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 3,146 2,540
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #27 #90
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colgate.edu risd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Colgate RISD
Tuition (In State) $66,622 $58,690
Tuition (Out of State) $66,622 $58,690
Room & Board $16,790 $15,850
Avg Net Price $26,954 $42,106
Avg Grant Aid $56,696 $36,743
% Receiving Grant Aid 43% 33%

Admission

 Colgate RISD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,130 7,126
Admitted 2,526 984
Acceptance Rate 12% 13.8%
Enrolled % 31.9% 51.2%
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 33/34 30/33
SAT Range 1430/1530 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

 Colgate RISD
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 8:1
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 0% 5%
% Women 0% 13%
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 22% 1%
% Out-of-State 69% 61%

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 (3,146 students vs. 2,540 students)

Colgate vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate or RISD?

  • Colgate University is 13.5% more expensive to attend than RISD for in-state tuition ($66,622.00 vs. $58,690.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.5% higher at Colgate than Rhode Island School of Design ($66,622.00 vs. $58,690.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colgate University than RISD ($26,954 vs. $42,106)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 5.9% lower than costs at Colgate University ($15,850 vs. $16,790)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Colgate University than Rhode Island School of Design (43% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 54.3% larger than aid received Rhode Island School of Design ($56,696 vs. $36,743)

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 (13.8%) than Colgate (12%)

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/