Salve Regina University vs Rhode Island School of Design: which has better ROI?
Salve Regina University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $147,868 in 6 years versus 10.2 years at Rhode Island School of Design, on median earnings of $72,975 vs $68,140 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Salve Regina University | Rhode Island School of Design |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,967 | $50,507 |
| Total net cost | $147,868 | $202,028 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $72,975 | $68,140 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 6 yrs | 10.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $344,432 | $193,572 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Salve Regina University or Rhode Island School of Design?
Salve Regina University, at $36,967 a year after aid versus $50,507 — a gap of $13,540 a year, or $54,160 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Salve Regina University or Rhode Island School of Design graduates earn more?
Salve Regina University graduates report a median $72,975 ten years after entry, $4,835 more than the $68,140 at Rhode Island School of Design. 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, Salve Regina University or Rhode Island School of Design?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
89% of students finish at Rhode Island School of Design, against 77% at Salve Regina University. 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.