WestConn vs. RIC

Should I go to Western Connecticut State University or Rhode Island College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WestConn or RIC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Western Connecticut State University vs. Rhode Island College comparison
Western Connecticut State University Rhode Island College College 3 College 4
Western Connecticut State University Rhode Island College
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Overview

WestConn RIC
Location Danbury, CT Providence, RI
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 4,417 5,787
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #466 #720
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wcsu.edu ric.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

WestConn RIC
Tuition (In State) $6,464 $9,481
Tuition (Out of State) $19,358 $25,014
Room & Board $14,568 $13,414
Avg Net Price $15,862 $11,014
Avg Grant Aid $9,057 $7,537
% Receiving Grant Aid 72% 62%

Admission

WestConn RIC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 3,921
Admitted 4,253 3,432
Acceptance Rate 83.5% 87.5%
Enrolled % 14.8% 19.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.38 3.08
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Average Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/29
SAT Range 1010/1230 870/1110
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Mar 15, 2024

Academics

WestConn RIC
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

WestConn RIC
Graduation Rate 40% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,400 $42,000
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $21,200
Median Loan Payment $258 $219

Diversity

WestConn RIC
% Men 45% 29%
% Women 55% 71%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 61% 62%
% Black 12% 8%
% Hispanic 18% 16%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 8%

Students

WestConn RIC
% In-State 70% 80%
% Out-of-State 30% 20%

Campus

WestConn RIC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Rhode Island College is larger than than WestConn based on total student enrollment (5,787 students vs. 4,417 students)

WestConn vs. RIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WestConn or RIC?

  • Rhode Island College is 46.7% more expensive to attend than WestConn for in-state tuition ($9,481.00 vs. $6,464.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 29.2% higher at RIC than Western Connecticut State University ($25,014.00 vs. $19,358.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rhode Island College than WestConn ($11,014 vs. $15,862)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island College are 8.6% lower than costs at Western Connecticut State University ($13,414 vs. $14,568)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Connecticut State University than Rhode Island College (72% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Connecticut State University students is 20.2% larger than aid received Rhode Island College ($9,057 vs. $7,537)

WestConn vs. RIC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WestConn or RIC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RIC or WestConn .

  • Accepted freshman WestConn students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.38) than students at RIC (3.08)
  • RIC has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than WestConn (83.5%)

WestConn vs. RIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WestConn or RIC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between RIC and WestConn.

  • The graduation rate at RIC is higher than Western Connecticut State University (44% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Western Connecticut State University earn on average $5,400 more per year than RIC graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $42,000)
  • Rhode Island College students graduate with a $3,800 lower median federal student loan debt than WestConn graduates. ($21,200 vs. $25,000)
  • RIC graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than WestConn graduates. ($219 vs. $258)
  • More WestConn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIC students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/