Best Colleges in Rhode Island by Salary Potential

Before you invest in a bachelor’s degree, find out which schools pay off. These are the Rhode Island colleges with the highest-paid graduates.

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Bachelor's Only
All Alumni
RankSchool NameSchool TypeEarly Career Pay
Mid-Career Pay
% High Meaning
% STEM Degrees
Rank:1School Name:Brown UniversitySchool Type:Ivy League, Private School, Research University, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$74,700Mid-Career Pay:$142,400% High Meaning:43%% STEM Degrees:40%
Rank:2School Name:Providence CollegeSchool Type:Private School, Religious, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$63,500Mid-Career Pay:$119,100% High Meaning:48%% STEM Degrees:11%
Rank:3School Name:Bryant UniversitySchool Type:Business, Private School, For Sports FansEarly Career Pay:$65,200Mid-Career Pay:$114,800% High Meaning:37%% STEM Degrees:6%
Rank:4School Name:Rhode Island School of DesignSchool Type:Art, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$61,000Mid-Career Pay:$107,500% High Meaning:38%% STEM Degrees:0%
Rank:5School Name:University of Rhode IslandSchool Type:Party School, Research University, For Sports Fans, State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$58,500Mid-Career Pay:$106,600% High Meaning:49%% STEM Degrees:22%
Rank:6School Name:Salve Regina UniversitySchool Type:Private School, ReligiousEarly Career Pay:$58,200Mid-Career Pay:$100,800% High Meaning:43%% STEM Degrees:5%
Rank:6School Name:New England Institute of TechnologySchool Type:Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$57,100Mid-Career Pay:$100,800% High Meaning:44%% STEM Degrees:14%
Rank:8School Name:Roger Williams UniversitySchool Type:Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$58,100Mid-Career Pay:$96,900% High Meaning:46%% STEM Degrees:13%
Rank:9School Name:Rhode Island CollegeSchool Type:State SchoolEarly Career Pay:$51,800Mid-Career Pay:$86,600% High Meaning:51%% STEM Degrees:5%
Rank:10School Name:Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceSchool Type:Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$51,000Mid-Career Pay:$83,600% High Meaning:44%% STEM Degrees:8%
Rank:11School Name:Johnson & Wales University-OnlineSchool Type:Business, Private SchoolEarly Career Pay:$49,300Mid-Career Pay:$81,300% High Meaning:43%% STEM Degrees:0%

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College Student

There are a number of Rhode Island four-year colleges assessed in Payscale’s report for undergraduate colleges and universities with the highest earning potential.

In terms of earning potential, graduates of Brown University make solid money right after college. Brown alums also make the most midway through their careers.

The school also boasts a high percentage of alums who feel their jobs have an impact on the world, and a high number of students who recommend the school as a whole.

Leading industries in Rhode Island include Health Services, Tourism, and Manufacturing. Roger Williams Medical Center; Hasbro Children’s Hospital; Met Life; and Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island are among the state’s largest employers. Many celebrated alums representing a broad spectrum of industries hail from Rhode Island schools, including Lincoln Almond, Nick Greenwood, Lamar Odom, Sean Colson, and Christiane Amanpour.