UConn vs. URI

Deciding between University of Connecticut 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.

University of Connecticut
University of Rhode Island

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UConn Storrs, CT
  • URI Kingston, RI
  • Setting
  • UConn Town Fringe
  • URI Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UConn 28,306
  • URI 17,210
  • Type
  • UConn Public 4 Year
  • URI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UConn #106
  • URI #425
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UConn -
  • URI -
  • Status
  • UConn Non-profit
  • URI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UConn
  • URI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UConn $21,044
  • URI $16,942
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UConn $43,712
  • URI $37,146
  • Room & Board
  • UConn $14,380
  • URI $15,607
  • Average Net Price
  • UConn $25,310
  • URI $24,118
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UConn $16,503
  • URI $12,578
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UConn 81%
  • URI 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UConn 55,479
  • URI 26,987
  • Admitted
  • UConn 29,065
  • URI 19,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UConn 52.4%
  • URI 72.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UConn 15.4%
  • URI 15.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UConn 1330
  • URI 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • UConn 30
  • URI
  • Average High School GPA
  • UConn 3.74
  • URI 3.58
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UConn A-
  • URI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UConn Very High
  • URI Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • UConn Low
  • URI Low
  • ACT Range
  • UConn 28/33
  • URI
  • SAT Range
  • UConn 1210/1440
  • URI 1020/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UConn Test optional
  • URI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UConn Jan 15, 2027
  • URI Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UConn 17:1
  • URI 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UConn
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • URI
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UConn 83%
  • URI 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UConn $62,000
  • URI $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UConn 78%
  • URI 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UConn $21,500
  • URI $23,438
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UConn $222
  • URI $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UConn 45%
  • URI 41%
  • % Women
  • UConn 55%
  • URI 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UConn Medium
  • URI Low
  • HBCU
  • UConn No
  • URI No
  • % White
  • UConn 61%
  • URI 71%
  • % Asian
  • UConn 10%
  • URI 3%
  • % Black
  • UConn 5%
  • URI 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • UConn 9%
  • URI 9%
  • % Native American
  • UConn 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UConn 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UConn 3%
  • URI 3%
  • % International
  • UConn 5%
  • URI 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UConn 7%
  • URI 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UConn 53%
  • URI 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UConn 42%
  • URI 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Connecticut is larger than URI based on total student enrollment (28,306 students vs. 17,210 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UConn vs. URI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UConn 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 University of Rhode Island than UConn ($24,118 vs. $25,310).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut are 7.9% lower than at University of Rhode Island ($14,380 vs. $15,607).
  • University of Connecticut is 24.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than URI (about $4,102 more per year; $21,044.00 vs. $16,942.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.7% higher at UConn than at University of Rhode Island (about $6,566 more per year; $43,712.00 vs. $37,146.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rhode Island than at University of Connecticut (96% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Connecticut students is 31.2% larger than aid received by University of Rhode Island students ($16,503 vs. $12,578).

UConn vs. URI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UConn 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 UConn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Connecticut (1330) is 180 points higher than at URI (1150).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 1210/1440; University of Rhode Island 1020/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UConn - Test optional; URI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UConn Jan 15, 2027; URI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UConn students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at URI (3.58).
  • URI has a higher acceptance rate (72.2%) than UConn (52.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at UConn vs. 15.4% at URI.

UConn vs. URI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UConn 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 Connecticut's six-year graduation rate (83%) is higher than University of Rhode Island's (63%).
  • Graduates from University of Connecticut earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than URI graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,000 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Connecticut graduates have a $1,938 lower median loan debt than URI graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,438).
  • Among borrowers, UConn graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than URI graduates ($222 vs. $242).
  • More UConn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former URI students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.