Rhode Island's higher education landscape is dominated by a single major research university: Brown University, one of the most selective schools in the country with a 5.2 percent acceptance rate. Attending Brown comes with an average net price of $26,572 per year, positioning it as relatively affordable for an elite institution, and graduates earn a median of $79,131 within six years of enrolling. The combination of exceptional selectivity, moderate costs through financial aid, and strong post-graduation earnings suggests that Brown delivers significant value for the small percentage of applicants who gain admission.