RIC vs. Black Hills State University

Deciding between Rhode Island College and Black Hills State University? 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.

Rhode Island College
Black Hills State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • RIC Providence, RI
  • Black Hills State University Spearfish, SD
  • Setting
  • RIC Large Suburban
  • Black Hills State University Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • RIC 6,155
  • Black Hills State University 3,346
  • Type
  • RIC Public 4 Year
  • Black Hills State University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RIC #843
  • Black Hills State University #1001
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RIC -
  • Black Hills State University -
  • Status
  • RIC Non-profit
  • Black Hills State University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RIC
  • Black Hills State University

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RIC $11,300
  • Black Hills State University $8,764
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RIC $27,299
  • Black Hills State University $11,866
  • Room & Board
  • RIC $13,414
  • Black Hills State University $12,160
  • Average Net Price
  • RIC $10,346
  • Black Hills State University $15,576
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RIC $6,706
  • Black Hills State University $6,070
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RIC 95%
  • Black Hills State University 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RIC 5,415
  • Black Hills State University 1,690
  • Admitted
  • RIC 4,972
  • Black Hills State University 1,628
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RIC 91.8%
  • Black Hills State University 96.3%
  • Enrolled
  • RIC 23.1%
  • Black Hills State University 30.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RIC 1000
  • Black Hills State University 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • RIC
  • Black Hills State University 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • RIC 3.08
  • Black Hills State University 3.22
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RIC B
  • Black Hills State University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • RIC Extremely Easy
  • Black Hills State University Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • RIC
  • Black Hills State University
  • ACT Range
  • RIC
  • Black Hills State University 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • RIC 870/1120
  • Black Hills State University 965/1135
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RIC Test optional
  • Black Hills State University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • RIC Mar 15, 2027
  • Black Hills State University

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RIC 15:1
  • Black Hills State University 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RIC
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Black Hills State University
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RIC 44%
  • Black Hills State University 28%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RIC $42,000
  • Black Hills State University $38,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RIC 59%
  • Black Hills State University 62%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RIC $21,200
  • Black Hills State University $25,478
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RIC $219
  • Black Hills State University $263

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RIC 30%
  • Black Hills State University 37%
  • % Women
  • RIC 70%
  • Black Hills State University 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RIC Medium
  • Black Hills State University Very Low
  • HBCU
  • RIC No
  • Black Hills State University No
  • % White
  • RIC 62%
  • Black Hills State University 83%
  • % Asian
  • RIC 3%
  • Black Hills State University 0%
  • % Black
  • RIC 8%
  • Black Hills State University 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • RIC 16%
  • Black Hills State University 5%
  • % Native American
  • RIC 0%
  • Black Hills State University 4%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RIC 0%
  • Black Hills State University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RIC 2%
  • Black Hills State University 4%
  • % International
  • RIC 0%
  • Black Hills State University 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RIC 8%
  • Black Hills State University 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RIC 87%
  • Black Hills State University 55%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RIC 13%
  • Black Hills State University 44%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • RIC Yes
  • Black Hills State University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • RIC No
  • Black Hills State University No
  • Meal Plan
  • RIC Yes
  • Black Hills State University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • RIC Yes
  • Black Hills State University Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • RIC Yes
  • Black Hills State University Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Rhode Island College in Providence, RI with Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rhode Island College is larger than Black Hills State University based on total student enrollment (6,155 students vs. 3,346 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rhode Island College is located in Providence, RI (Large Suburban setting); Black Hills State University is in Spearfish, SD (Remote Town setting).
  • Rhode Island College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Black Hills State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rhode Island College 15:1; Black Hills State University 17:1.

RIC vs. Black Hills State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RIC or Black Hills State University? 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 Black Hills State University ($10,346 vs. $15,576).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Black Hills State University are 9.3% lower than at Rhode Island College ($12,160 vs. $13,414).
  • Rhode Island College is 28.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Black Hills State University (about $2,536 more per year; $11,300.00 vs. $8,764.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 130.1% higher at RIC than at Black Hills State University (about $15,433 more per year; $27,299.00 vs. $11,866.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rhode Island College than at Black Hills State University (95% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island College students is 10.5% larger than aid received by Black Hills State University students ($6,706 vs. $6,070).

RIC vs. Black Hills State University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RIC or Black Hills State University? 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 Black Hills State University and RIC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Black Hills State University (1050) is 50 points higher than at RIC (1000).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rhode Island College 870/1120; Black Hills State University 965/1135.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsBlack Hills State University 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RIC - Test optional; Black Hills State University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RIC Mar 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Black Hills State University students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.22) than students at RIC (3.08).
  • Black Hills State University has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than RIC (91.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.1% at RIC vs. 30.1% at Black Hills State University.

RIC vs. Black Hills State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RIC and Black Hills State University? 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 Black Hills State University's (28%).
  • Graduates from Rhode Island College earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than Black Hills State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,000 vs. $38,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island College graduates have a $4,278 lower median loan debt than Black Hills State University graduates ($21,200 vs. $25,478).
  • Among borrowers, RIC graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Black Hills State University graduates ($219 vs. $263).
  • More Black Hills State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIC students, three years after graduation. (62% 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.