Brown vs. RISD

Deciding between Brown 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.

Brown University
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Brown Midsize City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Brown 11,956
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Brown #11
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Brown -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Brown Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Brown
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Brown $71,412
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Brown $71,412
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Brown $17,444
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Brown $26,256
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Brown $61,392
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Brown 52%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Brown 48,904
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Brown 2,638
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Brown 5.4%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Brown 65.2%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Brown 1550
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Brown 34
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Brown 3.94
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Brown A
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Brown Elite
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Brown Extreme
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Brown 34/35
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Brown Required
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Brown 6:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Brown 95%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Brown $87,600
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Brown 89%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Brown $15,000
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Brown $155
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Brown 48%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Brown 52%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Brown Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Brown No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Brown 43%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Brown 13%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Brown 7%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Brown 11%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Brown 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Brown 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Brown 6%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Brown 12%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Brown 7%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Brown 3%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Brown 79%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Brown University is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (11,956 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Brown University is located in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Brown 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: Brown University 6:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Brown vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Brown 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 Brown University than RISD ($26,256 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 4.7% lower than at Brown University ($16,626 vs. $17,444).
  • Brown University is 13.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $8,724 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.9% higher at Brown than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $8,724 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Brown University than at Rhode Island School of Design (52% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 60.6% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($61,392 vs. $38,223).

Brown vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Brown 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 Brown.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 90 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming Brown 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: Brown University 1510/1580; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Brown University 34/35; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Brown - Required; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Brown Jan 5, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 65.2% at Brown vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Brown vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Brown 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).

  • Brown University's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $36,500 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $12,000 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($15,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $124 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($155 vs. $279).
  • More Brown 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.