Rhode Island College vs University of Southern Maine

Rhode Island College and University of Southern Maine are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: University of Southern Maine is more selective with a 79.3% acceptance rate compared to Rhode Island College's 81.1%. Average SAT scores are 1010 and 1130 respectively.

Cost: Rhode Island College offers a lower average net price at $10,988, which is $741 less than University of Southern Maine ($11,729). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Rhode Island College earn a median salary of $56,318 ten years after enrollment, which is $6,360 more than University of Southern Maine graduates ($49,958).

Graduation: Rhode Island College leads with a 45.0% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 73.7% vs 75.6%.

Campus Size: Rhode Island College is the larger campus with 4,630 total students, while University of Southern Maine has 4,245.

Bottom Line: Rhode Island College stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.