WSSU vs. RIC

Should I go to Winston Salem State University or Rhode Island College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WSSU 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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Winston Salem State University vs. Rhode Island College comparison
Winston Salem State University Rhode Island College College 3 College 4
Winston Salem State University Rhode Island College
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Overview

WSSU RIC
Location Winston-Salem, NC Providence, RI
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,004 5,787
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #956 #720
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wssu.edu ric.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

WSSU RIC
Tuition (In State) $3,401 $9,481
Tuition (Out of State) $14,057 $25,014
Room & Board $11,220 $13,414
Avg Net Price $14,097 $11,014
Avg Grant Aid $8,350 $7,537
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 62%

Admission

WSSU RIC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,628 3,921
Admitted 5,598 3,432
Acceptance Rate 73.4% 87.5%
Enrolled % 15.3% 19.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.01 3.08
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 14/19
SAT Range 830/1050 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 Feb 15, 2024 Mar 15, 2024

Academics

WSSU RIC
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (50%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

WSSU RIC
Graduation Rate 41% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,700 $42,000
Making Student Loan Payments 33% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,663 $21,200
Median Loan Payment $265 $219

Diversity

WSSU RIC
% Men 24% 29%
% Women 76% 71%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 16% 62%
% Black 72% 8%
% Hispanic 3% 16%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 8%

Students

WSSU RIC
% In-State 82% 80%
% Out-of-State 16% 20%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Rhode Island College is larger than than WSSU based on total student enrollment (5,787 students vs. 5,004 students)

WSSU vs. RIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WSSU or RIC?

  • Rhode Island College is 178.8% more expensive to attend than WSSU for in-state tuition ($9,481.00 vs. $3,401.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 77.9% higher at RIC than Winston Salem State University ($25,014.00 vs. $14,057.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rhode Island College than WSSU ($11,014 vs. $14,097)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winston Salem State University are 19.6% lower than costs at Rhode Island College ($11,220 vs. $13,414)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Winston Salem State University than Rhode Island College (86% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Winston Salem State University students is 10.8% larger than aid received Rhode Island College ($8,350 vs. $7,537)

WSSU vs. RIC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rhode Island College (913) is 43 points higher than at WSSU (870)
  • Incoming RIC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (19) than students at WSSU (18)
  • Accepted freshman RIC students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.08) than students at WSSU (3.01)
  • RIC has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than WSSU (73.4%)

WSSU vs. RIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WSSU 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 WSSU.

  • The graduation rate at RIC is higher than Winston Salem State University (44% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Rhode Island College earn on average $6,300 more per year than WSSU graduates after ten years. ($42,000 vs. $35,700)
  • Rhode Island College students graduate with a $4,463 lower median federal student loan debt than WSSU graduates. ($21,200 vs. $25,663)
  • RIC graduates are paying $46 less per month on federal student loans than WSSU graduates. ($219 vs. $265)
  • More RIC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSSU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 33%)

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