2026 Best Value Business Schools in Rhode Island
Looking for the best-value Business degree programs in Rhode Island? We have ranked 21 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Business Degree Central reviewed 8 schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 21 Best-Value Business Degree Schools in Rhode Island
Explore the best-value schools below:
Community College Of Rhode Island tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Business degree schools in Rhode Island. Community College Of Rhode Island is a public school based in Warwick, RI. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,550, while out-of-state students pay about $14,834. Typical Business student debt is $13,940. Community College Of Rhode Island alumni report median earnings of $42,659 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Community College Of Rhode Island report
University Of Rhode Island came in at #2 on this year's best-value Business ranking in Rhode Island. Based in Kingston, RI, University Of Rhode Island is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,942, compared with $37,146 for out-of-state students. The median Business program debt is $23,432. Graduates go on to earn a median of $69,743 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Rhode Island has an acceptance rate of 72%. See the full University Of Rhode Island profile
Rhode Island College came in at #3 on this year's best-value Business ranking in Rhode Island. This public school is set in Providence, RI. Students from in state pay about $11,300 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,299. Typical Business student debt is $23,394. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $56,318. That is a strong return on a $23,394 median debt. Rhode Island College has an acceptance rate of 92%. Read the full report on Rhode Island College
Providence College came in at #4 on this year's best-value Business ranking in Rhode Island. Based in Providence, RI, Providence College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $63,550 in tuition and fees. The median Business program debt is $26,833. Median earnings reach $87,054 ten years out. Set against $26,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Providence College has an acceptance rate of 51%. Read more about Providence College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Salve Regina University earned it the #5 place in Rhode Island. Based in Newport, RI, Salve Regina University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $50,100. The median Business program debt is $27,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $72,975 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%. Get the full Salve Regina University report
Roger Williams University placed #6 among the best-value Business schools in Rhode Island. Set in Bristol, RI, Roger Williams University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,197. Students borrow a median of $25,676 to complete their Business program here. Roger Williams University alumni report median earnings of $70,266 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Roger Williams University report
Johnson And Wales University Providence landed the #7 spot for value in Rhode Island this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Providence, RI. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,982. Graduates carry a median of $26,350 in student loans. Johnson And Wales University Providence alumni report median earnings of $43,418 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,350 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%. More on Johnson And Wales University Providence
Bryant University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Business schools. Based in Smithfield, RI, Bryant University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,677. Graduates carry a median of $26,233 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $90,008 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%. Read the full report on Bryant University
Johnson And Wales University Online offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. More on Johnson And Wales University Online
New England Institute Of Technology ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Business schools. More on New England Institute Of Technology
Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Cranston placed #11 among the best-value Business schools in Rhode Island. See the full Toni And Guy Hairdressing Academy Cranston profile
Rhode Island School Of Design came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Rhode Island School Of Design report
Brown University
Brown University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Business schools. Read the full report on Brown University
Empire Beauty School Warwick ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Business schools. Read the full report on Empire Beauty School Warwick
Roger Williams University School Of Law came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. See the full Roger Williams University School Of Law profile
International Yacht Restoration School placed #16 among the best-value Business schools in Rhode Island. See the full International Yacht Restoration School profile
Paul Mitchell The School Rhode Island offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Get the full Paul Mitchell The School Rhode Island report
College Unbound
College Unbound came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on College Unbound
Lincoln Technical Institute Lincoln ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Business schools. Read more about Lincoln Technical Institute Lincoln
New England Tractor Trailer Training School Of Rhode Island placed #20 among the best-value Business schools in Rhode Island. Read more about New England Tractor Trailer Training School Of Rhode Island
Motoring Technical Training Institute East Providence offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read more about Motoring Technical Training Institute East Providence
More Business Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Business Degree Central (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 8 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 21 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).