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URI Sonoma State University San Francisco State San Jose State Humboldt State University CSU UCSC UC Merced SHU Sacramento State Cal State Long Beach Roger Williams University| Rhode Island College | California State University Monterey Bay | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
RIC | CSUMB | ||
| Location | Providence, RI | Seaside, CA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 5,767 | 6,742 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #705 | #835 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ric.edu | csumb.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
RIC | CSUMB | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,481 | $5,742 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,014 | $17,622 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,719 | $16,413 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $11,549 | $15,222 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,998 | $10,480 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 92% | 73% |
Admission |
RIC | CSUMB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,988 | 11,769 | ||
| Admitted | 4,045 | 11,160 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 81.1% | 94.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.1% | 8.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.08 | 3.45 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/23 | |||
| SAT Range | 860/1160 | 960/1160 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Mar 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
RIC | CSUMB | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
RIC | CSUMB | ||
| Graduation Rate | 44% | 38% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,000 | $45,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 59% | 66% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,200 | $14,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $219 | $144 |
Diversity |
RIC | CSUMB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 31% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 43% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 7% | ||
| % International | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 8% | 5% |
Students |
RIC | CSUMB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 82% | 93% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 17% | 5% | ||
Campus |
RIC | CSUMB | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- California State University Monterey Bay is larger than than RIC based on total student enrollment (6,742 students vs. 5,767 students)
RIC vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, RIC or CSUMB?
- Rhode Island College is 65.1% more expensive to attend than CSUMB for in-state tuition ($9,481.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 41.9% higher at RIC than California State University Monterey Bay ($25,014.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rhode Island College than CSUMB ($11,549 vs. $15,222)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island College are 19.6% lower than costs at California State University Monterey Bay ($13,719 vs. $16,413)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Rhode Island College than California State University Monterey Bay (92% vs. 73%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Monterey Bay students is 49.8% larger than aid received Rhode Island College ($10,480 vs. $6,998)
RIC vs. CSUMB Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, RIC or CSUMB? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CSUMB or RIC .
- Accepted freshman CSUMB students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at RIC (3.08)
- CSUMB has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than RIC (81.1%)
RIC vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, RIC or CSUMB? 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 CSUMB and RIC.
- The graduation rate at RIC is higher than California State University Monterey Bay (44% vs. 38%)
- Graduates from California State University Monterey Bay earn on average $3,300 more per year than RIC graduates after ten years. ($45,300 vs. $42,000)
- California State University Monterey Bay students graduate with a $7,200 lower median federal student loan debt than RIC graduates. ($14,000 vs. $21,200)
- CSUMB graduates are paying $75 less per month on federal student loans than RIC graduates. ($144 vs. $219)
- More CSUMB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIC students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 59%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/