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Pratt Institute RIT St Lawrence University RPI Syracuse MICA UB Binghamton University Union College Yale Cooper Union UVM| Clarkson University | Rhode Island School of Design | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Clarkson | RISD | ||
| Location | Potsdam, NY | Providence, RI | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,603 | 2,540 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #183 | #90 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | clarkson.edu | risd.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Clarkson | RISD | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $56,642 | $58,690 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $56,642 | $58,690 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,016 | $15,850 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,192 | $42,106 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $43,097 | $36,743 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 33% |
Admission |
Clarkson | RISD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,347 | 7,126 | ||
| Admitted | 5,669 | 984 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77.2% | 13.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 10.7% | 51.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.8 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | |||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 30/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1198/1390 | 1370/1540 | ||
| 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 15, 2026 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Clarkson | RISD | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 8:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Clarkson | RISD | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $70,800 | $51,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 86% | 89% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $279 |
Diversity |
Clarkson | RISD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 17% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 13% | 13% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 84% | 31% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 26% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 8% |
Students |
Clarkson | RISD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 65% | 1% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 61% | ||
Campus |
Clarkson | RISD | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Clarkson University is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (3,603 students vs. 2,540 students)
Clarkson vs. RISD Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or RISD?
- Rhode Island School of Design is 3.6% more expensive to attend than Clarkson for in-state tuition ($58,690.00 vs. $56,642.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3.6% higher at RISD than Clarkson University ($58,690.00 vs. $56,642.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clarkson University than RISD ($33,192 vs. $42,106)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 7.4% lower than costs at Clarkson University ($15,850 vs. $17,016)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Rhode Island School of Design (100% vs. 33%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 17.3% larger than aid received Rhode Island School of Design ($43,097 vs. $36,743)
Clarkson vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Clarkson or RISD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RISD or Clarkson .
- The average SAT score at Rhode Island School of Design (1273) is 75 points higher than at Clarkson (1198)
- Incoming RISD students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Clarkson (27)
- Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at RISD (3.71)
- Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than RISD (13.8%)
Clarkson vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Clarkson 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 Clarkson.
- The graduation rate at RISD is higher than Clarkson University (87% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from Clarkson University earn on average $19,700 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($70,800 vs. $51,100)
- Rhode Island School of Design and Clarkson graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
- Rhode Island School of Design and Clarkson graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($279 vs. $279)
- More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clarkson students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 86%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/