Head-to-head comparison
Providence College vs Rhode Island School of Design: which has better ROI?
Option A Providence, RI
Providence College
- Net price / year
- $48,523
- Earnings, 10 years
- $87,054
- Payback
- 5 yrs
Option B Providence, RI
Rhode Island School of Design
- Net price / year
- $50,507
- Earnings, 10 years
- $68,140
- Payback
- 10.2 yrs
Providence College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $194,092 in 5 years versus 10.2 years at Rhode Island School of Design, on median earnings of $87,054 vs $68,140 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Providence College | Rhode Island School of Design |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $48,523 | $50,507 |
| Total net cost | $194,092 | $202,028 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $87,054 | $68,140 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 5 yrs | 10.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $579,788 | $193,572 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Providence College or Rhode Island School of Design?
Providence College, at $48,523 a year after aid versus $50,507 — a gap of $1,984 a year, or $7,936 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Providence College or Rhode Island School of Design graduates earn more?
Providence College graduates report a median $87,054 ten years after entry, $18,914 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Providence College 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.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
89% of students finish at Rhode Island School of Design, against 86% at Providence 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.