SUNY Cortland vs. URI

Deciding between State University of New York at Cortland 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.

State University of New York at Cortland
University of Rhode Island

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SUNY Cortland Cortland, NY
  • URI Kingston, RI
  • Setting
  • SUNY Cortland Rural Fringe
  • URI Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • SUNY Cortland 6,938
  • URI 17,210
  • Type
  • SUNY Cortland Public 4 Year
  • URI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SUNY Cortland #422
  • URI #425
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SUNY Cortland -
  • URI -
  • Status
  • SUNY Cortland Non-profit
  • URI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SUNY Cortland
  • URI
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SUNY Cortland $8,874
  • URI $16,942
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SUNY Cortland $18,784
  • URI $37,146
  • Room & Board
  • SUNY Cortland $15,560
  • URI $15,607
  • Average Net Price
  • SUNY Cortland $19,847
  • URI $24,118
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SUNY Cortland $8,254
  • URI $12,578
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SUNY Cortland 63%
  • URI 96%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SUNY Cortland 17,571
  • URI 26,987
  • Admitted
  • SUNY Cortland 10,505
  • URI 19,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SUNY Cortland 59.8%
  • URI 72.2%
  • Enrolled
  • SUNY Cortland 13.3%
  • URI 15.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SUNY Cortland 1170
  • URI 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • SUNY Cortland 24
  • URI
  • Average High School GPA
  • SUNY Cortland 3.7
  • URI 3.58
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SUNY Cortland A-
  • URI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SUNY Cortland Average
  • URI Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • SUNY Cortland Low
  • URI Low
  • ACT Range
  • SUNY Cortland 22/27
  • URI
  • SAT Range
  • SUNY Cortland 1090/1240
  • URI 1020/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SUNY Cortland Test-free
  • URI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SUNY Cortland
  • URI Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SUNY Cortland 15:1
  • URI 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SUNY Cortland
    • Education (41%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (16%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Health Professions (5%)
  • URI
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SUNY Cortland 67%
  • URI 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SUNY Cortland $47,300
  • URI $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SUNY Cortland 75%
  • URI 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SUNY Cortland $21,500
  • URI $23,438
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SUNY Cortland $222
  • URI $242
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SUNY Cortland 44%
  • URI 41%
  • % Women
  • SUNY Cortland 56%
  • URI 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SUNY Cortland Low
  • URI Low
  • HBCU
  • SUNY Cortland No
  • URI No
  • % White
  • SUNY Cortland 74%
  • URI 71%
  • % Asian
  • SUNY Cortland 1%
  • URI 3%
  • % Black
  • SUNY Cortland 6%
  • URI 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • SUNY Cortland 11%
  • URI 9%
  • % Native American
  • SUNY Cortland 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SUNY Cortland 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SUNY Cortland 2%
  • URI 3%
  • % International
  • SUNY Cortland 1%
  • URI 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SUNY Cortland 5%
  • URI 7%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SUNY Cortland 93%
  • URI 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SUNY Cortland 5%
  • URI 57%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare State University of New York at Cortland in Cortland, NY 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 SUNY Cortland based on total student enrollment (17,210 students vs. 6,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • State University of New York at Cortland is located in Cortland, NY (Rural Fringe setting); University of Rhode Island is in Kingston, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • State University of New York at Cortland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rhode Island is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: State University of New York at Cortland 15:1; University of Rhode Island 17:1.

SUNY Cortland vs. URI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY Cortland 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 State University of New York at Cortland than URI ($19,847 vs. $24,118).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at State University of New York at Cortland are 0.3% lower than at University of Rhode Island ($15,560 vs. $15,607).
  • University of Rhode Island is 90.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Cortland (about $8,068 more per year; $16,942.00 vs. $8,874.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 97.8% higher at URI than at State University of New York at Cortland (about $18,362 more per year; $37,146.00 vs. $18,784.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rhode Island than at State University of New York at Cortland (96% vs. 63%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Rhode Island students is 52.4% larger than aid received by State University of New York at Cortland students ($12,578 vs. $8,254).

SUNY Cortland vs. URI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SUNY Cortland 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 SUNY Cortland.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at State University of New York at Cortland (1170) is 20 points higher than at URI (1150).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: State University of New York at Cortland 1090/1240; University of Rhode Island 1020/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: State University of New York at Cortland 22/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY Cortland - Test-free; URI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: URI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Cortland students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at URI (3.58).
  • URI has a higher acceptance rate (72.2%) than SUNY Cortland (59.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.3% at SUNY Cortland vs. 15.4% at URI.

SUNY Cortland vs. URI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SUNY Cortland 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).

  • State University of New York at Cortland's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than University of Rhode Island's (63%).
  • Graduates from University of Rhode Island earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than SUNY Cortland graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $47,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, State University of New York at Cortland graduates have a $1,938 lower median loan debt than URI graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,438).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Cortland graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than URI graduates ($222 vs. $242).
  • More SUNY Cortland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former URI students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 69%)

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.