Nichols vs. URI

Deciding between Nichols College 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.

Nichols College
University of Rhode Island

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Nichols Dudley, MA
  • URI Kingston, RI
  • Setting
  • Nichols Rural Fringe
  • URI Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Nichols 1,392
  • URI 17,210
  • Type
  • Nichols Private 4 Year
  • URI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Nichols #855
  • URI #425
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Nichols -
  • URI -
  • Status
  • Nichols Non-profit
  • URI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Nichols
  • URI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Nichols $42,705
  • URI $16,942
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Nichols $42,705
  • URI $37,146
  • Room & Board
  • Nichols $15,800
  • URI $15,607
  • Average Net Price
  • Nichols $32,337
  • URI $24,118
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Nichols $25,809
  • URI $12,578
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Nichols 99%
  • URI 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Nichols 2,296
  • URI 26,987
  • Admitted
  • Nichols 1,856
  • URI 19,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Nichols 80.8% Open
  • URI 72.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Nichols 18.1% Open
  • URI 15.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Nichols 1130
  • URI 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • Nichols
  • URI
  • Average High School GPA
  • Nichols 2.9
  • URI 3.58
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Nichols B
  • URI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Nichols Moderate
  • URI Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Nichols
  • URI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Nichols
  • URI
  • SAT Range
  • Nichols 1028/1236
  • URI 1020/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Nichols Open admission
  • URI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Nichols
  • URI Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Nichols 15:1
  • URI 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Nichols
    • Business (75%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (12%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
    • Education (2%)
  • URI
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Nichols 43%
  • URI 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Nichols $51,800
  • URI $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Nichols 68%
  • URI 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Nichols $27,000
  • URI $23,438
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Nichols $279
  • URI $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Nichols 65%
  • URI 41%
  • % Women
  • Nichols 35%
  • URI 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Nichols Low
  • URI Low
  • HBCU
  • Nichols No
  • URI No
  • % White
  • Nichols 81%
  • URI 71%
  • % Asian
  • Nichols 1%
  • URI 3%
  • % Black
  • Nichols 7%
  • URI 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Nichols 6%
  • URI 9%
  • % Native American
  • Nichols 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Nichols 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Nichols 4%
  • URI 3%
  • % International
  • Nichols 1%
  • URI 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Nichols 0%
  • URI 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Nichols 60%
  • URI 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Nichols 38%
  • URI 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Rhode Island is larger than Nichols based on total student enrollment (17,210 students vs. 1,392 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Nichols College is located in Dudley, MA (Rural Fringe setting); University of Rhode Island is in Kingston, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Nichols College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rhode Island is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Nichols College 15:1; University of Rhode Island 17:1.

Nichols vs. URI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Nichols 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 Nichols ($24,118 vs. $32,337).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Rhode Island are 1.2% lower than at Nichols College ($15,607 vs. $15,800).
  • Nichols College is 152.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than URI (about $25,763 more per year; $42,705.00 vs. $16,942.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15% higher at Nichols than at University of Rhode Island (about $5,559 more per year; $42,705.00 vs. $37,146.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Nichols College than at University of Rhode Island (99% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Nichols College students is 105.2% larger than aid received by University of Rhode Island students ($25,809 vs. $12,578).

Nichols vs. URI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Nichols 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 Nichols.

  • Nichols College reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Rhode Island (1150) is 20 points higher than at Nichols (1130).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Nichols College 1028/1236; University of Rhode Island 1020/1280.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Nichols - Open admission; URI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: URI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman URI students have a 0.68 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at Nichols (2.9).
  • Nichols has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than URI (72.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at Nichols vs. 15.4% at URI.

Nichols vs. URI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Nichols 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 Rhode Island's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Nichols College's (43%).
  • Graduates from University of Rhode Island earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than Nichols graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Rhode Island graduates have a $3,562 lower median loan debt than Nichols graduates ($23,438 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, URI graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Nichols graduates ($242 vs. $279).
  • More URI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nichols students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 68%)

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.