There are 23 colleges in Rhode Island - 3 public and 20 private schools. At Rhode Island colleges, the Cost of Attendance (COA)—including tuition, fees, books, housing, dining, and personal living costs—has climbed steadily over the past decade, increasing the financial burden on students and families relying on scholarships or student loans.
Rhode Island Colleges Key COA Trends (2016-2025)
The total Cost of Attendance has increased substantially at Rhode Island colleges:
- On-Campus: The COA has risen by 31.22%.
- Off-Campus: The COA has risen by 32.70%.
- 2024-2025 Total COA: the average total COA is $53,369 when living on campus and $50,496 when living off campus.
Rhode Island Colleges Tuition & Fees Changes
Tuition and fees saw dramatic increases across institution types:
| Institution Type |
10-Year Increase (2016-2025) |
2025 Average Tuition & Fees |
| Public, In-State |
34.11% (from $10,530 to $14,122) |
$14,122 |
| Public, Out-of-State |
32.30% (from $24,356 to $32,223) |
$32,223 |
| Private Colleges |
17.79% (from $35,789 to $42,157) |
$42,157 |
Note on Degrees: Undergraduate tuition & fees increased by 32.30%, while graduate program tuition & fees increased by 32.31% over the same period.
Living and Other Costs
Living Costs (Room & Board, Other Expenses):
- At Rhode Island colleges, living costs increased by 32.86% for on-campus and 37.74% for off-campus.
- The average living cost for 2024-2025 is $19,866 (on-campus) and $16,993 (off-campus).
Books & Supplies:
- Books and supplies costs have remained relatively stable (-5.95%), with the average cost for 2024-2025 being $1,280.
COA (Cost of Attendance) Trends
Over the past 10 years, the COA has increased 31.22% when living on campus and 32.70% when living off campus at Rhode Island Colleges.
In private Rhode Island Colleges, the COA has increase by 21.50% (on-campus) and 22.11% (off-camus). The COA includes tuition, fees, books & supplies, room & board, and other personal expenses.
For the academic year 2024-2025, the total cost of attendance is $53,369 when a student lives on campus and $50,496 when living off campus at Rhode Island Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of COA for Rhode Island Colleges over the past 10 years.
COA (Cost of Attendance) Trends of Rhode Island Colleges
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus |
|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools |
|---|
| 2015-16 |
$26,844 | $40,670 | $52,103 | $24,228 | $38,054 | $49,487 |
|---|
| 2016-17 |
$27,198
1.32% | $41,024
0.87% | $53,288
2.27% | $24,129
-0.41% | $37,955
-0.26% | $50,219
1.48% |
|---|
| 2017-18 |
$28,452
4.61% | $42,833
4.41% | $54,888
3.00% | $24,820
2.86% | $39,201
3.28% | $51,256
2.06% |
|---|
| 2018-19 |
$29,378
3.25% | $44,122
3.01% | $56,965
3.78% | $25,515
2.80% | $40,259
2.70% | $53,102
3.60% |
|---|
| 2019-20 |
$30,506
3.84% | $45,799
3.80% | $55,973
-1.74% | $26,784
4.97% | $42,077
4.52% | $52,251
-1.60% |
|---|
| 2020-21 |
$31,513
3.30% | $47,537
3.79% | $57,731
3.14% | $27,842
3.95% | $43,866
4.25% | $54,060
3.46% |
|---|
| 2021-22 |
$32,585
3.40% | $49,195
3.49% | $59,370
2.84% | $28,899
3.80% | $45,509
3.75% | $55,684
3.00% |
|---|
| 2022-23 |
$33,298
2.19% | $50,306
2.26% | $58,984
-0.65% | $29,894
3.44% | $46,902
3.06% | $55,580
-0.19% |
|---|
| 2023-24 |
$34,048
2.25% | $51,513
2.40% | $61,085
3.56% | $30,794
3.01% | $48,259
2.89% | $57,831
4.05% |
|---|
| 2024-25 |
$35,268
3.58% | $53,369
3.60% | $63,303
3.63% | $32,395
5.20% | $50,496
4.64% | $60,430
4.49% |
|---|
Tuition & Fees Changes
For the current year (2025), the average tuition & fees for Rhode Island Colleges is $16,046 for Rhode Island residents and $34,147 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average tuition & fees is $43,342.
