RIC vs. RU

Should I go to Rhode Island College or Radford University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if RIC or RU 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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Rhode Island College vs. Radford University comparison
Rhode Island College Radford University College 3 College 4
Rhode Island College Radford University
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Overview

RIC RU
Location Providence, RI Radford, VA
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 5,767 7,531
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #705 #449
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ric.edu radford.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

RIC RU
Tuition (In State) $9,481 $8,401
Tuition (Out of State) $25,014 $20,853
Room & Board $13,719 $11,973
Avg Net Price $11,549 $18,282
Avg Grant Aid $6,998 $8,968
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 99%

Admission

RIC RU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,988 11,072
Admitted 4,045 10,036
Acceptance Rate 81.1% 90.6%
Enrolled % 20.1% 11%
Avg High School GPA 3.08 3.31
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26
SAT Range 860/1160 950/1170
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

RIC RU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (18%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

RIC RU
Graduation Rate 44% 56%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $47,400
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,200 $23,000
Median Loan Payment $219 $237

Diversity

RIC RU
% Men 3% 5%
% Women 14% 19%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 71%
% Black 8% 13%
% Hispanic 16% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 8% 1%

Students

RIC RU
% In-State 82% 88%
% Out-of-State 17% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Radford University is larger than than RIC based on total student enrollment (7,531 students vs. 5,767 students)

RIC vs. RU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RIC or RU?

  • Rhode Island College is 12.9% more expensive to attend than RU for in-state tuition ($9,481.00 vs. $8,401.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20% higher at RIC than Radford University ($25,014.00 vs. $20,853.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rhode Island College than RU ($11,549 vs. $18,282)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Radford University are 14.6% lower than costs at Rhode Island College ($11,973 vs. $13,719)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Radford University than Rhode Island College (99% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Radford University students is 28.2% larger than aid received Rhode Island College ($8,968 vs. $6,998)

RIC vs. RU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman RU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at RIC (3.08)
  • RU has a higher acceptance rate (90.6%) than RIC (81.1%)

RIC vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, RIC or RU? 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 RU and RIC.

  • The graduation rate at RU is higher than Rhode Island College (56% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Radford University earn on average $5,400 more per year than RIC graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $42,000)
  • Rhode Island College students graduate with a $1,800 lower median federal student loan debt than RU graduates. ($21,200 vs. $23,000)
  • RIC graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than RU graduates. ($219 vs. $237)
  • More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIC students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 59%)

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