BU vs. RISD

Deciding between Boston 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.

Boston University
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Boston 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: Boston University 10:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

BU vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU 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 Boston University than RISD ($24,420 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 12.6% lower than at Boston University ($16,626 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 8.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $5,414 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.6% higher at BU than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $5,414 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Boston University than at Rhode Island School of Design (49% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 61.8% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($61,848 vs. $38,223).

BU vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU 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 BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 20 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming BU 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: Boston University 1420/1530; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 41.5% at RISD.

BU vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU 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 Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $20,900 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island School of Design and BU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Rhode Island School of Design and BU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 82%)

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.