Bucknell vs. RISD

Deciding between Bucknell 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.

Bucknell University
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bucknell Lewisburg, PA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Bucknell Distant Town
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bucknell 3,969
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Bucknell Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bucknell #71
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bucknell -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Bucknell Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bucknell
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Bucknell $16,924
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Bucknell $39,003
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bucknell $44,734
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bucknell 59%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bucknell 11,377
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Bucknell 3,291
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bucknell 28.9%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Bucknell 30.1%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bucknell 1390
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bucknell 31
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bucknell 3.62
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bucknell A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bucknell Very High
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bucknell High
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Bucknell 30/33
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Bucknell 1310/1470
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bucknell Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bucknell Jan 15, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bucknell 9:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bucknell
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Bucknell 91%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Bucknell $76,300
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Bucknell 89%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Bucknell $27,000
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Bucknell $279
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bucknell 48%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Bucknell 52%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bucknell Low
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Bucknell No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Bucknell 77%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Bucknell 4%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Bucknell 3%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bucknell 6%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Bucknell 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bucknell 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bucknell 4%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Bucknell 5%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bucknell 0%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bucknell 19%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bucknell 77%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Bucknell University is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (3,969 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bucknell University is located in Lewisburg, PA (Distant Town setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Bucknell 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: Bucknell University 9:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Bucknell vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bucknell 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 Bucknell University than RISD ($39,003 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 1.8% lower than at Bucknell University ($16,626 vs. $16,924).
  • Bucknell University is 8.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $5,124 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.2% higher at Bucknell than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $5,124 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bucknell University than at Rhode Island School of Design (59% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 17% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($44,734 vs. $38,223).

Bucknell vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bucknell 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 Bucknell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 70 points higher than at Bucknell (1390).
  • Incoming RISD students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at Bucknell).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bucknell University 1310/1470; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bucknell University 30/33; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bucknell - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bucknell Jan 15, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Bucknell (3.62).
  • Bucknell has a higher acceptance rate (28.9%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.1% at Bucknell vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Bucknell vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bucknell 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).

  • Bucknell University's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from Bucknell University earn a median of about $25,200 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,300 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island School of Design and Bucknell graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Rhode Island School of Design and Bucknell graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More Bucknell 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.