by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Rhode Island, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This list ranks **3** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 3 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
No school ranked higher than Roger Williams University this year in Rhode Island. Based in Bristol, RI, Roger Williams University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roger Williams University posts a six-year graduation rate of 69%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,197. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,664. Typical student debt is $25,676.
A rank of #2 makes New England Institute Of Technology one of the top colleges in Rhode Island. Set in East Greenwich, RI, New England Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,275 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,055 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $24,586.
The strong outcomes at Johnson And Wales University Providence earned it the #3 place in Rhode Island. Based in Providence, RI, Johnson And Wales University Providence is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,982. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,920 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,350 to complete a degree here.
Community College Of Rhode Island came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Rhode Island. Located in Warwick, RI, Community College Of Rhode Island is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,550, compared with $14,834 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,680. The median student debt is $13,940.
The strong outcomes at Johnson And Wales University Online earned it the #5 place in Rhode Island. Johnson And Wales University Online is a private not-for-profit school based in Providence, RI. In-state tuition and fees average $13,365. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,678 early in their careers. Johnson And Wales University Online students take on a median of $27,012 in debt.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.