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NYU Johns Hopkins Case Western Pratt Institute Cornell Emory Penn Duke Georgetown WUSTL Swarthmore Caltech| Carnegie Mellon University | Rhode Island School of Design | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Carnegie Mellon | RISD | ||
| Location | Pittsburgh, PA | Providence, RI | ||
| Setting | Large City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 16,002 | 2,620 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #41 | #96 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | cmu.edu | risd.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Carnegie Mellon | RISD | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $59,864 | $56,435 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $59,864 | $56,435 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,486 | $15,234 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,499 | $39,800 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $43,966 | $37,480 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 47% | 34% |
Admission |
Carnegie Mellon | RISD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 34,261 | 5,099 | ||
| Admitted | 3,873 | 888 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 11.3% | 17.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 44.3% | 54.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.89 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 34/35 | 29/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1490/1570 | 1340/1525 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 1, 2025 | Feb 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Carnegie Mellon | RISD | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 5:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Carnegie Mellon | RISD | ||
| Graduation Rate | 87% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $102,700 | $51,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 91% | 89% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,250 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $271 | $279 |
Diversity |
Carnegie Mellon | RISD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 56% | 33% | ||
| % Women | 44% | 67% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 32% | 31% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 18% | 26% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 8% |
Students |
Carnegie Mellon | RISD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 11% | 1% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 69% | 58% | ||
Campus |
Carnegie Mellon | RISD | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Carnegie Mellon University is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (16,002 students vs. 2,620 students)
Carnegie Mellon vs. RISD Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Carnegie Mellon or RISD?
- Carnegie Mellon University is 6.1% more expensive to attend than RISD for in-state tuition ($59,864.00 vs. $56,435.00)
- Out of state tuition is 6.1% higher at Carnegie Mellon than Rhode Island School of Design ($59,864.00 vs. $56,435.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Carnegie Mellon University than RISD ($33,499 vs. $39,800)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 8.2% lower than costs at Carnegie Mellon University ($15,234 vs. $16,486)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Carnegie Mellon University than Rhode Island School of Design (47% vs. 34%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 17.3% larger than aid received Rhode Island School of Design ($43,966 vs. $37,480)
Carnegie Mellon vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Carnegie Mellon or RISD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RISD or Carnegie Mellon .
- The average SAT score at Carnegie Mellon University (1448) is 175 points higher than at RISD (1273)
- Incoming Carnegie Mellon students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at RISD (29)
- Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at RISD (3.71)
- RISD has a higher acceptance rate (17.4%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.3%)
Carnegie Mellon vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Carnegie Mellon or RISD? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between RISD and Carnegie Mellon.
- The graduation rate at Carnegie Mellon is the same as at Rhode Island School of Design (87% vs. 87%)
- Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn on average $51,600 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($102,700 vs. $51,100)
- Carnegie Mellon University students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($26,250 vs. $27,000)
- Carnegie Mellon graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than RISD graduates. ($271 vs. $279)
- More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RISD students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 89%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/