For graduate programs, the 2025 average graduate tuition & fees is $15,568 for Rhode Island residents and $27,475 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average graduate program tuition & fees is $31,087.
The tuition & fees has increased 32.30% for undergraduate programs and 32.31% for graduate programs at Rhode Island Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of tuition & fees by tuition rates and degrees.
Tuition & Fees Changes for Rhode Island Colleges
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate |
|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools |
|---|
| 2015-16 |
$10,530 | $24,356 | $35,789 | $10,260 | $19,633 | $22,763 |
|---|
| 2016-17 |
$10,545
0.14% | $24,371
0.06% | $36,635
2.36% | $10,270
0.10% | $19,643
0.05% | $21,575
-5.22% |
|---|
| 2017-18 |
$11,285
7.02% | $25,666
5.31% | $37,721
2.96% | $11,004
7.15% | $20,661
5.18% | $22,275
3.24% |
|---|
| 2018-19 |
$11,534
2.21% | $26,278
2.38% | $39,121
3.71% | $11,486
4.38% | $21,265
2.92% | $23,023
3.36% |
|---|
| 2019-20 |
$12,072
4.66% | $27,365
4.14% | $37,539
-4.04% | $12,028
4.72% | $22,080
3.83% | $23,949
4.02% |
|---|
| 2020-21 |
$12,633
4.65% | $28,657
4.72% | $38,851
3.50% | $12,500
3.92% | $22,983
4.09% | $24,626
2.83% |
|---|
| 2021-22 |
$13,018
3.05% | $29,628
3.39% | $39,803
2.45% | $12,956
3.65% | $23,804
3.57% | $26,621
8.10% |
|---|
| 2022-23 |
$13,423
3.11% | $30,431
2.71% | $39,109
-1.74% | $13,323
2.83% | $24,441
2.68% | $30,745
15.49% |
|---|
| 2023-24 |
$13,697
2.04% | $31,162
2.40% | $40,734
4.16% | $13,619
2.22% | $25,091
2.66% | $30,402
-1.12% |
|---|
| 2024-25 |
$14,122
3.10% | $32,223
3.40% | $42,157
3.49% | $14,070
3.31% | $25,977
3.53% | $29,992
-1.35% |
|---|
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
For the current year (2025), the average book & supplies costs is $1,280 for Rhode Island Colleges. The following table shows the changes of book & supplies costs from year 2016 to 2025.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes for Rhode Island Colleges
| Year | Books & Supplies |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,361 |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $1,427
4.85% |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $1,434
0.49% |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $1,515
5.65% |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $1,413
-6.73% |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $1,453
2.83% |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $1,423
-2.06% |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $1,398
-1.76% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $1,305
-6.65% |
|---|
| 2024-25 | $1,280
-1.92% |
|---|
Living Costs Changes
For Rhode Island Colleges, the living have increased 26.49% when a student lives on campus facilities and 36.50% when living off campus from year 2016 to 2025. The living costs includes costs for room & board, and other living expenses.
Living Costs Changes for Rhode Island Colleges
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $14,953 | $15,810 |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $15,226
1.03% | $15,951
-1.97% |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $15,733
3.46% | $16,410
-0.67% |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $16,329
4.08% | $16,985
3.71% |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $17,021
4.14% | $17,455
9.88% |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $17,427
2.46% | $17,871
3.82% |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $18,144
3.96% | $18,465
6.44% |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $18,477
1.98% | $18,797
5.09% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $19,046
3.55% | $19,215
7.09% |
|---|
| 2024-25 | $19,866
3.66% | $20,083
7.16% |
|---|