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Most affordable private colleges in Rhode Island

10 private colleges in Rhode Island report net price data, ranging from $18,265 at the lowest to higher costs at more selective schools. The median net price across these is $37,254. Rhode Island's private colleges run a bit higher than the national average for the kind. The list below shows the most affordable options, ranked by net price.

Median net price in Rhode Island

$37,254

National median for private colleges

$15,832

private colleges reporting in Rhode Island

10

The most affordable private colleges in Rhode Island, ranked by net price

1

Johnson & Wales University-Online

RI

Net price

$18,265

Receive grant aid

36%

2

College Unbound

RI

Net price

$18,507

Receive grant aid

86%

3

Net price

$26,608

Receive grant aid

51%

4

Johnson & Wales University-Providence

RI

Net price

$33,480

Receive grant aid

100%

5

New England Institute of Technology

RI

Net price

$36,714

Receive grant aid

87%

6

Salve Regina University

RI

Net price

$37,794

Receive grant aid

100%

7

Roger Williams University

RI

Net price

$37,936

Receive grant aid

99%

8

Net price

$40,612

Receive grant aid

98%

9

Rhode Island School of Design

RI

Net price

$42,106

Receive grant aid

33%

10

Providence College

RI

Net price

$46,645

Receive grant aid

82%

What makes a school affordable here

In Rhode Island, the most affordable private colleges share two things in common. First, low published net prices reflect both reasonable sticker prices and meaningful institutional or state aid. Second, a high share of students receive grant aid. At Johnson & Wales University-Online, the most affordable on this list, 36% of students receive grant aid. Net price reflects what a typical family actually pays, not the sticker price you see at first glance. A school with a $50,000 sticker price and a $10,000 net price is more affordable for most families than a school with a $20,000 sticker and a $19,000 net price.

Affordable colleges in Rhode Island, other types

Affordable private colleges in other states

Find your personalized cost

National rankings use publicly available federal cost data. Plug in your actual aid offer and family situation for a Worth-It Score that reflects your specific picture.

Affordability rankings use publicly available federal higher-ed cost data. Net price reflects the average cost a family pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from total cost of attendance, for the 2022-23 reporting year. See full methodology →