Amherst vs. RISD

Deciding between Amherst College and Rhode Island School of Design? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Amherst College
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Amherst -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Amherst Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Amherst
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Amherst A
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Amherst 33/35
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Amherst 1490/1580
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Amherst $134
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Amherst 45%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Amherst 55%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Amherst Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Amherst No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Amherst 42%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Amherst 14%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Amherst 12%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Amherst 13%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Amherst 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Amherst 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Amherst 5%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Amherst 10%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Amherst 4%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Amherst 13%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Amherst 70%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Amherst Yes
  • RISD Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Amherst No
  • RISD No
  • Meal Plan
  • Amherst Yes
  • RISD Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Amherst No
  • RISD No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Amherst No
  • RISD No

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rhode Island School of Design is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island School of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Amherst vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst or RISD? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Amherst College than RISD ($19,049 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 9.6% lower than at Amherst College ($16,626 vs. $18,390).
  • Amherst College is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $7,792 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.4% higher at Amherst than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $7,792 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Amherst College than at Rhode Island School of Design (59% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 79.4% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($68,591 vs. $38,223).

Amherst vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst or RISD? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between RISD and Amherst.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 80 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming Amherst students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at RISD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than Amherst (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Amherst vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst and RISD? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $30,900 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $14,025 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($12,975 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $145 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($134 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Amherst students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 83%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.