Claremont McKenna vs. RISD

Comparable Facts

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

Rhode Island School of Design is larger than Claremont McKenna based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 1,393 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Claremont McKenna College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
• Claremont McKenna College 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: Claremont McKenna College 8:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Claremont McKenna vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Claremont McKenna 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 Claremont McKenna College than RISD ($33,895 vs. $43,492).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 20.2% lower than at Claremont McKenna College ($16,626 vs. $20,830).
• Claremont McKenna College is 8.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $5,292 more per year; $67,980.00 vs. $62,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.4% higher at Claremont McKenna than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $5,292 more per year; $67,980.00 vs. $62,688.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Claremont McKenna College than at Rhode Island School of Design (43% vs. 31%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Claremont McKenna College students is 37.6% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($52,605 vs. $38,223).

Claremont McKenna vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Claremont McKenna 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 Claremont McKenna.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Claremont McKenna College (1520) is 60 points higher than at RISD (1460).
• Incoming Claremont McKenna 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: Claremont McKenna College 1470/1560; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Claremont McKenna College 33/35; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Claremont McKenna - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Claremont McKenna 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 (18.7%) than Claremont McKenna (9.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Claremont McKenna vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Claremont McKenna vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Claremont McKenna 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).

• Claremont McKenna College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
• Graduates from Claremont McKenna College earn a median of about $46,700 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($97,800 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Claremont McKenna College graduates have a $12,033 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($14,967 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Claremont McKenna graduates have an estimated $125 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($154 vs. $279).

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.