WPI vs. RIC

Deciding between Worcester Polytechnic Institute 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.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Rhode Island College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • WPI Worcester, MA
  • RIC Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • WPI Midsize City
  • RIC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • WPI 7,584
  • RIC 6,155
  • Type
  • WPI Private 4 Year
  • RIC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WPI
  • RIC #843
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WPI -
  • RIC -
  • Status
  • WPI Non-profit
  • RIC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WPI
  • RIC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WPI $60,965
  • RIC $11,300
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WPI $60,965
  • RIC $27,299
  • Room & Board
  • WPI $18,386
  • RIC $13,414
  • Average Net Price
  • WPI $47,372
  • RIC $10,346
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WPI $31,545
  • RIC $6,706
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WPI 100%
  • RIC 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WPI 12,559
  • RIC 5,415
  • Admitted
  • WPI 7,555
  • RIC 4,972
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WPI 60.2%
  • RIC 91.8%
  • Enrolled
  • WPI 18.1%
  • RIC 23.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WPI
  • RIC 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • WPI
  • RIC
  • Average High School GPA
  • WPI 3.9
  • RIC 3.08
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WPI A
  • RIC B
  • Admissions Standards
  • WPI Unavailable
  • RIC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • WPI Low
  • RIC
  • ACT Range
  • WPI
  • RIC
  • SAT Range
  • WPI
  • RIC 870/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WPI Test-free
  • RIC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WPI Feb 15, 2027
  • RIC Mar 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WPI 13:1
  • RIC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WPI
    • Engineering (61%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • General Studies (5%)
    • Business (4%)
  • RIC
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WPI 76%
  • RIC 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WPI $82,700
  • RIC $42,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WPI 92%
  • RIC 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WPI $27,000
  • RIC $21,200
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WPI $279
  • RIC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WPI 68%
  • RIC 30%
  • % Women
  • WPI 32%
  • RIC 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WPI Medium
  • RIC Medium
  • HBCU
  • WPI No
  • RIC No
  • % White
  • WPI 63%
  • RIC 62%
  • % Asian
  • WPI 5%
  • RIC 3%
  • % Black
  • WPI 2%
  • RIC 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • WPI 8%
  • RIC 16%
  • % Native American
  • WPI 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WPI 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WPI 3%
  • RIC 2%
  • % International
  • WPI 12%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WPI 6%
  • RIC 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WPI 48%
  • RIC 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WPI 48%
  • RIC 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA with Rhode Island College in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is larger than RIC based on total student enrollment (7,584 students vs. 6,155 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is located in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting); Rhode Island College is in Providence, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Worcester Polytechnic Institute 13:1; Rhode Island College 15:1.

WPI vs. RIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WPI 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 WPI ($10,346 vs. $47,372).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island College are 27% lower than at Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($13,414 vs. $18,386).
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 439.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIC (about $49,665 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $11,300.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 123.3% higher at WPI than at Rhode Island College (about $33,666 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $27,299.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute than at Rhode Island College (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students is 370.4% larger than aid received by Rhode Island College students ($31,545 vs. $6,706).

WPI vs. RIC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WPI 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 WPI.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRhode Island College 870/1120.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WPI - Test-free; RIC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WPI Feb 15, 2027; RIC Mar 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WPI students have a 0.82 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at RIC (3.08).
  • RIC has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than WPI (60.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at WPI vs. 23.1% at RIC.

WPI vs. RIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WPI 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).

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Rhode Island College's (44%).
  • Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $40,700 more per year than RIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,700 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island College graduates have a $5,800 lower median loan debt than WPI graduates ($21,200 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, RIC graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WPI graduates ($219 vs. $279).
  • More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIC students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.