Art Center College of Design vs. RISD

Comparable Facts

Compare Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA 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 Art Center College of Design based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 2,308 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
• Art Center College of Design 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: Art Center College of Design 9:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design 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 Rhode Island School of Design than Art Center College of Design ($43,492 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 15.3% lower than at Art Center College of Design ($16,626 vs. $19,632).
• Rhode Island School of Design is 15.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Art Center College of Design (about $8,518 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $54,170.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.7% higher at RISD than at Art Center College of Design (about $8,518 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $54,170.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Art Center College of Design than at Rhode Island School of Design (60% vs. 31%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 70.5% larger than aid received by Art Center College of Design students ($38,223 vs. $22,412).

Art Center College of Design vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Art Center College of Design 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 Art Center College of Design.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRhode Island School of Design 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; RISD - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: RISD Feb 1, 2027.
• Art Center College of Design has a higher acceptance rate (74.5%) than RISD (18.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Art Center College of Design vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Art Center College of Design vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design 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).

• Rhode Island School of Design's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Art Center College of Design's (54%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island School of Design graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($27,000 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, RISD graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($279 vs. $323).
• More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Art Center College of Design students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 73%)

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.