ATU vs. RIC

Deciding between Arkansas Tech University and Rhode Island College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Arkansas Tech University
Rhode Island College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ATU Russellville, AR
  • RIC Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • ATU Remote Town
  • RIC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • ATU 8,746
  • RIC 6,155
  • Type
  • ATU Public 4 Year
  • RIC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ATU #960
  • RIC #843
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ATU -
  • RIC -
  • Status
  • ATU Non-profit
  • RIC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ATU
  • RIC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ATU $8,674
  • RIC $11,300
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ATU $14,668
  • RIC $27,299
  • Room & Board
  • ATU $10,338
  • RIC $13,414
  • Average Net Price
  • ATU $12,626
  • RIC $10,346
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ATU $9,901
  • RIC $6,706
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ATU 93%
  • RIC 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ATU 3,654
  • RIC 5,415
  • Admitted
  • ATU 3,504
  • RIC 4,972
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ATU 95.9%
  • RIC 91.8%
  • Enrolled
  • ATU 33.6%
  • RIC 23.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ATU 990
  • RIC 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • ATU 20
  • RIC
  • Average High School GPA
  • ATU 3.37
  • RIC 3.08
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ATU B+
  • RIC B
  • Admissions Standards
  • ATU Extremely Easy
  • RIC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ATU
  • RIC
  • ACT Range
  • ATU 17/23
  • RIC
  • SAT Range
  • ATU 880/1100
  • RIC 870/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ATU Required
  • RIC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ATU
  • RIC Mar 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ATU 17:1
  • RIC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ATU
    • Health Professions (23%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Business (12%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • RIC
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ATU 43%
  • RIC 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ATU $37,100
  • RIC $42,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ATU 51%
  • RIC 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ATU $17,750
  • RIC $21,200
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ATU $183
  • RIC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ATU 42%
  • RIC 30%
  • % Women
  • ATU 58%
  • RIC 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ATU Low
  • RIC Medium
  • HBCU
  • ATU No
  • RIC No
  • % White
  • ATU 76%
  • RIC 62%
  • % Asian
  • ATU 1%
  • RIC 3%
  • % Black
  • ATU 10%
  • RIC 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • ATU 6%
  • RIC 16%
  • % Native American
  • ATU 1%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ATU 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ATU 3%
  • RIC 2%
  • % International
  • ATU 4%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ATU 0%
  • RIC 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ATU 94%
  • RIC 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ATU 5%
  • RIC 13%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ATU Yes
  • RIC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ATU No
  • RIC No
  • Meal Plan
  • ATU Yes
  • RIC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ATU Yes
  • RIC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ATU No
  • RIC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, AR with Rhode Island College in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arkansas Tech University is larger than RIC based on total student enrollment (8,746 students vs. 6,155 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arkansas Tech University is located in Russellville, AR (Remote Town setting); Rhode Island College is in Providence, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Arkansas Tech University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arkansas Tech University 17:1; Rhode Island College 15:1.

ATU vs. RIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ATU or RIC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rhode Island College than ATU ($10,346 vs. $12,626).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arkansas Tech University are 22.9% lower than at Rhode Island College ($10,338 vs. $13,414).
  • Rhode Island College is 30.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than ATU (about $2,626 more per year; $11,300.00 vs. $8,674.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 86.1% higher at RIC than at Arkansas Tech University (about $12,631 more per year; $27,299.00 vs. $14,668.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rhode Island College than at Arkansas Tech University (95% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arkansas Tech University students is 47.6% larger than aid received by Rhode Island College students ($9,901 vs. $6,706).

ATU vs. RIC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ATU or RIC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between RIC and ATU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island College (1000) is 10 points higher than at ATU (990).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arkansas Tech University 880/1100; Rhode Island College 870/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arkansas Tech University 17/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ATU - Required; RIC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RIC Mar 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ATU students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at RIC (3.08).
  • ATU has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than RIC (91.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.6% at ATU vs. 23.1% at RIC.

ATU vs. RIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ATU and RIC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Rhode Island College's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Arkansas Tech University's (43%).
  • Graduates from Rhode Island College earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than ATU graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,000 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Arkansas Tech University graduates have a $3,450 lower median loan debt than RIC graduates ($17,750 vs. $21,200).
  • Among borrowers, ATU graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIC graduates ($183 vs. $219).
  • More RIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ATU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 51%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.