Best colleges for Business Administration in Rhode Island
Ranked by graduate earnings
Bryant University, University of Rhode Island and Providence College are the top bachelor's Business Administration programs in Rhode Island by graduate earnings. Bryant University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $65,045, College Scorecard. University of Rhode Island, Bryant University and Providence College award the most Business Administration degrees in Rhode Island: 248, 183 and 172 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 11 Rhode Island colleges offer Business Administration and award 1,205 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Business Administration program, officially titled Business Administration, Management and Operations, equips students with essential skills for managing and leading organizations. This program is ideal for individuals seeking to…
Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bryant University Smithfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $65,045 | 183 | 80% | $38,485 | $27,000 |
| 2 | University of Rhode Island Kingston Public · Bachelor's degree | $55,160 | 248 | 73% | — | $20,500 |
| 3 | Providence College Providence Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $53,932 | 172 | 86% | $32,048 | $27,000 |
| 4 | New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $53,235 | 27 | 60% | $36,659 | $29,165 |
| 5 | Roger Williams University Bristol Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,991 | 80 | 69% | $34,648 | $21,553 |
| 6 | Rhode Island College Providence Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,047 | 83 | 48% | — | $23,044 |
| 7 | Salve Regina University Newport Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,831 | 112 | 77% | $31,899 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Johnson & Wales University - Online Providence Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $39,917 | 149 | 0% | $21,981 | $27,000 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Community College of Rhode Island Warwick Public · Associate degree | $36,468 | 44 | 26% | — | $7,756 |
Colleges awarding the most Business Administration degrees in Rhode Island
Top 9 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Rhode Island Kingston Public | 248 | $55,160 |
| 2 | Bryant University Smithfield Private not-for-profit | 183 | $65,045 |
| 3 | Providence College Providence Private not-for-profit | 172 | $53,932 |
| 4 | Salve Regina University Newport Private not-for-profit | 112 | $42,831 |
| 5 | Rhode Island College Providence Public | 83 | $43,047 |
| 6 | Roger Williams University Bristol Private not-for-profit | 80 | $46,991 |
| 7 | Johnson & Wales University - Providence Providence Private not-for-profit | 61 | $39,917 |
| 8 | Brown University Providence Private not-for-profit | 46 | Not reported |
| 9 | New England Institute of Technology East Greenwich Private not-for-profit | 27 | $53,235 |
ShowHide the other 2 Rhode Island colleges offering Business Administration
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson & Wales University - Online (Online) | Providence | Private not-for-profit | 149 |
| Community College of Rhode Island | Warwick | Public | 44 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021).
Top skills
What General and Operations Managers earn in Rhode Island
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Business Administration programs in Rhode Island.
Which Rhode Island colleges award the most Business Administration degrees?+
University of Rhode Island (248 graduates a year), Bryant University (183 graduates a year) and Providence College (172 graduates a year) award the most Business Administration degrees in Rhode Island, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 11 Rhode Island colleges offer Business Administration.
What is the best college for Business Administration in Rhode Island?+
By graduate earnings, Bryant University leads among bachelor's Business Administration programs in Rhode Island, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $65,045, College Scorecard. University of Rhode Island and Providence College follow. By degrees awarded, University of Rhode Island is the largest, with 248 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Business Administration program in Rhode Island has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Bryant University tops the list at $65,045. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do General and Operations Managers earn in Rhode Island?+
The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in Rhode Island is $143,370 (median $117,380), across about 9,150 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Business Administration program?+
The Business Administration program, officially titled Business Administration, Management and Operations, equips students with essential skills for managing and leading organizations. This program is ideal for individuals seeking to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, monitoring, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for General and Operations Managers?+
The national job outlook is about +4.4% growth with around 308,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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