Southwest Minnesota State University vs. RIC

Deciding between Southwest Minnesota State University 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.

Rhode Island College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall, MN
  • RIC Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Rural Fringe
  • RIC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 8,214
  • RIC 6,155
  • Type
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Public 4 Year
  • RIC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Southwest Minnesota State University #897
  • RIC #843
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Southwest Minnesota State University -
  • RIC -
  • Status
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Non-profit
  • RIC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Southwest Minnesota State University
  • RIC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $10,361
  • RIC $11,300
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $10,361
  • RIC $27,299
  • Room & Board
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $11,028
  • RIC $13,414
  • Average Net Price
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $15,547
  • RIC $10,346
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $8,674
  • RIC $6,706
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 94%
  • RIC 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2,811
  • RIC 5,415
  • Admitted
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 1,748
  • RIC 4,972
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 62.2%
  • RIC 91.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 22.2%
  • RIC 23.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 1020
  • RIC 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 20
  • RIC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 3.21
  • RIC 3.08
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Southwest Minnesota State University B+
  • RIC B
  • Admissions Standards
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Extremely Easy
  • RIC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Low
  • RIC
  • ACT Range
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 17/23
  • RIC
  • SAT Range
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 935/1102
  • RIC 870/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Test optional
  • RIC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Aug 18, 2027
  • RIC Mar 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 16:1
  • RIC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Southwest Minnesota State University
    • Business (39%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Communication (4%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • RIC
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 39%
  • RIC 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $41,200
  • RIC $42,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 66%
  • RIC 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $21,678
  • RIC $21,200
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Southwest Minnesota State University $224
  • RIC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 38%
  • RIC 30%
  • % Women
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 62%
  • RIC 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Southwest Minnesota State University Low
  • RIC Medium
  • HBCU
  • Southwest Minnesota State University No
  • RIC No
  • % White
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 80%
  • RIC 62%
  • % Asian
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2%
  • RIC 3%
  • % Black
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 5%
  • RIC 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 4%
  • RIC 16%
  • % Native American
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 3%
  • RIC 2%
  • % International
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 5%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 2%
  • RIC 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 71%
  • RIC 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Southwest Minnesota State University 22%
  • RIC 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN with Rhode Island College in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than RIC based on total student enrollment (8,214 students vs. 6,155 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is located in Marshall, MN (Rural Fringe setting); Rhode Island College is in Providence, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Southwest Minnesota State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Southwest Minnesota State University 16:1; Rhode Island College 15:1.

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. RIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southwest Minnesota State University 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 Southwest Minnesota State University ($10,346 vs. $15,547).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Minnesota State University are 17.8% lower than at Rhode Island College ($11,028 vs. $13,414).
  • Rhode Island College is 9.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwest Minnesota State University (about $939 more per year; $11,300.00 vs. $10,361.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 163.5% higher at RIC than at Southwest Minnesota State University (about $16,938 more per year; $27,299.00 vs. $10,361.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rhode Island College than at Southwest Minnesota State University (95% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest Minnesota State University students is 29.3% larger than aid received by Rhode Island College students ($8,674 vs. $6,706).

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. RIC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southwest Minnesota State University 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 Southwest Minnesota State University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Southwest Minnesota State University (1020) is 20 points higher than at RIC (1000).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southwest Minnesota State University 935/1102; Rhode Island College 870/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southwest Minnesota State University 17/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Southwest Minnesota State University - Test optional; RIC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Southwest Minnesota State University Aug 18, 2027; RIC Mar 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Southwest Minnesota State University students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.21) than students at RIC (3.08).
  • RIC has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than Southwest Minnesota State University (62.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.2% at Southwest Minnesota State University vs. 23.1% at RIC.

Southwest Minnesota State University vs. RIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southwest Minnesota State University 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).

  • Rhode Island College's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University's (39%).
  • Graduates from Rhode Island College earn a median of about $800 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,000 vs. $41,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island College graduates have a $478 lower median loan debt than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates ($21,200 vs. $21,678).
  • Among borrowers, RIC graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates ($219 vs. $224).
  • More Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIC students, three years after graduation. (66% 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.