ECSU vs. URI

Deciding between Eastern Connecticut State University and University of Rhode Island? 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
University of Rhode Island

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ECSU Willimantic, CT
  • URI Kingston, RI
  • Setting
  • ECSU Distant Town
  • URI Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • ECSU 4,355
  • URI 17,210
  • Type
  • ECSU Public 4 Year
  • URI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ECSU #547
  • URI #425
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ECSU -
  • URI -
  • Status
  • ECSU Non-profit
  • URI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ECSU
  • URI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ECSU $13,928
  • URI $16,942
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ECSU $17,428
  • URI $37,146
  • Room & Board
  • ECSU $17,445
  • URI $15,607
  • Average Net Price
  • ECSU $21,512
  • URI $24,118
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ECSU $10,480
  • URI $12,578
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ECSU 94%
  • URI 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ECSU 6,491
  • URI 26,987
  • Admitted
  • ECSU 5,386
  • URI 19,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ECSU 83%
  • URI 72.2%
  • Enrolled
  • ECSU 15%
  • URI 15.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ECSU 1170
  • URI 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • ECSU
  • URI
  • Average High School GPA
  • ECSU 3.4
  • URI 3.58
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ECSU B+
  • URI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ECSU Average
  • URI Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • ECSU
  • URI Low
  • ACT Range
  • ECSU
  • URI
  • SAT Range
  • ECSU 1070/1260
  • URI 1020/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ECSU Test optional
  • URI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ECSU
  • URI Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ECSU 15:1
  • URI 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ECSU
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • URI
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ECSU 49%
  • URI 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ECSU $46,400
  • URI $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ECSU 68%
  • URI 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ECSU $23,000
  • URI $23,438
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ECSU $237
  • URI $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ECSU 41%
  • URI 41%
  • % Women
  • ECSU 59%
  • URI 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ECSU Medium
  • URI Low
  • HBCU
  • ECSU No
  • URI No
  • % White
  • ECSU 67%
  • URI 71%
  • % Asian
  • ECSU 3%
  • URI 3%
  • % Black
  • ECSU 7%
  • URI 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • ECSU 10%
  • URI 9%
  • % Native American
  • ECSU 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ECSU 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ECSU 3%
  • URI 3%
  • % International
  • ECSU 1%
  • URI 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ECSU 9%
  • URI 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ECSU 89%
  • URI 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ECSU 11%
  • URI 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Rhode Island is larger than ECSU based on total student enrollment (17,210 students vs. 4,355 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Connecticut State University is located in Willimantic, CT (Distant Town setting); University of Rhode Island is in Kingston, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Eastern Connecticut State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rhode Island is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Connecticut State University 15:1; University of Rhode Island 17:1.

ECSU vs. URI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECSU or URI? 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 Eastern Connecticut State University than URI ($21,512 vs. $24,118).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Rhode Island are 10.5% lower than at Eastern Connecticut State University ($15,607 vs. $17,445).
  • University of Rhode Island is 21.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECSU (about $3,014 more per year; $16,942.00 vs. $13,928.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 113.1% higher at URI than at Eastern Connecticut State University (about $19,718 more per year; $37,146.00 vs. $17,428.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rhode Island than at Eastern Connecticut State University (96% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Rhode Island students is 20% larger than aid received by Eastern Connecticut State University students ($12,578 vs. $10,480).

ECSU vs. URI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECSU or URI? 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 URI and ECSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Eastern Connecticut State University (1170) is 20 points higher than at URI (1150).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Connecticut State University 1070/1260; University of Rhode Island 1020/1280.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECSU - Test optional; URI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: URI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman URI students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at ECSU (3.4).
  • ECSU has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than URI (72.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at ECSU vs. 15.4% at URI.

ECSU vs. URI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECSU and URI? 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).

  • University of Rhode Island's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Eastern Connecticut State University's (49%).
  • Graduates from University of Rhode Island earn a median of about $9,800 more per year than ECSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Connecticut State University graduates have a $438 lower median loan debt than URI graduates ($23,000 vs. $23,438).
  • Among borrowers, ECSU graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than URI graduates ($237 vs. $242).
  • More URI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECSU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 68%)

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.