RISD Rankings and Evaluation
Rhode Island Colleges
#2 in Rhode Island Colleges
Federal Region I
#1 in Federal Region I
Rhode Island School of Design is ranked 2nd in Rhode Island Colleges and 1st in Federal Region I.
The following statements evaluate Rhode Island School of Design by comparing key academic facts to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island.
- Its tuition & fees of $62,688 is very expensive compared to similar schools.
- The acceptance rate (19%) is much lower (extremely difficult to get in).
- The SAT & ACT scores (1,480 SAT, 32 ACT) is higher (competitive score).
- It has small number of students of 2,520.
- The financial aid amount ($35,676) is average.
- It offers limited area of study (33 programs).
Undergraduate Tuition & Fees
The 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees of RISD are $62,688 and it is very expensive compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island School of Design $62,688
All U.S. Colleges $17,692
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges $26,737
4-Years Colleges $22,926
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island $35,539
Graduate Tuition & Fees
The 2025 graduate tuition & fees of RISD are $62,688 and it is very expensive compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island School of Design $62,688
All U.S. Colleges $18,842
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges $18,688
4-Years Colleges $18,848
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island $23,597
Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate of RISD is 19% and it is much lower (extremely difficult to get in) compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island School of Design 19%
All U.S. Colleges 69%
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 66%
4-Years Colleges 68%
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island 56%
Yield (Enrollment Rate)
The yield, also known as enrollment rate, of RISD is 41% and the yield is average compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island School of Design 41%
All U.S. Colleges 37%
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 35%
4-Years Colleges 35%
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island 31%
SAT Scores
The average SAT score submitted by enrolled students at RISD is 1,480 and it is higher (competitive score) compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island School of Design 1,480
All U.S. Colleges 1,123
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 1,132
4-Years Colleges 1,124
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island 1,299
ACT Scores
The average ACT score submitted by enrolled students at RISD is 32 and it is lower compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island School of Design 32
All U.S. Colleges 68
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 69
4-Years Colleges 68
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island 78
Graduation Rate
The average graduation rate at RISD is 89% and it is average compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island School of Design 89%
All U.S. Colleges 56%
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 56%
4-Years Colleges 51%
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island 77%
Transfer-out Rate
The average transfer-out rate at RISD is 4% and it is much lower (most first-time students continue to attend) compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island School of Design 4%
All U.S. Colleges 21%
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 25%
4-Years Colleges 24%
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island 14%
Retention Rate
The average retention rate at RISD is 95% and it is average compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island School of Design 95%
All U.S. Colleges 69%
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 74%
4-Years Colleges 73%
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island 87%
Student Population
The total student population at RISD is 2,520 and its population small compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island School of Design 2,520
All U.S. Colleges 2,931
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 2,477
4-Years Colleges 4,686
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island 4,079
Financial Aid Amount
The average amount of financial aid received at RISD is $35,676 which is 56.91% of tuition & fees. The rate of the financial aid over its tuition is average compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island School of Design $35,676
All U.S. Colleges $7,676
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges $16,488
4-Years Colleges $12,161
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island $19,625
Student to Faculty Ratio
The students to faculty ratio at RISD is 8 to 1 and the ratio is very lower (smaller size classes) compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island School of Design 8 to 1
All U.S. Colleges 15 to 1
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges 12 to 1
4-Years Colleges 14 to 1
Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island 13 to 1
Number of Programs
RISD offers 33 programs and it means limited area of study compared to Private (not-for-profit), 4-Years Colleges in Rhode Island.
