Rhode Island School of Design
The Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts college in the state capital of Providence and one of the first art and design institutions in the United States. RISD confers bachelor’s degrees in 21 fine arts fields of study such as Ceramics, Photography, and Furniture Design. As part of RISD’s emphasis of the liberal arts, all undergraduates are required to take one-third of their classes in the Liberal Arts division along with their BFA. The RISD campus is shared with Brown University and both schools work together to offer joint courses.
Admissions
Key Admissions Stats
Institution Type
Private
- Not for Profit
- Coed
Need Blind
This school does not consider an applicant’s financial situation when deciding admission
Level of Institution
4 Year
Campus Setting
Small city
Admissions Requirements
SAT
No
ACT
No
Transcript
Yes
Important Deadlines
| Application Type | Application Deadline | Reply Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Early Decision Acceptance is binding so student must attend college if accepted. | November 1 | |
| Fall Regular Decision | January 17 |
Admitted Student Stats
5%
Submitting ACT
18%
Submitting SAT
Average ACT Composite: 31
Average SAT Composite: 1349
Academics
Key Academic Stats
Highest Degree Offered
Master's
Total Number of Students
2,620
Total Number of Undergrads
2,108
Classroom Sizes
0
100
71%
Graduate in 4 Years US National: 28%
0
100
91%
Graduate in 6 Years US National: 52%
Student:Faculty Ratio
9:1
US National: 21:1Tuition, Cost & Aid
Key Financial Stats
Tuition
| In-State Tuition In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution. | $59,760 |
| Out-of-State Tuition Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state’s or institution’s residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school. | $59,760 |
Additional Costs
Room and Board The weighted average for room and board and other expenses is generated as follows:
| $15,850 |
| Books and Supplies | $2700 |
Aid & Grants
0
100
65%
Need Met
Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid. Federal gift aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution. Students Receiving Grants Percent of undergraduate students awarded grant aid. Grant aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
15%
Average Aid Per Year
$37,480
15%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$6,345
Average Institution Grant Aid Per Year
$34,950
Student Loans
Students Borrowing Loans Loans to students - Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.
34%
Average Loan Amount Per Year
$7,148
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$24,596
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$258
Campus Life
Key Campus Stats
Student Gender
Student Organizations
70
Size of Town
Small city
LGBTQIA Student Resource Groups
Yes
On Campus Women's Center
No
Housing
0
100
60%
Undergrads Living on Campus
On-campus living required of freshman
No
Athletics
Varsity Athletics Conference Primary
Not applicable
Campus Safety
24-HR security patrol
Yes
Campus emergency phones
Yes
After Graduation
Post Grad Stats
Top 5 Cities
New York
Providence
Boston
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Average Salary
6 years after graduation
$56,400
What Students Are Saying
risd is an amazing opportunity and one of the best art schools in the world. if it's really for you, one visit seals the deal: you won't want to go anywhere else and the price of admission will seem trivial in comparison with the amazing opportunity. be prepared to work very hard, but love every minute of it because it doesn't feel like work to you.
van donsel from waltham, ma
This school is an incredibly challenging school, however the ability to grow as an artist and a designer is limitless. The amount of talent and dedication here is something that doesn't exist at other schools and is something that forces a student to perform to their upmost ability. However, the intensity level is sometimes too high and seems like it has the potential to burn students out.
William
RISD is competitive, everyone is expected to be self-motivated and self-reliant. Asking for help is strongly encouraged and freely given, but you have to self advocate. The school is small but the resources available are without equal.
Clara from Providence, RI
RISD is a diverse community.
RISD is well known for its strong academics.
Students are very talented and enthusiastic about art in general.
RISD is well known for its strong academics.
Students are very talented and enthusiastic about art in general.
Julie
risd is a challenging school that will help you to look at art in new and interesting ways. the professors are amazing and always willing to help. the diverse cultural and artistic styles help to stir creativity.
meri
An amazing school with a good perspective on the importance of knowledge of art and design in the world, which they show through interwoven disciplines. This school gives you a great foundation to go off and be successful in whatever you want, if you work hard to get there. I love RISD and although the price is steep, I believe its worth it.
Julia from Horsham, PA
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is on a beautiful campus. Their facilities are endless, and the professors are very accomplished. It's definitely a place I can see myself spending four years in.
Anshika from Ellicott City, MD
AMAZING facilities, very stressful, hard work
Jessica from PROVIDENCE, RI
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