Columbia vs. RISD

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

 Columbia RISD
Location New York, NY Providence, RI
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 34,782 2,620
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #22 #96
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website columbia.edu risd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Columbia RISD
Tuition (In State) $62,570 $56,435
Tuition (Out of State) $62,570 $56,435
Room & Board $16,286 $15,234
Avg Net Price $22,058 $39,800
Avg Grant Aid $61,061 $37,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 34%

Admission

 Columbia RISD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 60,879 5,099
Admitted 2,404 888
Acceptance Rate 3.9% 17.4%
Enrolled % 64.1% 54.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 34/35 29/33
SAT Range 1490/1580 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 1, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

 Columbia RISD
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Architecture (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Precision Production Trades (4%)

Outcomes

 Columbia RISD
Graduation Rate 93% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $107,600 $51,100
Making Student Loan Payments 76% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $279

Diversity

 Columbia RISD
% Men 46% 33%
% Women 54% 67%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 38% 31%
% Black 8% 2%
% Hispanic 13% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 15% 26%
% Unknown Race 3% 8%

Students

 Columbia RISD
% In-State 19% 1%
% Out-of-State 64% 58%

Campus

 Columbia 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

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 2,620 students)

Columbia vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia or RISD?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 10.9% more expensive to attend than RISD for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $56,435.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.9% higher at Columbia than Rhode Island School of Design ($62,570.00 vs. $56,435.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia University in the City of New York than RISD ($22,058 vs. $39,800)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 6.9% lower than costs at Columbia University in the City of New York ($15,234 vs. $16,286)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia University in the City of New York than Rhode Island School of Design (52% vs. 34%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia University in the City of New York students is 62.9% larger than aid received Rhode Island School of Design ($61,061 vs. $37,480)

Columbia vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 200 points higher than at RISD (1273)
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at RISD (29)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at RISD (3.71)
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (17.4%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Columbia vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia 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 Columbia.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than Rhode Island School of Design (93% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $56,500 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $51,100)
  • Columbia University in the City of New York students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Columbia graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than RISD graduates. ($222 vs. $279)
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 76%)

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