Which RI Colleges Make You The Most Money?

Is college worth the money? PayScale’s 2017 College ROI Report: Best Value Colleges list may have some answers. It focuses on a 20-year net return on investment. The experts crunched the numbers and assessed the choices for advancing your education and getting the biggest return on your investment. And none of Rhode Island State colleges rank among the best investments in America.

Brown fared the best but managed to come in 62nd in the nation, while four Massachusetts universities scored among the top 25. on Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge topped the Massachusetts list and came in at No. 3 nationwide, offering a 20-year net ROI of $959,000. The university has a total four-year cost of approximately $240,000. Massachusetts Maritime Academy – second overall in Massachusetts – saw a drastic difference in in-state and out-of-state students. The school came in at 14 overall in America for in-state students, offering a 20-year net ROI of $773,000, but out-of-state students saw a reduction in net ROI of $60,000. Mass. Maritime fell to No. 25 nationwide for out-of-state students, offering a 20-year net ROI of $712,000.

Also concerning for Rhode Islanders, the graduation rates at the state schools (University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College) were 59 percent and 43 percent, respectively. RIC students typically needed five years to finish. Brown and Rhode Island School of Design by contrast graduated 96 percent and 87 percent of their students in four years. PC was not far behind with 86 percent.

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The rankings factor in financial aid and in-state versus out-of-state tuition, graduation rates and ability to pay off loans.

Here is the list of 10 colleges in Rhode Island in their return-on-investment order (the numbers following the college are: 20-year net ROI; total 4-year cost; graduation rate; typical years to graduate; and average loan amount):

1. Brown University

(Private) $578,000; $247,000; 96%; 4 Years; $28,500

2. Bryant University

(Private) $443,000; $218,000; 78%; 4 Years; $46,200

3. University of Rhode Island (URI)

(In-State) $375,000; $109,000; 59%; 4 Years; $24,600

4. Providence College

(Private) $336,000; $234,000; 86%; 4 Years; $40,000

5. University of Rhode Island (URI)

(Out-of-State) $313,000; $172,000; 59%; 4 Years; $24,600

6. (tie) Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

(Private) $234,000; $249,000; 87%; 4 Years; $30,500

6. (tie) Roger Williams University

(Private) $234,000; $199,000; 62%; 4 Years; $45,900

8. Rhode Island College

(In-State) $226,000; $81,200; 43%; 5 Years; $25,400

9. Rhode Island College

(Out-of-State) $182,000; $125,000; 43%; 5 Years; $25,400

10. Salve Regina University

(Private) $175,000; $202,000; 67%; 4 Years; $32,500

11. Johnson & Wales University (JWU) - Providence, RI

(Private) $112,000; $172,000; 57%; 4 Years; $36,700

New England Institute of Technology

(Private); N/A; N/A; 48%; N/A; $38,300

Tom Davis (Patch Staff) and Alex Newman (Patch Staff) contributed to this report.

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