2026 Best Colleges for the Money (No Aid) in Rhode Island
Looking for the best colleges for the money in Rhode Island? This list ranks 9 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. You are viewing our No Aid ranking, which weighs each school’s published sticker price (tuition, fees, and room and board) before financial aid — scroll to Customize Your Rankings to switch views.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 9 schools to build this 2026 best-value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
In This Year’s Value Report:
Your Choice of School Matters
We analyzed 9 schools in Rhode Island to determine which deliver the best value. Our ranking is based on objective factors.
How We Rank for Value
The first step is the school’s combined average tuition, fees, and room and board — the published sticker price before any financial aid (the No Aid view). Value also depends on the quality of the education, not just the price. We weigh cost against outcomes such as graduation rates, educational resources, and what graduates earn.
That balance of cost and outcomes is what drives the ranking below. Read more about our methodology.
Customize Your Rankings
Not every student is looking for the same thing. Narrow your list by location and field of study, or explore related rankings below. Or choose a degree level:
Top 21 Best Colleges for the Money in Rhode Island
Explore the best values below:
For return on investment, no school beat Community College Of Rhode Island this year in Rhode Island. Set in Warwick, RI, Community College Of Rhode Island is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,550 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,834 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,940 to complete their program here. Community College Of Rhode Island alumni report median earnings of $42,659 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rhode Island College came in at #2 on this year's best-value ranking in Rhode Island. Based in Providence, RI, Rhode Island College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,300, compared with $27,299 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,394 to complete their program here. Median earnings reach $56,318 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $23,394 median debt. Rhode Island College admits about 92% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Rhode Island one of the best values in Rhode Island. University Of Rhode Island is a public school based in Kingston, RI. In-state tuition and fees average $16,942, while out-of-state students pay about $37,146. Graduates carry a median of $23,432 in student loans. University Of Rhode Island alumni report median earnings of $69,743 a decade after entry. Set against $23,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
New England Tractor Trailer Training School Of Rhode Island came in at #4 on this year's best-value ranking in Rhode Island. This private for-profit school is set in Pawtucket, RI. Students borrow a median of $9,885 to complete their program here. Median earnings reach $53,085 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $9,885 median debt.
Brown University came in at #5 on this year's best-value ranking in Rhode Island. Located in Providence, RI, Brown University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $71,312. The median program debt is $13,025. Graduates go on to earn a median of $93,487 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
International Yacht Restoration School came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Newport, RI. International Yacht Restoration School students take on a median of $9,500 in debt. International Yacht Restoration School has an acceptance rate of 89%.
Johnson And Wales University Online offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Johnson And Wales University Online is a private not-for-profit school based in Providence, RI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,365. The median program debt is $27,012. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $43,418. Set against $27,012 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Johnson And Wales University Online admits about 91% of applicants.
Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Cranston placed #8 among the best values in Rhode Island. Based in Cranston, RI, Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Cranston is a private for-profit institution. Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Cranston students take on a median of $11,200 in debt.
Motoring Technical Training Institute East Providence placed #9 among the best values in Rhode Island. This private for-profit school is set in East Providence, RI. Graduates carry a median of $9,326 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $48,281. Set against $9,326 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johnson And Wales University Providence offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Set in Providence, RI, Johnson And Wales University Providence is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,982. Students borrow a median of $26,350 to complete their program here. Median earnings reach $43,418 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $26,350 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Empire Beauty School Warwick offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Empire Beauty School Warwick is a private for-profit school based in Providence, RI. Empire Beauty School Warwick students take on a median of $13,849 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $23,589. Set against $13,849 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Salve Regina University landed the #12 spot for value in Rhode Island this year. Salve Regina University is a private not-for-profit school based in Newport, RI. In-state tuition and fees average $50,100. The median program debt is $27,000. Median earnings reach $72,975 ten years out. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 68% of those who apply are admitted.
Lincoln Technical Institute Lincoln landed the #13 spot for value in Rhode Island this year. Lincoln Technical Institute Lincoln is a private for-profit school based in Lincoln, RI. Typical student debt is $11,562. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $31,914. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
New England Institute Of Technology landed the #14 spot for value in Rhode Island this year. Located in East Greenwich, RI, New England Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,275. Students borrow a median of $24,586 to complete their program here. New England Institute Of Technology alumni report median earnings of $48,684 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Roger Williams University landed the #15 spot for value in Rhode Island this year. Based in Bristol, RI, Roger Williams University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,197. Students borrow a median of $25,676 to complete their program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $70,266 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Paul Mitchell The School Rhode Island offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Set in Cranston, RI, Paul Mitchell The School Rhode Island is a private for-profit institution. Typical student debt is $12,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $26,897 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Bryant University placed #17 among the best values in Rhode Island. Set in Smithfield, RI, Bryant University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,677. Typical student debt is $26,233. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $90,008. Set against $26,233 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Providence College placed #18 among the best values in Rhode Island. Providence College is a private not-for-profit school based in Providence, RI. In-state tuition and fees run about $63,550. Providence College students take on a median of $26,833 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $87,054 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,833 median debt. Providence College admits about 51% of applicants.
Rhode Island School Of Design placed #19 among the best values in Rhode Island. Based in Providence, RI, Rhode Island School Of Design is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $62,688. Students borrow a median of $26,943 to complete their program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $68,140 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
Roger Williams University School Of Law landed the #20 spot for value in Rhode Island this year.
College Unbound offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position.
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Notes and References
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 ranked schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 9 schools evaluated.
References
See our data sources and methodologies.
