2025 Best Bachelor's Degree Schools in Rhode Island
There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Rhode Island Colleges for a Bachelor's ranking - to help you make that decision.
Jump to Any of the Following Sections: * Our Methodology
Your Choice of School Matters
Our analysis looked at 8 schools in Rhode Island to determine which ones have the best bachelor's degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Early-Career Earnings
Average early-career salary of those graduating with a bachelor's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue a degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.
Average Student Debt
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that students take on while pursuing their bachelor's degree.
The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best schools ranking methodology page.
Check Out These Other Rankings
If you'd rather work on your bachelor's degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our
rankings by place. In addition, we've put together a number of other
college rankings that may help you in your search.
Top Bachelor's Degree Schools in Rhode Island
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
2,192
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$53,766
Average Early-Career Earnings
$60,460
Average Student Debt
Our analysis found Brown University to be the best school for bachelor’s degrees in Rhode Island in this year’s ranking. Brown is located in Providence, Rhode Island and has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2,192 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $53,766 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $60,460 after getting their degree.
Learn More About Brown University
835
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$57,560
Average Early-Career Earnings
$65,477
Average Student Debt
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Bryant University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Rhode Island. Bryant is located in Smithfield, Rhode Island and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 835 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Bryant make an average of $57,560 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $65,477 in student loans.
Read full report on Bryant University
1,194
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$50,365
Average Early-Career Earnings
$67,813
Average Student Debt
Out of the 8 bachelor’s degree schools in Rhode Island that were part of this year’s ranking, Providence College landed the #3 spot on the list. Providence is located in Providence, Rhode Island and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1,194 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Providence go into careers with an average salary of $50,365 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $67,813 after getting their degree.
Learn More About Providence College
3,532
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$46,339
Average Early-Career Earnings
$31,822
Average Student Debt
A rank of #4 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in Rhode Island list means University of Rhode Island is a great place for students working on their degree. URI is a public institution located in Kingston, Rhode Island. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3,532 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from URI make an average of $46,339 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $31,822.
Full University of Rhode Island Report
958
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$39,584
Average Early-Career Earnings
$37,292
Average Student Debt
Out of the 8 bachelor’s degree schools in Rhode Island that were part of this year’s ranking, Johnson & Wales University - Providence landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Providence, Rhode Island, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 958 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,584 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $37,292 after getting their degree.
Full Johnson & Wales University - Providence Report
518
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$47,020
Average Early-Career Earnings
$50,336
Average Student Debt
Salve Regina University did quite well in the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Rhode Island ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Newport, Rhode Island, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 518 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $47,020 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $50,336 in student loans.
Full Salve Regina University Report
889
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$46,704
Average Early-Career Earnings
$52,768
Average Student Debt
Roger Williams University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Rhode Island ranking. RWU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bristol, Rhode Island. The school has a small population, and it awarded 889 bachelor’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from RWU make an average of $46,704 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $52,768.
Full Roger Williams University Report
1,296
Bachelor's Degrees Awarded
$39,417
Average Early-Career Earnings
$13,616
Average Student Debt
With a ranking of #8, Rhode Island College did quite well on the 2025 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Rhode Island list. Providence, Rhode Island is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,296 students in 2021-2022.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from RIC go into careers with an average salary of $39,417 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $13,616 in student loans.
Read full report on Rhode Island College
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