Clarkson vs. RISD

Deciding between Clarkson 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.

Clarkson University
Rhode Island School of Design

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Clarkson #189
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Clarkson -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Clarkson Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Clarkson
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Clarkson 100%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clarkson 1300
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clarkson 28
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Clarkson A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Clarkson Very High
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Clarkson
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Clarkson 25/32
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Clarkson 1200/1390
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Clarkson 72%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Clarkson 86%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Clarkson $279
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Clarkson 66%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Clarkson 34%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Clarkson Very Low
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Clarkson No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Clarkson 84%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Clarkson 3%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Clarkson 2%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Clarkson 4%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Clarkson 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Clarkson 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Clarkson 2%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Clarkson 3%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Clarkson 2%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Clarkson 67%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Clarkson 25%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Clarkson University is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (3,348 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clarkson University is located in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Clarkson 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: Clarkson University 13:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Clarkson vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clarkson 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 Clarkson University than RISD ($32,406 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 8.9% lower than at Clarkson University ($16,626 vs. $18,252).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is 5.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clarkson (about $3,290 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at RISD than at Clarkson University (about $3,290 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University than at Rhode Island School of Design (100% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 21.7% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($46,528 vs. $38,223).

Clarkson vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clarkson 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 Clarkson.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 160 points higher than at Clarkson (1300).
  • Incoming RISD students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at Clarkson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clarkson University 1200/1390; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clarkson University 25/32; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clarkson - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clarkson Jan 15, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • 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 (77.4%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Clarkson vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Clarkson vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clarkson 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).

  • Rhode Island School of Design's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Clarkson University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Clarkson University earn a median of about $19,700 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,800 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island School of Design and Clarkson graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Rhode Island School of Design and Clarkson graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.