Barnard vs. RISD

Deciding between Barnard 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.

Barnard College
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Barnard Large City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Barnard 3,487
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Barnard #35
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Barnard -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Barnard
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Barnard $21,714
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Barnard $26,407
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Barnard $63,131
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Barnard 33%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Barnard 11,836
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Barnard 1,046
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Barnard 1520
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Barnard 33
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Barnard 3.85
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Barnard A
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Barnard Elite
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Barnard Extreme
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Barnard 32/34
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Barnard Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Barnard 10:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Barnard 92%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Barnard $66,900
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Barnard 89%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Barnard $17,847
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Barnard $184
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Barnard 2%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Barnard 98%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Barnard High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Barnard No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Barnard 53%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Barnard 14%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Barnard 7%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Barnard 12%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Barnard 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Barnard 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Barnard 6%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Barnard 8%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Barnard 0%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Barnard 20%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Barnard 62%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Barnard College is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (3,487 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Barnard College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Barnard 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: Barnard College 10:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Barnard vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Barnard 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 Barnard College than RISD ($26,407 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 23.4% lower than at Barnard College ($16,626 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 11.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $7,200 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.5% higher at Barnard than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $7,200 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Barnard College than at Rhode Island School of Design (33% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 65.2% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($63,131 vs. $38,223).

Barnard vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Barnard 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 Barnard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 60 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming Barnard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at RISD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 1470/1560; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 32/34; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Barnard - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Barnard students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than Barnard (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Barnard vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Barnard 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).

  • Barnard College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from Barnard College earn a median of about $15,800 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,900 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $9,153 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($17,847 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $95 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($184 vs. $279).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RISD students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 89%)

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.