Head-to-head comparison
Roger Williams University vs Salve Regina University: which has better ROI?
Option A Bristol, RI
Roger Williams University
- Net price / year
- $37,999
- Earnings, 10 years
- $70,266
- Payback
- 6.9 yrs
Option B Newport, RI
Salve Regina University
- Net price / year
- $36,967
- Earnings, 10 years
- $72,975
- Payback
- 6 yrs
Salve Regina University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $147,868 in 6 years versus 6.9 years at Roger Williams University, on median earnings of $72,975 vs $70,266 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Roger Williams University | Salve Regina University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $37,999 | $36,967 |
| Total net cost | $151,996 | $147,868 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $70,266 | $72,975 |
| Median debt | $26,940 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 6.9 yrs | 6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $286,124 | $344,432 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Roger Williams University or Salve Regina University?
Salve Regina University, at $36,967 a year after aid versus $37,999 — a gap of $1,032 a year, or $4,128 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 Roger Williams University or Salve Regina University graduates earn more?
Salve Regina University graduates report a median $72,975 ten years after entry, $2,709 more than the $70,266 at Roger Williams University. 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, Roger Williams University or Salve Regina University?
Roger Williams University: its completers carry a median $26,940 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Salve Regina University, a difference of $60. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
77% of students finish at Salve Regina University, against 69% at Roger Williams 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.