URI vs. WVU

Deciding between University of Rhode Island and West Virginia 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.

University of Rhode Island
West Virginia University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • URI Kingston, RI
  • WVU Morgantown, WV
  • Setting
  • URI Large Suburban
  • WVU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • URI 17,210
  • WVU 23,643
  • Type
  • URI Public 4 Year
  • WVU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • URI #425
  • WVU #566
  • Religious Affiliation
  • URI -
  • WVU -
  • Status
  • URI Non-profit
  • WVU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • URI
  • WVU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • URI $16,942
  • WVU $10,104
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • URI $37,146
  • WVU $28,608
  • Room & Board
  • URI $15,607
  • WVU $14,582
  • Average Net Price
  • URI $24,118
  • WVU $15,169
  • Average Grant Aid
  • URI $12,578
  • WVU $12,363
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • URI 96%
  • WVU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • URI 26,987
  • WVU 18,729
  • Admitted
  • URI 19,475
  • WVU 16,669
  • Acceptance Rate
  • URI 72.2%
  • WVU 89%
  • Enrolled
  • URI 15.4%
  • WVU 24.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • URI 1150
  • WVU 1120
  • Typical ACT score
  • URI
  • WVU 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • URI 3.58
  • WVU 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • URI B+
  • WVU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • URI Average
  • WVU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • URI Low
  • WVU
  • ACT Range
  • URI
  • WVU 20/26
  • SAT Range
  • URI 1020/1280
  • WVU 1010/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • URI Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • WVU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • URI Feb 1, 2027
  • WVU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • URI 17:1
  • WVU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • URI
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • WVU
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • URI 63%
  • WVU 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • URI $56,200
  • WVU $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • URI 69%
  • WVU 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • URI $23,438
  • WVU $24,001
  • Median Loan Payment
  • URI $242
  • WVU $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • URI 38%
  • WVU 47%
  • % Women
  • URI 62%
  • WVU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • URI Low
  • WVU Low
  • HBCU
  • URI No
  • WVU No
  • % White
  • URI 71%
  • WVU 81%
  • % Asian
  • URI 3%
  • WVU 1%
  • % Black
  • URI 5%
  • WVU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • URI 9%
  • WVU 4%
  • % Native American
  • URI 0%
  • WVU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • URI 0%
  • WVU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • URI 3%
  • WVU 3%
  • % International
  • URI 1%
  • WVU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • URI 7%
  • WVU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • URI 42%
  • WVU 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • URI 57%
  • WVU 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI with West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

West Virginia University is larger than URI based on total student enrollment (23,643 students vs. 17,210 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Rhode Island is located in Kingston, RI (Large Suburban setting); West Virginia University is in Morgantown, WV (Small City setting).
  • University of Rhode Island is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. West Virginia University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Rhode Island 17:1; West Virginia University 19:1.

URI vs. WVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, URI or WVU? 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 West Virginia University than URI ($15,169 vs. $24,118).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Virginia University are 6.6% lower than at University of Rhode Island ($14,582 vs. $15,607).
  • University of Rhode Island is 67.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than WVU (about $6,838 more per year; $16,942.00 vs. $10,104.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 29.8% higher at URI than at West Virginia University (about $8,538 more per year; $37,146.00 vs. $28,608.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rhode Island than at West Virginia University (96% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Rhode Island students is 1.7% larger than aid received by West Virginia University students ($12,578 vs. $12,363).

URI vs. WVU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, URI or WVU? 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 WVU and URI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Rhode Island (1150) is 30 points higher than at WVU (1120).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Rhode Island 1020/1280; West Virginia University 1010/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWest Virginia University 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: URI - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); WVU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: URI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman URI students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at WVU (3.45).
  • WVU has a higher acceptance rate (89%) than URI (72.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at URI vs. 24.8% at WVU.

URI vs. WVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for URI and WVU? 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 West Virginia University's (57%).
  • Graduates from University of Rhode Island earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than WVU graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Rhode Island graduates have a $563 lower median loan debt than WVU graduates ($23,438 vs. $24,001).
  • Among borrowers, URI graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WVU graduates ($242 vs. $248).
  • More URI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WVU students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.