RIC vs. MSU

Deciding between Rhode Island College and Midwestern 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
Midwestern State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • RIC Providence, RI
  • MSU Wichita Falls, TX
  • Setting
  • RIC Large Suburban
  • MSU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • RIC 6,155
  • MSU 5,324
  • Type
  • RIC Public 4 Year
  • MSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RIC #843
  • MSU #878
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RIC -
  • MSU -
  • Status
  • RIC Non-profit
  • MSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RIC
  • MSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RIC $11,300
  • MSU $10,580
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RIC $27,299
  • MSU $12,530
  • Room & Board
  • RIC $13,414
  • MSU $11,124
  • Average Net Price
  • RIC $10,346
  • MSU $11,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RIC $6,706
  • MSU $11,037
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RIC 95%
  • MSU 92%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RIC 5,415
  • MSU 7,803
  • Admitted
  • RIC 4,972
  • MSU 7,297
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RIC 91.8%
  • MSU 93.5%
  • Enrolled
  • RIC 23.1%
  • MSU 12.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RIC 1000
  • MSU 1010
  • Typical ACT score
  • RIC
  • MSU 19
  • Average High School GPA
  • RIC 3.08
  • MSU 3.2
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RIC B
  • MSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • RIC Extremely Easy
  • MSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • RIC
  • MSU
  • ACT Range
  • RIC
  • MSU 16/22
  • SAT Range
  • RIC 870/1120
  • MSU 910/1100
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RIC Test optional
  • MSU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • RIC Mar 15, 2027
  • MSU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RIC 15:1
  • MSU 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RIC
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • MSU
    • Health Professions (32%)
    • Business (22%)
    • General Studies (15%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RIC 44%
  • MSU 34%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RIC $42,000
  • MSU $44,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RIC 59%
  • MSU 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RIC $21,200
  • MSU $22,299
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RIC $219
  • MSU $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RIC 30%
  • MSU 36%
  • % Women
  • RIC 70%
  • MSU 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RIC Medium
  • MSU High
  • HBCU
  • RIC No
  • MSU No
  • % White
  • RIC 62%
  • MSU 52%
  • % Asian
  • RIC 3%
  • MSU 3%
  • % Black
  • RIC 8%
  • MSU 14%
  • % Hispanic
  • RIC 16%
  • MSU 17%
  • % Native American
  • RIC 0%
  • MSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RIC 0%
  • MSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RIC 2%
  • MSU 4%
  • % International
  • RIC 0%
  • MSU 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RIC 8%
  • MSU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RIC 87%
  • MSU 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RIC 13%
  • MSU 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rhode Island College in Providence, RI with Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rhode Island College is larger than MSU based on total student enrollment (6,155 students vs. 5,324 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rhode Island College is located in Providence, RI (Large Suburban setting); Midwestern State University is in Wichita Falls, TX (Midsize City setting).
  • Rhode Island College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Midwestern State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rhode Island College 15:1; Midwestern State University 18:1.

RIC vs. MSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RIC or MSU? 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 MSU ($10,346 vs. $11,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Midwestern State University are 17.1% lower than at Rhode Island College ($11,124 vs. $13,414).
  • Rhode Island College is 6.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than MSU (about $720 more per year; $11,300.00 vs. $10,580.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 117.9% higher at RIC than at Midwestern State University (about $14,769 more per year; $27,299.00 vs. $12,530.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rhode Island College than at Midwestern State University (95% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Midwestern State University students is 64.6% larger than aid received by Rhode Island College students ($11,037 vs. $6,706).

RIC vs. MSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RIC or MSU? 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 MSU and RIC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Midwestern State University (1010) is 10 points higher than at RIC (1000).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rhode Island College 870/1120; Midwestern State University 910/1100.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMidwestern State University 16/22.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RIC - Test optional; MSU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RIC Mar 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MSU students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.2) than students at RIC (3.08).
  • MSU has a higher acceptance rate (93.5%) than RIC (91.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.1% at RIC vs. 12.9% at MSU.

RIC vs. MSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RIC and MSU? 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 Midwestern State University's (34%).
  • Graduates from Midwestern State University earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than RIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island College graduates have a $1,099 lower median loan debt than MSU graduates ($21,200 vs. $22,299).
  • Among borrowers, RIC graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MSU graduates ($219 vs. $230).
  • More RIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 56%)

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.