East Providence, Rhode Island has a population of about 46,970. The city’s median household income is $79,660 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited education programs within 100 miles of East Providence, with tuition ranging from $15,208 to $31,750 per year. In the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, K-12 at a median $119,510 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer education programs. Distances are calculated from East Providence city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson & Wales University-Providence | Providence, RI | 3.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Rhode Island College | Providence, RI | 6.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | North Dartmouth, MA | 23.0 mi | $15,208 - $31,750 | – |
| Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg, MA | 58.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Merrimack College | North Andover, MA | 60.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Rhode Island schools on the Rhode Island education page.
East Providence is part of the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area (BLS area code 39300). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Rhode Island statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | $88,850 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $87,279 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $84,530 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $83,035 |
| Middle School Teacher | $84,280 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $82,790 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $82,620 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $81,159 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $119,510 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $117,397 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $107,480 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $105,580 |
| Tutor | $56,380 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $55,383 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $75,110 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $73,782 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 46,970 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $79,660 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 32.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 101.8 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Providence County | 17,252 workers, 495 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 education programs within 100 miles of East Providence. The closest is Johnson & Wales University-Providence in Providence, RI (3.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Merrimack College (60.7 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near East Providence are: Education Administrator, K-12 ($119,510), Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($107,480), Secondary School Teacher ($88,850). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Rhode Island statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Providence, RI is 3.4 miles from East Providence and has its own set of local education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
East Providence’s median household income of $79,660 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in East Providence while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Rhode Island public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Return to Best Online Education Programs in Rhode Island (2026)