TU vs. URI

Comparable Facts

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

Towson University is larger than URI based on total student enrollment (19,401 students vs. 17,210 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Towson University is located in Towson, MD (Small City setting); University of Rhode Island is in Kingston, RI (Large Suburban setting).
• Towson University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rhode Island is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Towson University 14:1; University of Rhode Island 17:1.

TU vs. URI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TU 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 Towson University than URI ($16,653 vs. $24,118).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Rhode Island are 4% lower than at Towson University ($15,607 vs. $16,260).
• University of Rhode Island is 44.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than TU (about $5,214 more per year; $16,942.00 vs. $11,728.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24.6% higher at URI than at Towson University (about $7,326 more per year; $37,146.00 vs. $29,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rhode Island than at Towson University (96% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Rhode Island students is 6.4% larger than aid received by Towson University students ($12,578 vs. $11,820).

TU vs. URI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, TU 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 TU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Rhode Island (1150) is 60 points higher than at TU (1090).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Towson University 950/1235; University of Rhode Island 1020/1280.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Towson University 19/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: TU - Test optional; URI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: TU Apr 1, 2027; URI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman TU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at URI (3.58).
• TU has a higher acceptance rate (82%) than URI (72.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at TU vs. 15.4% at URI.

TU vs. URI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TU 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).

• Towson University's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than University of Rhode Island's (63%).
• Graduates from University of Rhode Island earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than TU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $53,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Towson University graduates have a $5,688 lower median loan debt than URI graduates ($17,750 vs. $23,438).
• Among borrowers, TU graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than URI graduates ($183 vs. $242).
• More TU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former URI students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.