EIU vs. RIC

Should I go to Eastern Illinois University or Rhode Island College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if EIU or RIC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Eastern Illinois University vs. Rhode Island College comparison
Eastern Illinois University Rhode Island College College 3 College 4
Eastern Illinois University Rhode Island College
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Overview

EIU RIC
Location Charleston, IL Providence, RI
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 8,857 5,787
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #672 #720
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website eiu.edu ric.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

EIU RIC
Tuition (In State) $9,709 $9,481
Tuition (Out of State) $12,136 $25,014
Room & Board $10,812 $13,414
Avg Net Price $13,380 $11,014
Avg Grant Aid $11,773 $7,537
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 62%

Admission

EIU RIC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,584 3,921
Admitted 7,873 3,432
Acceptance Rate 68% 87.5%
Enrolled % 11.1% 19.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.08
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range 900/1120 870/1110
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Mar 15, 2025

Academics

EIU RIC
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

EIU RIC
Graduation Rate 59% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,500 $42,000
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,650 $21,200
Median Loan Payment $244 $219

Diversity

EIU RIC
% Men 42% 29%
% Women 58% 71%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 68% 62%
% Black 19% 8%
% Hispanic 6% 16%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 8%

Students

EIU RIC
% In-State 91% 80%
% Out-of-State 7% 20%

Campus

EIU RIC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Eastern Illinois University is larger than than RIC based on total student enrollment (8,857 students vs. 5,787 students)

EIU vs. RIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EIU or RIC?

  • Eastern Illinois University is 2.4% more expensive to attend than RIC for in-state tuition ($9,709.00 vs. $9,481.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 106.1% higher at RIC than Eastern Illinois University ($25,014.00 vs. $12,136.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rhode Island College than EIU ($11,014 vs. $13,380)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Illinois University are 24.1% lower than costs at Rhode Island College ($10,812 vs. $13,414)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Illinois University than Rhode Island College (100% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Illinois University students is 56.2% larger than aid received Rhode Island College ($11,773 vs. $7,537)

EIU vs. RIC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, EIU or RIC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RIC or EIU .

  • The average SAT score at Eastern Illinois University (1010) is 97 points higher than at RIC (913)
  • Incoming EIU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at RIC (19)
  • Accepted freshman EIU students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at RIC (3.08)
  • RIC has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than EIU (68%)

EIU vs. RIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, EIU 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 EIU.

  • The graduation rate at EIU is higher than Rhode Island College (59% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Eastern Illinois University earn on average $1,500 more per year than RIC graduates after ten years. ($43,500 vs. $42,000)
  • Rhode Island College students graduate with a $2,450 lower median federal student loan debt than EIU graduates. ($21,200 vs. $23,650)
  • RIC graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than EIU graduates. ($219 vs. $244)
  • More RIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former EIU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/