University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Rhode Island at a Glance
The University of Rhode Island (URI) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Kingston, Rhode Island, United States. It serves as the state's flagship public research institution and land-grant university of Rhode Island. The university is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". As of 2019, URI enrolled 14,653 undergraduate students, 1,982 graduate students, and 1,339 non-degree students, making it the largest university in the state.
1892
134 years old
$279M
$278.7 million (2025)
17,210
14,376 undergrad · 2,834 grad
784
1,254 acres
Identity
Is University of Rhode Island Worth It?
University of Rhode Island offers moderate value at $21,440/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $69,743, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 72% graduation rate means roughly 28% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How University of Rhode Island compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #16 of 33 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #2 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #3 | CUNY Queens College | 100 | $4,195 | $62,763 |
| #4 | Farmingdale State College | 88 | $10,867 | $69,781 |
| #5 | University of California-Santa Cruz | 71 | $17,890 | $68,396 |
| #6 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | 66 | $16,210 | $60,378 |
| #16 | University of Rhode Island | 59 | $21,440 | $69,743 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Rhode Island's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at University of Rhode Island
The highest-earning program at University of Rhode Island is Computer Engineering at $68,700/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management at $17,000/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Engineering graduate from University of Rhode Island earns $68,700, while a Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management graduate earns $17,000. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Engineering graduates carry $25,000 in median debt vs. $26,115 for Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $21,440/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $68,700 | $68,700 | $25,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $67,900 | $67,900 | $26,340 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $64,300 | $64,300 | $22,765 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $63,300 | $63,300 | $23,982 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $62,700 | $62,700 | $25,100 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $60,100 | $60,100 | $25,250 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $57,800 | $57,800 | $21,250 |
| Civil Engineering | $57,300 | $57,300 | $26,000 |
| Chemical Engineering | $55,700 | $55,700 | $25,500 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $50,900 | $50,900 | $23,000 |
| Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $48,500 | $48,500 | $28,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $46,600 | $46,600 | $24,020 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $45,600 | $45,600 | $21,250 |
| Marketing | $44,500 | $44,500 | $20,165 |
| Mathematics | $43,100 | $43,100 | $27,000 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $39,600 | $39,600 | $22,911 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $39,300 | $39,300 | $25,125 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $38,500 | $38,500 | $23,000 |
| Landscape Architecture | $36,600 | $36,600 | $21,420 |
| Biology, General | $36,200 | $36,200 | $24,902 |
| Economics | $35,000 | $35,000 | $25,000 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $34,800 | $34,800 | $23,500 |
| Sociology | $34,700 | $34,700 | $22,625 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $34,200 | $34,200 | $25,307 |
| Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services | $34,000 | $34,000 | $18,844 |
| Public Policy Analysis | $33,900 | $33,900 | $24,348 |
| Music | $33,800 | $33,800 | $23,984 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $33,100 | $33,100 | $23,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $32,700 | $32,700 | $20,500 |
| Social Sciences, Other | $31,500 | $31,500 | $23,164 |
| Health-Related Knowledge and Skills | $31,400 | $31,400 | $24,776 |
| Psychology, General | $30,400 | $30,400 | $23,125 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $29,200 | $29,200 | $25,000 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $29,000 | $29,000 | $23,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $28,900 | $28,900 | $25,500 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $28,700 | $28,700 | $20,500 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $28,600 | $28,600 | $25,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $28,100 | $28,100 | $22,795 |
| History | $26,200 | $26,200 | $24,026 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $24,300 | $24,300 | $23,276 |
| Animal Sciences | $23,800 | $23,800 | $19,500 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $22,800 | $22,800 | $21,000 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $22,800 | $22,800 | $24,026 |
| Journalism | $22,700 | $22,700 | $19,500 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $22,200 | $22,200 | $24,250 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $17,000 | $17,000 | $26,115 |
Similar Colleges in RI
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Kingston, RI
- Student Body
- 13,381 students
- Admission Rate
- 72%
- Graduation Rate
- 72%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $21,440
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $69,743
- Median Student Debt
- $22,250