SHU vs. RIC

Deciding between Sacred Heart University and Rhode Island College? 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.

Sacred Heart University
Rhode Island College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • SHU Fairfield, CT
  • RIC Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • SHU Large Suburban
  • RIC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • SHU 11,022
  • RIC 6,155
  • Type
  • SHU Private 4 Year
  • RIC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SHU
  • RIC #843
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SHU Roman Catholic
  • RIC -
  • Status
  • SHU Non-profit
  • RIC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SHU
  • RIC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SHU $50,404
  • RIC $11,300
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SHU $50,404
  • RIC $27,299
  • Room & Board
  • SHU $19,140
  • RIC $13,414
  • Average Net Price
  • SHU $47,848
  • RIC $10,346
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SHU $21,625
  • RIC $6,706
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SHU 99%
  • RIC 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SHU 16,495
  • RIC 5,415
  • Admitted
  • SHU 10,781
  • RIC 4,972
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SHU 65.4%
  • RIC 91.8%
  • Enrolled
  • SHU 17.5%
  • RIC 23.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SHU
  • RIC 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • SHU
  • RIC
  • Average High School GPA
  • SHU 3.55
  • RIC 3.08
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SHU A-
  • RIC B
  • Admissions Standards
  • SHU Unavailable
  • RIC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • SHU Low
  • RIC
  • ACT Range
  • SHU
  • RIC
  • SAT Range
  • SHU
  • RIC 870/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SHU Test-free
  • RIC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SHU
  • RIC Mar 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SHU 15:1
  • RIC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SHU
    • Business (36%)
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Psychology (13%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • RIC
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SHU 68%
  • RIC 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SHU $59,700
  • RIC $42,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SHU 76%
  • RIC 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SHU $25,000
  • RIC $21,200
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SHU $258
  • RIC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SHU 36%
  • RIC 30%
  • % Women
  • SHU 64%
  • RIC 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SHU Low
  • RIC Medium
  • HBCU
  • SHU No
  • RIC No
  • % White
  • SHU 71%
  • RIC 62%
  • % Asian
  • SHU 2%
  • RIC 3%
  • % Black
  • SHU 4%
  • RIC 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • SHU 8%
  • RIC 16%
  • % Native American
  • SHU 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SHU 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SHU 2%
  • RIC 2%
  • % International
  • SHU 1%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SHU 12%
  • RIC 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SHU 23%
  • RIC 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SHU 76%
  • RIC 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Sacred Heart University is larger than RIC based on total student enrollment (11,022 students vs. 6,155 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

SHU vs. RIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHU or RIC? 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 SHU ($10,346 vs. $47,848).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island College are 29.9% lower than at Sacred Heart University ($13,414 vs. $19,140).
  • Sacred Heart University is 346.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIC (about $39,104 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $11,300.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 84.6% higher at SHU than at Rhode Island College (about $23,105 more per year; $50,404.00 vs. $27,299.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sacred Heart University than at Rhode Island College (99% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sacred Heart University students is 222.5% larger than aid received by Rhode Island College students ($21,625 vs. $6,706).

SHU vs. RIC Admissions comparison

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

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRhode Island College 870/1120.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHU - Test-free; RIC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RIC Mar 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SHU students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at RIC (3.08).
  • RIC has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than SHU (65.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at SHU vs. 23.1% at RIC.

SHU vs. RIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHU and RIC? 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).

  • Sacred Heart University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Rhode Island College's (44%).
  • Graduates from Sacred Heart University earn a median of about $17,700 more per year than RIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,700 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island College graduates have a $3,800 lower median loan debt than SHU graduates ($21,200 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, RIC graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHU graduates ($219 vs. $258).
  • More SHU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIC students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.