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Sacramento State San Francisco State Humboldt State University San Jose State UC Merced Cal State Fullerton Sonoma State University California State University-Fresno URI Cal State East Bay UC Davis Cal Poly| California State University Chico | Rhode Island College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CSU | RIC | ||
| Location | Chico, CA | Providence, RI | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 14,523 | 5,767 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #660 | #705 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | csuchico.edu | ric.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CSU | RIC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $9,481 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $25,014 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,020 | $13,719 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,187 | $11,549 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,331 | $6,998 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 65% | 92% |
Admission |
CSU | RIC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 22,263 | 4,988 | ||
| Admitted | 20,864 | 4,045 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 93.7% | 81.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 10.4% | 20.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.37 | 3.08 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | |||
| SAT Range | 970/1170 | 860/1160 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Dec 15, 2025 | Mar 15, 2026 |
Academics |
CSU | RIC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CSU | RIC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 59% | 44% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $52,400 | $42,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 70% | 59% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,000 | $21,200 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $175 | $219 |
Diversity |
CSU | RIC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 6% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 46% | 62% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 29% | 16% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 8% |
Students |
CSU | RIC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 97% | 82% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 2% | 17% | ||
Campus |
CSU | RIC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- California State University Chico is larger than than RIC based on total student enrollment (14,523 students vs. 5,767 students)
CSU vs. RIC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CSU or RIC?
- Rhode Island College is 65.1% more expensive to attend than CSU for in-state tuition ($9,481.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 41.9% higher at RIC than California State University Chico ($25,014.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rhode Island College than CSU ($11,549 vs. $15,187)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island College are 16.8% lower than costs at California State University Chico ($13,719 vs. $16,020)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Rhode Island College than California State University Chico (92% vs. 65%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Chico students is 47.6% larger than aid received Rhode Island College ($10,331 vs. $6,998)
CSU vs. RIC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CSU or RIC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RIC or CSU .
- The average SAT score at California State University Chico (1003) is 90 points higher than at RIC (913)
- Incoming CSU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at RIC (19)
- Accepted freshman CSU students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at RIC (3.08)
- CSU has a higher acceptance rate (93.7%) than RIC (81.1%)
CSU vs. RIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CSU or RIC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between RIC and CSU.
- The graduation rate at CSU is higher than Rhode Island College (59% vs. 44%)
- Graduates from California State University Chico earn on average $10,400 more per year than RIC graduates after ten years. ($52,400 vs. $42,000)
- California State University Chico students graduate with a $4,200 lower median federal student loan debt than RIC graduates. ($17,000 vs. $21,200)
- CSU graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than RIC graduates. ($175 vs. $219)
- More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIC students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 59%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/