Colorado College vs. RISD

Should I go to Colorado College or Rhode Island School of Design? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colorado College 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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Colorado College vs. Rhode Island School of Design comparison
Colorado College Rhode Island School of Design College 3 College 4
Colorado College Rhode Island School of Design
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Overview

Colorado College RISD
Location Colorado Springs, CO Providence, RI
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 2,203 2,620
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #80 #96
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website coloradocollege.edu risd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colorado College RISD
Tuition (In State) $64,554 $56,435
Tuition (Out of State) $64,554 $56,435
Room & Board $14,376 $15,234
Avg Net Price $33,178 $39,800
Avg Grant Aid $46,160 $37,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 54% 34%

Admission

Colorado College RISD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,846 5,099
Admitted 1,279 888
Acceptance Rate 16.3% 17.4%
Enrolled % 41.8% 54.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.98 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 29/33 29/33
SAT Range 1260/1480 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

Colorado College RISD
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Architecture (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Precision Production Trades (4%)

Outcomes

Colorado College RISD
Graduation Rate 88% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,000 $51,100
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $211 $279

Diversity

Colorado College RISD
% Men 44% 33%
% Women 56% 67%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 64% 31%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 9% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 9% 4%
% International 7% 26%
% Unknown Race 3% 8%

Students

Colorado College RISD
% In-State 19% 1%
% Out-of-State 77% 58%

Campus

Colorado College RISD
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Rhode Island School of Design is larger than than Colorado College based on total student enrollment (2,620 students vs. 2,203 students)

Colorado College vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colorado College or RISD?

  • Colorado College is 14.4% more expensive to attend than RISD for in-state tuition ($64,554.00 vs. $56,435.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 14.4% higher at Colorado College than Rhode Island School of Design ($64,554.00 vs. $56,435.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colorado College than RISD ($33,178 vs. $39,800)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colorado College are 6% lower than costs at Rhode Island School of Design ($14,376 vs. $15,234)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Colorado College than Rhode Island School of Design (54% vs. 34%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado College students is 23.2% larger than aid received Rhode Island School of Design ($46,160 vs. $37,480)

Colorado College vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Colorado College students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at RISD (3.71)
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (17.4%) than Colorado College (16.3%)

Colorado College vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colorado College 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 Colorado College.

  • The graduation rate at Colorado College is higher than Rhode Island School of Design (88% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn on average $5,100 more per year than Colorado College graduates after ten years. ($51,100 vs. $46,000)
  • Colorado College students graduate with a $6,500 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($20,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Colorado College graduates are paying $68 less per month on federal student loans than RISD graduates. ($211 vs. $279)
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colorado College students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 88%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/