UNK vs. RIC

Deciding between University of Nebraska at Kearney 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 Nebraska at Kearney
Rhode Island College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UNK Kearney, NE
  • RIC Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • UNK Remote Town
  • RIC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UNK 5,881
  • RIC 6,155
  • Type
  • UNK Public 4 Year
  • RIC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UNK #544
  • RIC #843
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UNK -
  • RIC -
  • Status
  • UNK Non-profit
  • RIC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UNK
  • RIC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UNK $8,676
  • RIC $11,300
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UNK $15,284
  • RIC $27,299
  • Room & Board
  • UNK $12,198
  • RIC $13,414
  • Average Net Price
  • UNK $16,287
  • RIC $10,346
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UNK $9,776
  • RIC $6,706
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UNK 89%
  • RIC 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UNK 5,283
  • RIC 5,415
  • Admitted
  • UNK 4,728
  • RIC 4,972
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UNK 89.5%
  • RIC 91.8%
  • Enrolled
  • UNK 18.5%
  • RIC 23.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UNK 1020
  • RIC 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • UNK 22
  • RIC
  • Average High School GPA
  • UNK 3.24
  • RIC 3.08
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UNK B+
  • RIC B
  • Admissions Standards
  • UNK Easy
  • RIC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • UNK
  • RIC
  • ACT Range
  • UNK 19/26
  • RIC
  • SAT Range
  • UNK 905/1125
  • RIC 870/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UNK Test optional
  • RIC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UNK Aug 15, 2027
  • RIC Mar 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UNK 14:1
  • RIC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UNK
    • Business (24%)
    • Education (20%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • RIC
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UNK 61%
  • RIC 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UNK $43,400
  • RIC $42,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UNK 71%
  • RIC 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UNK $21,250
  • RIC $21,200
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UNK $219
  • RIC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UNK 36%
  • RIC 30%
  • % Women
  • UNK 64%
  • RIC 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UNK Low
  • RIC Medium
  • HBCU
  • UNK No
  • RIC No
  • % White
  • UNK 79%
  • RIC 62%
  • % Asian
  • UNK 1%
  • RIC 3%
  • % Black
  • UNK 2%
  • RIC 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • UNK 11%
  • RIC 16%
  • % Native American
  • UNK 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UNK 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UNK 2%
  • RIC 2%
  • % International
  • UNK 5%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UNK 1%
  • RIC 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UNK 87%
  • RIC 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UNK 10%
  • RIC 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Nebraska at Kearney in Kearney, NE with Rhode Island College in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rhode Island College is larger than UNK based on total student enrollment (6,155 students vs. 5,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Nebraska at Kearney is located in Kearney, NE (Remote Town setting); Rhode Island College is in Providence, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Nebraska at Kearney 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 Nebraska at Kearney 14:1; Rhode Island College 15:1.

UNK vs. RIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNK 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 UNK ($10,346 vs. $16,287).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Nebraska at Kearney are 9.1% lower than at Rhode Island College ($12,198 vs. $13,414).
  • Rhode Island College is 30.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNK (about $2,624 more per year; $11,300.00 vs. $8,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 78.6% higher at RIC than at University of Nebraska at Kearney (about $12,015 more per year; $27,299.00 vs. $15,284.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rhode Island College than at University of Nebraska at Kearney (95% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Nebraska at Kearney students is 45.8% larger than aid received by Rhode Island College students ($9,776 vs. $6,706).

UNK vs. RIC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNK 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 UNK.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Nebraska at Kearney (1020) is 20 points higher than at RIC (1000).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Nebraska at Kearney 905/1125; Rhode Island College 870/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Nebraska at Kearney 19/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNK - Test optional; RIC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UNK Aug 15, 2027; RIC Mar 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UNK students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.24) than students at RIC (3.08).
  • RIC has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than UNK (89.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.5% at UNK vs. 23.1% at RIC.

UNK vs. RIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNK 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).

  • University of Nebraska at Kearney's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than Rhode Island College's (44%).
  • Graduates from University of Nebraska at Kearney earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than RIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,400 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island College graduates have a $50 lower median loan debt than UNK graduates ($21,200 vs. $21,250).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Rhode Island College and UNK graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($219 vs. $219).
  • More UNK graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIC students, three years after graduation. (71% 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.