Brown University vs Rhode Island College: which has better ROI?
Brown University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $100,736 in 2.2 years versus 4.8 years at Rhode Island College, on median earnings of $93,487 vs $56,318 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Brown University | Rhode Island College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,184 | $9,478 |
| Total net cost | $100,736 | $37,912 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $93,487 | $56,318 |
| Median debt | $11,428 | $20,500 |
| Payback | 2.2 yrs | 4.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $801,804 | $121,248 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Brown University or Rhode Island College?
Rhode Island College, at $9,478 a year after aid versus $25,184 — a gap of $15,706 a year, or $62,824 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Brown University or Rhode Island College graduates earn more?
Brown University graduates report a median $93,487 ten years after entry, $37,169 more than the $56,318 at Rhode Island College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Brown University or Rhode Island College?
Brown University: its completers carry a median $11,428 in federal loans versus $20,500 at Rhode Island College, a difference of $9,072. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
96% of students finish at Brown University, against 48% at Rhode Island College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.