RIC vs. Shepherd University

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

RIC Shepherd University
Location Providence, RI Shepherdstown, WV
Setting Large Suburban Town Fringe
Enrollment 5,767 3,318
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #705 #884
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ric.edu shepherd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

RIC Shepherd University
Tuition (In State) $9,481 $6,288
Tuition (Out of State) $25,014 $15,774
Room & Board $13,719 $11,308
Avg Net Price $11,549 $12,651
Avg Grant Aid $6,998 $8,183
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 95%

Admission

RIC Shepherd University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,988 1,793
Admitted 4,045 1,715
Acceptance Rate 81.1% 95.6%
Enrolled % 20.1% 33%
Avg High School GPA 3.08 3.6
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/24
SAT Range 860/1160 900/1140
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 Shepherd University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

Outcomes

RIC Shepherd University
Graduation Rate 44% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $41,500
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,200 $22,223
Median Loan Payment $219 $229

Diversity

RIC Shepherd University
% Men 3% 3%
% Women 14% 9%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 82%
% Black 8% 10%
% Hispanic 16% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 8% 1%

Students

RIC Shepherd University
% In-State 82% 72%
% Out-of-State 17% 27%

Campus

RIC Shepherd University
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

  • Rhode Island College is larger than than Shepherd University based on total student enrollment (5,767 students vs. 3,318 students)

RIC vs. Shepherd University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RIC or Shepherd University?

  • Rhode Island College is 50.8% more expensive to attend than Shepherd University for in-state tuition ($9,481.00 vs. $6,288.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 58.6% higher at RIC than Shepherd University ($25,014.00 vs. $15,774.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rhode Island College than Shepherd University ($11,549 vs. $12,651)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shepherd University are 21.3% lower than costs at Rhode Island College ($11,308 vs. $13,719)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shepherd University than Rhode Island College (95% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shepherd University students is 16.9% larger than aid received Rhode Island College ($8,183 vs. $6,998)

RIC vs. Shepherd University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Shepherd University (995) is 82 points higher than at RIC (913)
  • Incoming Shepherd University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at RIC (19)
  • Accepted freshman Shepherd University students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at RIC (3.08)
  • Shepherd University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than RIC (81.1%)

RIC vs. Shepherd University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, RIC or Shepherd University? 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 Shepherd University and RIC.

  • The graduation rate at Shepherd University is higher than Rhode Island College (46% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Rhode Island College earn on average $500 more per year than Shepherd University graduates after ten years. ($42,000 vs. $41,500)
  • Rhode Island College students graduate with a $1,023 lower median federal student loan debt than Shepherd University graduates. ($21,200 vs. $22,223)
  • RIC graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Shepherd University graduates. ($219 vs. $229)
  • More RIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shepherd University students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 53%)

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