by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Rhode Island, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **7** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 7 graduate schools using more than 20 objective factors 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Brown University tops our 2027 ranking of the best graduate schools in Rhode Island. Located in Providence, RI, Brown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Brown University posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. Students from in state pay about $71,312 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $62,820. Graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at Salve Regina University earned it the #2 place in Rhode Island. Salve Regina University is a private not-for-profit school based in Newport, RI. Salve Regina University graduates 77% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $50,100. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,636. Typical student debt is $27,000.
The strong outcomes at University Of Rhode Island earned it the #3 place in Rhode Island. Located in Kingston, RI, University Of Rhode Island is a public institution. University Of Rhode Island graduates 72% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,942, with out-of-state students paying around $37,146. University Of Rhode Island graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,821. University Of Rhode Island students take on a median of $23,432 in debt.
Out of the 7 graduate schools in Rhode Island in this year's ranking, Roger Williams University School Of Law landed the #4 spot. Located in Bristol, RI, Roger Williams University School Of Law is a private not-for-profit institution. Roger Williams University School Of Law graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,777.
A rank of #5 makes Johnson And Wales University Providence one of the top graduate schools in Rhode Island. Set 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. Students from in state pay about $41,982 in tuition and fees. Johnson And Wales University Providence graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,920. Graduates carry a median of $26,350 in student loans.
Rhode Island College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Providence, RI, Rhode Island College is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,300, compared with $27,299 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,088. Typical student debt is $23,394.
Johnson And Wales University Online placed #7 among the best graduate schools in Rhode Island. Based in Providence, RI, Johnson And Wales University Online is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,365. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,678. Typical student debt is $26,225.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.