ECSU vs. RIC

Deciding between Eastern Connecticut State 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.

Eastern Connecticut State University
Rhode Island College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ECSU Willimantic, CT
  • RIC Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • ECSU Distant Town
  • RIC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • ECSU 4,355
  • RIC 6,155
  • Type
  • ECSU Public 4 Year
  • RIC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ECSU #547
  • RIC #843
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ECSU -
  • RIC -
  • Status
  • ECSU Non-profit
  • RIC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ECSU
  • RIC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ECSU $13,928
  • RIC $11,300
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ECSU $17,428
  • RIC $27,299
  • Room & Board
  • ECSU $17,445
  • RIC $13,414
  • Average Net Price
  • ECSU $21,512
  • RIC $10,346
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ECSU $10,480
  • RIC $6,706
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ECSU 94%
  • RIC 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ECSU 6,491
  • RIC 5,415
  • Admitted
  • ECSU 5,386
  • RIC 4,972
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ECSU 83%
  • RIC 91.8%
  • Enrolled
  • ECSU 15%
  • RIC 23.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ECSU 1170
  • RIC 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • ECSU
  • RIC
  • Average High School GPA
  • ECSU 3.4
  • RIC 3.08
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ECSU B+
  • RIC B
  • Admissions Standards
  • ECSU Average
  • RIC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ECSU
  • RIC
  • ACT Range
  • ECSU
  • RIC
  • SAT Range
  • ECSU 1070/1260
  • RIC 870/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ECSU Test optional
  • RIC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ECSU
  • RIC Mar 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ECSU 15:1
  • RIC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ECSU
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • RIC
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ECSU 49%
  • RIC 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ECSU $46,400
  • RIC $42,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ECSU 68%
  • RIC 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ECSU $23,000
  • RIC $21,200
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ECSU $237
  • RIC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ECSU 41%
  • RIC 30%
  • % Women
  • ECSU 59%
  • RIC 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ECSU Medium
  • RIC Medium
  • HBCU
  • ECSU No
  • RIC No
  • % White
  • ECSU 67%
  • RIC 62%
  • % Asian
  • ECSU 3%
  • RIC 3%
  • % Black
  • ECSU 7%
  • RIC 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • ECSU 10%
  • RIC 16%
  • % Native American
  • ECSU 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ECSU 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ECSU 3%
  • RIC 2%
  • % International
  • ECSU 1%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ECSU 9%
  • RIC 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ECSU 89%
  • RIC 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ECSU 11%
  • RIC 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, CT with Rhode Island College in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rhode Island College is larger than ECSU based on total student enrollment (6,155 students vs. 4,355 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Connecticut State University is located in Willimantic, CT (Distant Town setting); Rhode Island College is in Providence, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Eastern Connecticut State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Connecticut State University 15:1; Rhode Island College 15:1.

ECSU vs. RIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECSU 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 ECSU ($10,346 vs. $21,512).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island College are 23.1% lower than at Eastern Connecticut State University ($13,414 vs. $17,445).
  • Eastern Connecticut State University is 23.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIC (about $2,628 more per year; $13,928.00 vs. $11,300.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 56.6% higher at RIC than at Eastern Connecticut State University (about $9,871 more per year; $27,299.00 vs. $17,428.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rhode Island College than at Eastern Connecticut State University (95% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Connecticut State University students is 56.3% larger than aid received by Rhode Island College students ($10,480 vs. $6,706).

ECSU vs. RIC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECSU 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 ECSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Eastern Connecticut State University (1170) is 170 points higher than at RIC (1000).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Connecticut State University 1070/1260; Rhode Island College 870/1120.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECSU - Test optional; RIC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RIC Mar 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ECSU students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at RIC (3.08).
  • RIC has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than ECSU (83%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at ECSU vs. 23.1% at RIC.

ECSU vs. RIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECSU 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).

  • Eastern Connecticut State University's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Rhode Island College's (44%).
  • Graduates from Eastern Connecticut State University earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than RIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,400 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island College graduates have a $1,800 lower median loan debt than ECSU graduates ($21,200 vs. $23,000).
  • Among borrowers, RIC graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ECSU graduates ($219 vs. $237).
  • More ECSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIC students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 59%)

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.