 11 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $23K and earn $91K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
100% of Ri colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Brown University (median $95K on Computer Science).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Ri
Brown University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Ri's ROI rankings on its Computer Science program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $19K in median debt.
Roger Williams University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Bryant University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Applied Mathematics. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $22K.
Top 11 Colleges by ROI in Ri
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brown University(private) | Computer Science | $19K | $95K | A (96) |
| 2 | Roger Williams University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 3 | Bryant University(private) | Applied Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 4 | Johnson & Wales University-Providence(private) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 5 | Providence College(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 6 | Rhode Island College(public) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 7 | Rhode Island School of Design(private) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 8 | University of Rhode Island(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 9 | New England Institute of Technology(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $28K | $95K | A (93) |
| 10 | Johnson & Wales University-Online(private) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $30K | $95K | A (92) |
| 11 | Salve Regina University(private) | Marketing | $26K | $65K | B (78) |
College debt and earnings data for Ri is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brown University has the best ROI in Ri with a score of 96/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer Science, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $19K in median debt.
Across 11 Ri colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $23K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $91K.
Brown University graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer Science). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Ri has 11 colleges in our database (2 public, 9 private). Of the 11 with reportable ROI, 100% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).