U. Rhode Island vs. U. Alabama · Cost & aid

U. Rhode IslandKingston, RI

U. AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL

Key differences on Cost & aid

1
U. Alabama's grants cover 30% of its full price on average, vs. 26% at U. Rhode Island
Aid generosity
2
U. Alabama costs about $2.2K less per year on average than U. Rhode Island ($32,385 vs. $34,536, all students)
Average cost, all students

Cost & aid

Average cost, aid generosity, net price by family income, sticker prices, and grants.

What students pay

Average cost, all students

U. Rhode Island$34.5K

U. Alabama$32.4KLowest

Aid generosity

U. Rhode Island26%

U. Alabama30%Most

Net price, with grants

U. Rhode Island$24.1K

U. Alabama$22.6KLowest

Grants

First-years receiving grants

U. Rhode Island96%Most

U. Alabama80%

Average grant

U. Rhode Island$12.6K

U. Alabama$17.5KLargest

Aid from the college

U. Rhode Island96%

U. Alabama76%

Sticker prices

On one scale, so the bars read against each other.

Sticker price, in-state

U. Rhode Island$35K

U. Alabama$33.4K

Sticker price, out-of-state

U. Rhode Island$54.4K

U. Alabama$54.7K

Tuition & fees, in-state

U. Rhode Island$16.4K

U. Alabama$11.9K

Tuition & fees, out-of-state

U. Rhode Island$35.8K

U. Alabama$33.2K

First-years paying out-of-state rates

U. Rhode Island60%

U. Alabama61%

What families at each income pay

Up to $110K: the average net price per year for students receiving federal aid, 2023–24; families who didn't file the FAFSA aren't included. Above it the published data end. For your own number, use the college's net price calculator .

Family income per year $150K

U. Rhode IslandLittle need-based aid above $110K
Merit possible; averaging $10K
U. AlabamaLittle need-based aid above $110K

Published (federal figure, up to $110K) EstimateBars share one scale: the largest full price.

Where need-based aid ends, merit, and published promises

Metric	U. Rhode Island	U. Alabama
Need-based aid up to	Little need-based aid above $110K	Little need-based aid above $110K
Merit for students without need	31% got merit aid, averaging $10K	–
Published promise	–	–

A college's own promise is stated for a typical family and changes yearly; where a promise and our estimate disagree, the promise wins. Merit has no income limit, so it can lower the price above the point where need-based aid ends.

Tuition guarantee & Promise program

Metric	U. Rhode Island	U. Alabama
Tuition guarantee	No	No
Promise program	No	Yes

From the colleges' Common Data Sets

Metric	U. Rhode Island	U. Alabama
Aid forms	FAFSA	–
Aid priority date or deadline	March 1 (priority)	–
Need met, first-years	64%	63%
Average aid package, first-years	$19,677	$19,857
College grant dollars given as merit	23%	71%
Aid for international students	Offered	213 students, average $33.9K

All cost numbers in the table

Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;University of Rhode Island Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;University of Rhode Island Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26 (estimated);College Scorecard, most recent release;Common Data Set, most recent release;University of Rhode Island Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;The University of Alabama Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;The University of Alabama Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26 (estimated);The University of Alabama (2026–27), 2026–27About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why