PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island’s colleges and universities have the highest average in-state tuition in the nation, according to a ranking published Wednesday by website Move.org.
The average in-state tuition for Rhode Island’s public and private higher education institutions was $30,879, the website said, ranking it ahead of No. 2 Vermont, where the average in-state tuition was $29,756.
Massachusetts was third on the list with an average in-state tuition of $28,889. Two other New England states appeared in the top 10. New Hampshire was No. 7 with an average in-state tuition of $21,005, and Connecticut was No. 8 at $20,214, according to Move.org. Maine ranked No. 11 at $18,314.
By comparison, Wyoming had the lowest average in-state tuition among its colleges and universities at $3,385. New Mexico was second lowest at $7,154, and North Dakota was third at $7,550.
In a ranking of out-of-state tuition costs, Rhode Island ranked No. 2 in the country with an average of $33,908, slightly below Vermont’s $34,360 average out-of-state tuition.
“New England wins (ahem, loses) with some of the highest college costs,” the Move.org report said. “Meanwhile, the Southwest and mountain states boast the lowest tuition in the country.”
Of any state, Wyoming had the lowest average out-of-state tuition at $8,784, followed by North Dakota at $10,148 and New Mexico at $10,695.
To get the average tuition costs for each state, Move.org considered schools that offer bachelor’s and graduate degrees, in-person learning and don’t have open enrollment.
In Rhode Island, the institutions that were part of the calculation included Brown University, Bryant University, Johnson & Wales University, New England Institute of Technology, Providence College, Rhode Island College, University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island School of Design, Roger Williams University and Salve Regina University.
The ranking also calculated net cost to attend college in each state as a first-year, full-time student. That calculation included in-state tuition and fees, books and supplies, and living expenses (minus the average grant or scholarship aid).
By that measure, Rhode Island’s colleges and universities had the highest net cost in the nation at $28,197. Massachusetts was No. 2 at $24,045, and Vermont was third at $23,065.
Wyoming had the lowest average net cost in the nation at $7,285, followed by New Mexico at $9,983 and Mississippi at $10,248.
