7 RI Schools Among Money’s Best Colleges In America 2023

RHODE ISLAND — Seven institutions in Rhode Island were recently named to Money Magazine’s Best Colleges In America list, an analysis that looks at graduation rates, tuition, financial aid and alumni salaries.

Rather than ranking the colleges, Money said it used a six-star rating system to develop the list of 736 colleges “where your tuition (and time) is likely to pay off.”

“While the underlying methodology is similar to previous years, the new rating system can help families with their college search by highlighting the variety (and diversity) of high-value colleges in the U.S.,” Money said, “We hope the ratings show that, depending on your individual characteristics, priorities and goals, there may be multiple top colleges to consider.”

In Rhode Island, colleges selected for the list include:

Brown University Providence

• Star rating: 5
• Acceptance rate: 6 percent
• 2023-24 estimated full price: $86,500
• Estimated price with average grant: $26,800
• Graduation rate: 95 percent

Bryant University, Smithfield

• Star rating: 4
• Acceptance rate: 74 percent
• 2023-24 estimated full price: $70,200
• Estimated price with average grant: $43,200
• Graduation rate: 81 percent.

Providence College, Providence

• Star rating: 4.5
• Acceptance rate: 58 percent
• Estimated price with average grant: $78,000
• Estimated price with average grant: $42,400
• Graduation rate: 87 percent.

Rhode Island School of Design, Providence

• Star rating: 3.5
• Acceptance rate: 19 percent
• Estimated price with average grant: $81,000
• Estimated price with average grant: $41,000
• Graduation rate: 87 percent.

Roger Williams University, Bristol

• Star rating: 3.5
• Acceptance rate: 91 percent
• Estimated price with average grant: $62,700
• Estimated price with average grant: $39,200
• Graduation rate: 65 percent.

Salve Regina University, Newport

• Star rating: 4.5
• Acceptance rate: 73 percent
• Estimated price with average grant: $68,300
• Estimated price with average grant: $39,400
• Graduation rate: 78 percent.

University of Rhode Island, South Kingstown

• Star rating: 4
• Acceptance rate: 76 percent
• Estimated price with average grant: $34,300
• Estimated price with average grant: $22,000
• Graduation rate: 67 percent.

In many cases, Money said, the cost of college is a primary reason students choose not to attend college or struggle to graduate once they do. Overall, freshmen starting at a four-year college this fall will pay an average of $20,000 a year at public universities and $30,000 at private colleges if they receive financial aid.