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URI SHU Roger Williams University Bryant University Endicott College Johnson & Wales University-Providence Bridgewater State ECSU Salem State University Providence Salve Regina University Ithaca College| Rhode Island College | University of Houston Clear Lake | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
RIC | UHCL | ||
| Location | Providence, RI | Houston, TX | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 5,767 | 8,211 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #705 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ric.edu | uhcl.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
RIC | UHCL | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,481 | $6,024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,014 | $19,608 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,719 | $11,014 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $11,549 | $10,488 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $6,998 | $12,220 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 92% | 69% |
Admission |
RIC | UHCL | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,988 | 2,348 | ||
| Admitted | 4,045 | 1,768 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 81.1% | 75.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.1% | 24.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.08 | 3.39 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/23 | |||
| SAT Range | 860/1160 | 990/1170 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jun 1, 2026 |
Academics |
RIC | UHCL | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
RIC | UHCL | ||
| Graduation Rate | 44% | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,000 | $53,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 59% | 56% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,200 | $17,150 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $219 | $177 |
Diversity |
RIC | UHCL | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 3% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 16% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 43% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 16% | 36% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 8% | 1% |
Students |
RIC | UHCL | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 82% | 95% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 17% | 0% | ||
Campus |
RIC | UHCL | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | |||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | |||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Houston Clear Lake is larger than than RIC based on total student enrollment (8,211 students vs. 5,767 students)
RIC vs. UHCL Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, RIC or UHCL?
- Rhode Island College is 57.4% more expensive to attend than UHCL for in-state tuition ($9,481.00 vs. $6,024.00)
- Out of state tuition is 27.6% higher at RIC than University of Houston Clear Lake ($25,014.00 vs. $19,608.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Houston Clear Lake than RIC ($10,488 vs. $11,549)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Houston Clear Lake are 24.6% lower than costs at Rhode Island College ($11,014 vs. $13,719)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Rhode Island College than University of Houston Clear Lake (92% vs. 69%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Houston Clear Lake students is 74.6% larger than aid received Rhode Island College ($12,220 vs. $6,998)
RIC vs. UHCL Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, RIC or UHCL? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UHCL or RIC .
- The average SAT score at University of Houston Clear Lake (1025) is 112 points higher than at RIC (913)
- Incoming UHCL students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at RIC (19)
- Accepted freshman UHCL students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at RIC (3.08)
- RIC has a higher acceptance rate (81.1%) than UHCL (75.3%)
RIC vs. UHCL Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, RIC or UHCL? 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 UHCL and RIC.
- Graduates from University of Houston Clear Lake earn on average $11,700 more per year than RIC graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $42,000)
- University of Houston Clear Lake students graduate with a $4,050 lower median federal student loan debt than RIC graduates. ($17,150 vs. $21,200)
- UHCL graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than RIC graduates. ($177 vs. $219)
- More RIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UHCL students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 56%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/