URI vs. University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus

Deciding between University of Rhode Island and University of Connecticut Waterbury Campus? 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 Rhode Island

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • URI Kingston, RI
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Waterbury, CT
  • Setting
  • URI Large Suburban
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • URI 17,210
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 745
  • Type
  • URI Public 4 Year
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • URI #425
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
  • Religious Affiliation
  • URI -
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus -
  • Status
  • URI Non-profit
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • URI
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • URI $16,942
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus $18,140
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • URI $37,146
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus $40,808
  • Room & Board
  • URI $15,607
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus $14,380
  • Average Net Price
  • URI $24,118
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus $9,451
  • Average Grant Aid
  • URI $12,578
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus $14,992
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • URI 96%
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • URI 26,987
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 2,166
  • Admitted
  • URI 19,475
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 1,877
  • Acceptance Rate
  • URI 72.2%
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 86.7%
  • Enrolled
  • URI 15.4%
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 12.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • URI 1150
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 1060
  • Typical ACT score
  • URI
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
  • Average High School GPA
  • URI 3.58
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • URI A-
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus -
  • Admissions Standards
  • URI Average
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • URI Low
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
  • ACT Range
  • URI
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
  • SAT Range
  • URI 1020/1280
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 910/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • URI Test optional
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Required
  • Application Deadline
  • URI Feb 1, 2027
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • URI 17:1
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • URI
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • URI 63%
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 51%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • URI $56,200
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus $62,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • URI 69%
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • URI $23,438
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • URI $242
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • URI 41%
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 48%
  • % Women
  • URI 59%
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • URI Low
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus High
  • HBCU
  • URI No
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus No
  • % White
  • URI 71%
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 53%
  • % Asian
  • URI 3%
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 12%
  • % Black
  • URI 5%
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • URI 9%
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 15%
  • % Native American
  • URI 0%
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • URI 0%
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • URI 3%
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 3%
  • % International
  • URI 1%
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • URI 7%
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • URI 42%
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • URI 57%
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 2%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • URI Yes
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • URI No
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus No
  • Meal Plan
  • URI Yes
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • URI No
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus No
  • Daycare Facility
  • URI Yes
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus No
  • Learn More
  • URI Details
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Details

Comparable Facts

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

University of Rhode Island is larger than University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus based on total student enrollment (17,210 students vs. 745 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Rhode Island is located in Kingston, RI (Large Suburban setting); University of Connecticut Waterbury Campus is in Waterbury, CT (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Rhode Island is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Connecticut Waterbury Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Rhode Island 17:1; University of Connecticut Waterbury Campus 20:1.

URI vs. University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, URI or University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus? 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 Connecticut Waterbury Campus than URI ($9,451 vs. $24,118).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut Waterbury Campus are 7.9% lower than at University of Rhode Island ($14,380 vs. $15,607).
  • University of Connecticut Waterbury Campus is 7.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than URI (about $1,198 more per year; $18,140.00 vs. $16,942.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.9% higher at University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus than at University of Rhode Island (about $3,662 more per year; $40,808.00 vs. $37,146.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rhode Island than at University of Connecticut Waterbury Campus (96% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Connecticut Waterbury Campus students is 19.2% larger than aid received by University of Rhode Island students ($14,992 vs. $12,578).

URI vs. University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, URI or University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus? 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 University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus and URI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Rhode Island (1150) is 90 points higher than at University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus (1060).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Rhode Island 1020/1280; University of Connecticut Waterbury Campus 910/1200.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: URI - Test optional; University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: URI Feb 1, 2027.
  • University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus has a higher acceptance rate (86.7%) than URI (72.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at URI vs. 12.5% at University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus.

URI vs. University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for URI and University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus? 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 Rhode Island's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than University of Connecticut Waterbury Campus's (51%).
  • Graduates from University of Connecticut Waterbury Campus 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 Waterbury Campus graduates have a $1,938 lower median loan debt than URI graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,438).
  • Among borrowers, University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than URI graduates ($222 vs. $242).
  • More University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 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.