Cornell vs. RISD

Deciding between Cornell 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.

Cornell University
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cornell University is located in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Cornell 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: Cornell University 9:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Cornell vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell 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 Cornell University than RISD ($26,361 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 14.4% lower than at Cornell University ($16,626 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 10.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $6,626 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.6% higher at Cornell than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $6,626 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cornell University than at Rhode Island School of Design (48% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 61.6% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($61,779 vs. $38,223).

Cornell vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cornell 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 Cornell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 80 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at RISD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Cornell vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell 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).

  • Cornell University's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $47,300 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $15,000 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($12,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $155 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($124 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cornell students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 87%)

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.