University of Massachusetts-Boston vs. RIC

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Boston 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.

University of Massachusetts Boston
Rhode Island College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston, MA
  • RIC Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Large City
  • RIC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 15,575
  • RIC 6,155
  • Type
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Public 4 Year
  • RIC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston #438
  • RIC #843
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston -
  • RIC -
  • Status
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Non-profit
  • RIC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston
  • RIC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $15,908
  • RIC $11,300
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $38,125
  • RIC $27,299
  • Room & Board
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $19,128
  • RIC $13,414
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $17,768
  • RIC $10,346
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $14,042
  • RIC $6,706
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 88%
  • RIC 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 21,262
  • RIC 5,415
  • Admitted
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 17,813
  • RIC 4,972
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 83.8%
  • RIC 91.8%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 12.3%
  • RIC 23.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 1180
  • RIC 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 25
  • RIC
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 3.35
  • RIC 3.08
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston B+
  • RIC B
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Challenging
  • RIC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston
  • RIC
  • ACT Range
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 22/29
  • RIC
  • SAT Range
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 1070/1290
  • RIC 870/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Test optional
  • RIC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Feb 15, 2027
  • RIC Mar 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 15:1
  • RIC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston
    • Business (20%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • RIC
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 40%
  • RIC 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $51,200
  • RIC $42,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 58%
  • RIC 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $22,060
  • RIC $21,200
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $228
  • RIC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 42%
  • RIC 30%
  • % Women
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 58%
  • RIC 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Very High
  • RIC Medium
  • HBCU
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • RIC No
  • % White
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 36%
  • RIC 62%
  • % Asian
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 12%
  • RIC 3%
  • % Black
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 16%
  • RIC 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 14%
  • RIC 16%
  • % Native American
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 3%
  • RIC 2%
  • % International
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 12%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 7%
  • RIC 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 81%
  • RIC 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 11%
  • RIC 13%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • RIC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • RIC No
  • Meal Plan
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • RIC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • RIC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Yes
  • RIC Yes

Comparable Facts

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

University of Massachusetts Boston is larger than RIC based on total student enrollment (15,575 students vs. 6,155 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

University of Massachusetts-Boston vs. RIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Massachusetts-Boston 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 University of Massachusetts-Boston ($10,346 vs. $17,768).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island College are 29.9% lower than at University of Massachusetts Boston ($13,414 vs. $19,128).
  • University of Massachusetts Boston is 40.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIC (about $4,608 more per year; $15,908.00 vs. $11,300.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39.7% higher at University of Massachusetts-Boston than at Rhode Island College (about $10,826 more per year; $38,125.00 vs. $27,299.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rhode Island College than at University of Massachusetts Boston (95% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Massachusetts Boston students is 109.4% larger than aid received by Rhode Island College students ($14,042 vs. $6,706).

University of Massachusetts-Boston vs. RIC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Massachusetts-Boston 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 University of Massachusetts-Boston.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Massachusetts Boston (1180) is 180 points higher than at RIC (1000).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Boston 1070/1290; Rhode Island College 870/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Boston 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Massachusetts-Boston - Test optional; RIC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Massachusetts-Boston Feb 15, 2027; RIC Mar 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Massachusetts-Boston students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.35) than students at RIC (3.08).
  • RIC has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than University of Massachusetts-Boston (83.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at University of Massachusetts-Boston vs. 23.1% at RIC.

University of Massachusetts-Boston vs. RIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Massachusetts-Boston 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).

  • Rhode Island College's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Boston's (40%).
  • Graduates from University of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of about $9,200 more per year than RIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,200 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island College graduates have a $860 lower median loan debt than University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates ($21,200 vs. $22,060).
  • Among borrowers, RIC graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates ($219 vs. $228).
  • More RIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Boston students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 58%)

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.