Colgate vs. RISD

Deciding between Colgate 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.

Colgate University
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Colgate 3,211
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Colgate #30
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Colgate -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Colgate Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Colgate
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Colgate $17,610
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Colgate $28,736
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Colgate $58,334
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Colgate 43%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Colgate 20,682
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Colgate 2,871
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colgate 1490
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colgate 33
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Colgate 3.77
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Colgate A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Colgate Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Colgate 33/34
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Colgate 1430/1540
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Colgate Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Colgate 9:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Colgate
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Colgate 43%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Colgate 57%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Colgate Medium
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Colgate No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Colgate 67%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Colgate 4%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Colgate 4%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Colgate 9%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Colgate 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Colgate 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Colgate 3%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Colgate 9%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Colgate 4%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Colgate 25%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Colgate 66%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Colgate University is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (3,211 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colgate University is located in Hamilton, NY (Distant Town setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Colgate 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: Colgate University 9:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Colgate vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate 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 Colgate University than RISD ($28,736 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 5.6% lower than at Colgate University ($16,626 vs. $17,610).
  • Colgate University is 12.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $7,618 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.2% higher at Colgate than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $7,618 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Colgate University than at Rhode Island School of Design (43% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 52.6% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($58,334 vs. $38,223).

Colgate vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colgate 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 Colgate.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Colgate University (1490) is 30 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming Colgate students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at RISD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colgate University 1430/1540; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colgate University 33/34; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colgate - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colgate Jan 15, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • 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 (18.7%) than Colgate (13.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.7% at Colgate vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Colgate vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colgate 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).

  • Colgate University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from Colgate University earn a median of about $24,200 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,300 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colgate University graduates have a $10,875 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($16,125 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Colgate graduates have an estimated $113 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.