Colgate vs. RISD

Should I go to Colgate University or Rhode Island School of Design? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colgate or RISD is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Colgate University vs. Rhode Island School of Design comparison
Colgate University Rhode Island School of Design College 3 College 4
Colgate University Rhode Island School of Design
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Overview

Colgate RISD
Location Hamilton, NY Providence, RI
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 3,141 2,620
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #27 #96
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colgate.edu risd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colgate RISD
Tuition (In State) $63,904 $56,435
Tuition (Out of State) $63,904 $56,435
Room & Board $16,106 $15,234
Avg Net Price $27,074 $39,800
Avg Grant Aid $54,647 $37,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 41% 34%

Admission

Colgate RISD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,109 5,099
Admitted 2,624 888
Acceptance Rate 12.4% 17.4%
Enrolled % 30.9% 54.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.77 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 32/34 29/33
SAT Range 1410/1530 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 15, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Colgate RISD
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Architecture (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Precision Production Trades (4%)

Outcomes

Colgate RISD
Graduation Rate 92% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,300 $51,100
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,125 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $166 $279

Diversity

Colgate RISD
% Men 44% 33%
% Women 56% 67%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 31%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 9% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 9% 26%
% Unknown Race 4% 8%

Students

Colgate RISD
% In-State 19% 1%
% Out-of-State 71% 58%

Campus

Colgate 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

  • Colgate University is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (3,141 students vs. 2,620 students)

Colgate vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate or RISD?

  • Colgate University is 13.2% more expensive to attend than RISD for in-state tuition ($63,904.00 vs. $56,435.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.2% higher at Colgate than Rhode Island School of Design ($63,904.00 vs. $56,435.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colgate University than RISD ($27,074 vs. $39,800)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 5.7% lower than costs at Colgate University ($15,234 vs. $16,106)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Colgate University than Rhode Island School of Design (41% vs. 34%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 45.8% larger than aid received Rhode Island School of Design ($54,647 vs. $37,480)

Colgate vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colgate or RISD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RISD or Colgate .

  • The average SAT score at Colgate University (1374) is 101 points higher than at RISD (1273)
  • Incoming Colgate students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at RISD (29)
  • Accepted freshman Colgate students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at RISD (3.71)
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (17.4%) than Colgate (12.4%)

Colgate vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colgate 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 Colgate.

  • The graduation rate at Colgate is higher than Rhode Island School of Design (92% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from Colgate University earn on average $24,200 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($75,300 vs. $51,100)
  • Colgate University students graduate with a $10,875 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($16,125 vs. $27,000)
  • Colgate graduates are paying $113 less per month on federal student loans than RISD graduates. ($166 vs. $279)
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colgate 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/