NSU vs. RIC

Deciding between Northeastern 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.

Northeastern State University
Rhode Island College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NSU Tahlequah, OK
  • RIC Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • NSU Remote Town
  • RIC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • NSU 6,751
  • RIC 6,155
  • Type
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • RIC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NSU #1039
  • RIC #843
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NSU -
  • RIC -
  • Status
  • NSU Non-profit
  • RIC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NSU
  • RIC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NSU $7,810
  • RIC $11,300
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NSU $17,290
  • RIC $27,299
  • Room & Board
  • NSU $11,120
  • RIC $13,414
  • Average Net Price
  • NSU $12,410
  • RIC $10,346
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NSU $8,893
  • RIC $6,706
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NSU 83%
  • RIC 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NSU 1,727
  • RIC 5,415
  • Admitted
  • NSU 1,720
  • RIC 4,972
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NSU 99.6%
  • RIC 91.8%
  • Enrolled
  • NSU 39%
  • RIC 23.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NSU 1000
  • RIC 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • NSU 20
  • RIC
  • Average High School GPA
  • NSU 3.49
  • RIC 3.08
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NSU B+
  • RIC B
  • Admissions Standards
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • RIC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • NSU
  • RIC
  • ACT Range
  • NSU 18/23
  • RIC
  • SAT Range
  • NSU 866/1136
  • RIC 870/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NSU Test optional
  • RIC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NSU
  • RIC Mar 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NSU 16:1
  • RIC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NSU
    • Education (22%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • RIC
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NSU 26%
  • RIC 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NSU $40,200
  • RIC $42,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NSU 48%
  • RIC 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NSU $18,000
  • RIC $21,200
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NSU $186
  • RIC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NSU 35%
  • RIC 30%
  • % Women
  • NSU 65%
  • RIC 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NSU High
  • RIC Medium
  • HBCU
  • NSU No
  • RIC No
  • % White
  • NSU 50%
  • RIC 62%
  • % Asian
  • NSU 2%
  • RIC 3%
  • % Black
  • NSU 4%
  • RIC 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • NSU 5%
  • RIC 16%
  • % Native American
  • NSU 19%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NSU 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NSU 17%
  • RIC 2%
  • % International
  • NSU 2%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NSU 1%
  • RIC 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NSU 88%
  • RIC 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NSU 8%
  • RIC 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK with Rhode Island College in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northeastern State University is larger than RIC based on total student enrollment (6,751 students vs. 6,155 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northeastern State University is located in Tahlequah, OK (Remote Town setting); Rhode Island College is in Providence, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Northeastern 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: Northeastern State University 16:1; Rhode Island College 15:1.

NSU vs. RIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU 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 NSU ($10,346 vs. $12,410).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern State University are 17.1% lower than at Rhode Island College ($11,120 vs. $13,414).
  • Rhode Island College is 44.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $3,490 more per year; $11,300.00 vs. $7,810.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 57.9% higher at RIC than at Northeastern State University (about $10,009 more per year; $27,299.00 vs. $17,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rhode Island College than at Northeastern State University (95% vs. 83%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern State University students is 32.6% larger than aid received by Rhode Island College students ($8,893 vs. $6,706).

NSU vs. RIC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NSU 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 NSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northeastern State University (1000) is the same as at RIC (1000).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern State University 866/1136; Rhode Island College 870/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern State University 18/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NSU - Test optional; RIC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RIC Mar 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at RIC (3.08).
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (99.6%) than RIC (91.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 39% at NSU vs. 23.1% at RIC.

NSU vs. RIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NSU 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).

  • Rhode Island College's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Northeastern State University's (26%).
  • Graduates from Rhode Island College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,000 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northeastern State University graduates have a $3,200 lower median loan debt than RIC graduates ($18,000 vs. $21,200).
  • Among borrowers, NSU graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIC graduates ($186 vs. $219).
  • More RIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 48%)

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.