Bentley vs. RISD

Deciding between Bentley University 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.

Bentley University
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bentley Waltham, MA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Bentley Small City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bentley 5,333
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Bentley Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bentley #107
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bentley -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Bentley Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bentley
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Bentley $20,140
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Bentley $45,802
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bentley $33,673
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bentley 88%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bentley 11,012
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Bentley 4,961
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bentley 45.1%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Bentley 21.3%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bentley 1360
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bentley 29
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bentley 3.75
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bentley A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bentley Very High
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bentley Low
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Bentley 28/31
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Bentley 1280/1430
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bentley Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bentley Jan 15, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bentley 12:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bentley
    • Business (83%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
    • Mathematics (1%)
    • General Studies (1%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bentley 88%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bentley $87,200
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bentley 92%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bentley $26,500
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bentley $274
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bentley 59%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Bentley 41%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bentley Medium
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Bentley No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Bentley 62%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Bentley 8%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Bentley 3%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bentley 7%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Bentley 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bentley 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bentley 2%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Bentley 14%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bentley 3%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bentley 39%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bentley 44%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Bentley University is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (5,333 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bentley University is located in Waltham, MA (Small City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Bentley University 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: Bentley University 12:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Bentley vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bentley 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 Bentley ($43,492 vs. $45,802).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 17.4% lower than at Bentley University ($16,626 vs. $20,140).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is 2.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bentley (about $1,688 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $61,000.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at RISD than at Bentley University (about $1,688 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $61,000.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bentley University than at Rhode Island School of Design (88% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 13.5% larger than aid received by Bentley University students ($38,223 vs. $33,673).

Bentley vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bentley 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 Bentley.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 100 points higher than at Bentley (1360).
  • Incoming RISD students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at Bentley).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bentley University 1280/1430; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bentley University 28/31; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bentley - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bentley Jan 15, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Bentley students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • Bentley has a higher acceptance rate (45.1%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.3% at Bentley vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Bentley vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bentley 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).

  • Bentley University's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from Bentley University earn a median of about $36,100 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,200 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bentley University graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($26,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Bentley graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($274 vs. $279).
  • More Bentley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RISD students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.