City College of New York vs. RISD

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY City College in New York, NY with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY City College is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (15,544 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
• CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island School of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

City College of New York vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York 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 CUNY City College than RISD ($4,664 vs. $43,492).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 11.8% lower than at CUNY City College ($16,626 vs. $18,840).
• Rhode Island School of Design is 754.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $55,348 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $7,340.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 310% higher at RISD than at CUNY City College (about $47,398 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $15,290.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY City College than at Rhode Island School of Design (88% vs. 31%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 291.5% larger than aid received by CUNY City College students ($38,223 vs. $9,763).

City College of New York vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of New York 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 City College of New York.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 210 points higher than at City College of New York (1250).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY City College 1070/1430; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRhode Island School of Design 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
• City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than RISD (18.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at City College of New York vs. 41.5% at RISD.

City College of New York vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of New York 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).

• Rhode Island School of Design's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
• Graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $15,600 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($11,400 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $162 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($117 vs. $279).
• More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 52%)

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.