by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Rhode Island, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **11** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 11 graduate schools across over 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.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Our analysis found Brown University to be the best graduate school in Rhode Island. Set in Providence, RI, Brown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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.
You'll be in good company at Providence College, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Providence, RI, Providence College is a private not-for-profit institution. Providence College posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. Students from in state pay about $63,550 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $53,208. Students borrow a median of $26,833 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #3 makes Bryant University one of the top graduate schools in Rhode Island. Located in Smithfield, RI, Bryant University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,677. Early-career graduates earn a median of $66,637. Typical student debt is $26,233.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Rhode Island one of the top graduate schools in Rhode Island. Set in Kingston, RI, University Of Rhode Island is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,942, with out-of-state students paying around $37,146. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,821 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $23,432 in student loans.
A rank of #5 makes Salve Regina University one of the top graduate schools in Rhode Island. Based in Newport, RI, Salve Regina University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $50,100 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $56,636. Typical student debt is $27,000.
Roger Williams University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bristol, RI. Roger Williams University graduates 69% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $45,197. Median early-career earnings reach $48,664. Students borrow a median of $25,676 to complete a degree here.
Rhode Island School Of Design placed #7 among the best graduate schools in Rhode Island. Rhode Island School Of Design is a private not-for-profit school based in Providence, RI. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Median early-career earnings reach $29,894. Typical student debt is $26,943.
New England Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #8 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in East Greenwich, RI. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,275. New England Institute Of Technology graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,055. Students borrow a median of $24,586 to complete a degree here.
Rhode Island College landed the #9 spot in Rhode Island this year. Located in Providence, RI, Rhode Island College is a public institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,300, compared with $27,299 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,088. The median student debt is $23,394.
Johnson And Wales University Providence placed #10 among the best graduate schools in Rhode Island. Johnson And Wales University Providence is a private not-for-profit school based in Providence, RI. Johnson And Wales University Providence posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,982. Johnson And Wales University Providence graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,920. Johnson And Wales University Providence students take on a median of $26,350 in debt.
Johnson And Wales University Online landed the #11 spot in Rhode Island this year. Located 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. Students borrow a median of $26,225 to complete a degree here.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs 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.