NMSU vs. RIC

Deciding between New Mexico State University Main Campus 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.

New Mexico State University Main Campus
Rhode Island College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NMSU Las Cruces, NM
  • RIC Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • NMSU Midsize Suburban
  • RIC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • NMSU 15,408
  • RIC 6,155
  • Type
  • NMSU Public 4 Year
  • RIC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NMSU #788
  • RIC #843
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NMSU -
  • RIC -
  • Status
  • NMSU Non-profit
  • RIC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NMSU
  • RIC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NMSU $8,183
  • RIC $11,300
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NMSU $25,307
  • RIC $27,299
  • Room & Board
  • NMSU $12,282
  • RIC $13,414
  • Average Net Price
  • NMSU $10,719
  • RIC $10,346
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NMSU $14,420
  • RIC $6,706
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NMSU 96%
  • RIC 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NMSU 13,095
  • RIC 5,415
  • Admitted
  • NMSU 11,650
  • RIC 4,972
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NMSU 89%
  • RIC 91.8%
  • Enrolled
  • NMSU 20.6%
  • RIC 23.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NMSU 990
  • RIC 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • NMSU 20
  • RIC
  • Average High School GPA
  • NMSU 3.55
  • RIC 3.08
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NMSU A-
  • RIC B
  • Admissions Standards
  • NMSU Very Easy
  • RIC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • NMSU
  • RIC
  • ACT Range
  • NMSU 17/24
  • RIC
  • SAT Range
  • NMSU 870/1110
  • RIC 870/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NMSU Test optional
  • RIC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NMSU
  • RIC Mar 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NMSU 16:1
  • RIC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NMSU
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • RIC
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NMSU 46%
  • RIC 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NMSU $39,400
  • RIC $42,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NMSU 44%
  • RIC 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NMSU $17,118
  • RIC $21,200
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NMSU $176
  • RIC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NMSU 42%
  • RIC 30%
  • % Women
  • NMSU 58%
  • RIC 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NMSU High
  • RIC Medium
  • HBCU
  • NMSU No
  • RIC No
  • % White
  • NMSU 30%
  • RIC 62%
  • % Asian
  • NMSU 1%
  • RIC 3%
  • % Black
  • NMSU 3%
  • RIC 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • NMSU 55%
  • RIC 16%
  • % Native American
  • NMSU 2%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NMSU 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NMSU 2%
  • RIC 2%
  • % International
  • NMSU 5%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NMSU 3%
  • RIC 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NMSU 75%
  • RIC 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NMSU 23%
  • RIC 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare New Mexico State University Main Campus in Las Cruces, NM with Rhode Island College in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

New Mexico State University Main Campus is larger than RIC based on total student enrollment (15,408 students vs. 6,155 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • New Mexico State University Main Campus is located in Las Cruces, NM (Midsize Suburban setting); Rhode Island College is in Providence, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • New Mexico State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: New Mexico State University Main Campus 16:1; Rhode Island College 15:1.

NMSU vs. RIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NMSU 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 NMSU ($10,346 vs. $10,719).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at New Mexico State University Main Campus are 8.4% lower than at Rhode Island College ($12,282 vs. $13,414).
  • Rhode Island College is 38.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than NMSU (about $3,117 more per year; $11,300.00 vs. $8,183.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.9% higher at RIC than at New Mexico State University Main Campus (about $1,992 more per year; $27,299.00 vs. $25,307.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at New Mexico State University Main Campus than at Rhode Island College (96% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New Mexico State University Main Campus students is 115% larger than aid received by Rhode Island College students ($14,420 vs. $6,706).

NMSU vs. RIC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NMSU 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 NMSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island College (1000) is 10 points higher than at NMSU (990).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New Mexico State University Main Campus 870/1110; Rhode Island College 870/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New Mexico State University Main Campus 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NMSU - Test optional; RIC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RIC Mar 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NMSU students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at RIC (3.08).
  • RIC has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than NMSU (89%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.6% at NMSU vs. 23.1% at RIC.

NMSU vs. RIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NMSU 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).

  • New Mexico State University Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (46%) is higher than Rhode Island College's (44%).
  • Graduates from Rhode Island College earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than NMSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,000 vs. $39,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, New Mexico State University Main Campus graduates have a $4,082 lower median loan debt than RIC graduates ($17,118 vs. $21,200).
  • Among borrowers, NMSU graduates have an estimated $43 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIC graduates ($176 vs. $219).
  • More RIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NMSU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 44%)

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.