RIC vs. URI

Deciding between Rhode Island College and University of Rhode Island? 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.

Rhode Island College
University of Rhode Island

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • RIC Providence, RI
  • URI Kingston, RI
  • Setting
  • RIC Large Suburban
  • URI Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • RIC 6,155
  • URI 17,210
  • Type
  • RIC Public 4 Year
  • URI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RIC #843
  • URI #425
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RIC -
  • URI -
  • Status
  • RIC Non-profit
  • URI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RIC
  • URI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RIC $11,300
  • URI $16,942
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RIC $27,299
  • URI $37,146
  • Room & Board
  • RIC $13,414
  • URI $15,607
  • Average Net Price
  • RIC $10,346
  • URI $24,118
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RIC $6,706
  • URI $12,578
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RIC 95%
  • URI 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RIC 5,415
  • URI 26,987
  • Admitted
  • RIC 4,972
  • URI 19,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RIC 91.8%
  • URI 72.2%
  • Enrolled
  • RIC 23.1%
  • URI 15.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RIC 1000
  • URI 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • RIC
  • URI
  • Average High School GPA
  • RIC 3.08
  • URI 3.58
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RIC B
  • URI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • RIC Extremely Easy
  • URI Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • RIC
  • URI Low
  • ACT Range
  • RIC
  • URI
  • SAT Range
  • RIC 870/1120
  • URI 1020/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RIC Test optional
  • URI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • RIC Mar 15, 2027
  • URI Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RIC 15:1
  • URI 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RIC
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • URI
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RIC 44%
  • URI 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RIC $42,000
  • URI $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RIC 59%
  • URI 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RIC $21,200
  • URI $23,438
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RIC $219
  • URI $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RIC 30%
  • URI 41%
  • % Women
  • RIC 70%
  • URI 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RIC Medium
  • URI Low
  • HBCU
  • RIC No
  • URI No
  • % White
  • RIC 62%
  • URI 71%
  • % Asian
  • RIC 3%
  • URI 3%
  • % Black
  • RIC 8%
  • URI 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • RIC 16%
  • URI 9%
  • % Native American
  • RIC 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RIC 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RIC 2%
  • URI 3%
  • % International
  • RIC 0%
  • URI 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RIC 8%
  • URI 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RIC 87%
  • URI 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RIC 13%
  • URI 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Rhode Island is larger than RIC based on total student enrollment (17,210 students vs. 6,155 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rhode Island College is located in Providence, RI (Large Suburban setting); University of Rhode Island is in Kingston, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Rhode Island College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rhode Island is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rhode Island College 15:1; University of Rhode Island 17:1.

RIC vs. URI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RIC or URI? 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 URI ($10,346 vs. $24,118).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island College are 14.1% lower than at University of Rhode Island ($13,414 vs. $15,607).
  • University of Rhode Island is 49.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIC (about $5,642 more per year; $16,942.00 vs. $11,300.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 36.1% higher at URI than at Rhode Island College (about $9,847 more per year; $37,146.00 vs. $27,299.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rhode Island than at Rhode Island College (96% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Rhode Island students is 87.6% larger than aid received by Rhode Island College students ($12,578 vs. $6,706).

RIC vs. URI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RIC or URI? 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 URI and RIC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Rhode Island (1150) is 150 points higher than at RIC (1000).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rhode Island College 870/1120; University of Rhode Island 1020/1280.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RIC - Test optional; URI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RIC Mar 15, 2027; URI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman URI students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at RIC (3.08).
  • RIC has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than URI (72.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.1% at RIC vs. 15.4% at URI.

RIC vs. URI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RIC and URI? 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).

  • University of Rhode Island's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Rhode Island College's (44%).
  • Graduates from University of Rhode Island earn a median of about $14,200 more per year than RIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island College graduates have a $2,238 lower median loan debt than URI graduates ($21,200 vs. $23,438).
  • Among borrowers, RIC graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than URI graduates ($219 vs. $242).
  • More URI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIC students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 59%)

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.