Hunter vs. RISD

Deciding between CUNY Hunter College 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.

CUNY Hunter College
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Hunter Large City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Hunter 22,538
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Hunter #297
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Hunter -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Hunter
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Hunter $7,382
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Hunter $15,332
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Hunter $11,832
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Hunter $4,431
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Hunter $9,755
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Hunter 87%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Hunter 32,271
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Hunter 17,362
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Hunter 1260
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Hunter
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Hunter 3.7
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Hunter A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Hunter Very High
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Hunter Low
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Hunter
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Hunter Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Hunter
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Hunter 14:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Hunter 46%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Hunter $48,800
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Hunter 56%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Hunter $11,548
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Hunter $119
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Hunter 33%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Hunter 67%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Hunter Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Hunter No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Hunter 27%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Hunter 26%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Hunter 10%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Hunter 29%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Hunter 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Hunter 1%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Hunter 2%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Hunter 6%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Hunter 0%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Hunter 82%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Hunter 0%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY Hunter 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 Hunter College is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (22,538 students vs. 2,520 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY Hunter College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • CUNY Hunter 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 Hunter College 14:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Hunter vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hunter 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 Hunter College than RISD ($4,431 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 28.8% lower than at Rhode Island School of Design ($11,832 vs. $16,626).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is 749.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $55,306 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 308.9% higher at RISD than at CUNY Hunter College (about $47,356 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at Rhode Island School of Design (87% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 291.8% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($38,223 vs. $9,755).

Hunter vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hunter or RISD? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between RISD and Hunter.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 200 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresRhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hunter - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman RISD students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Hunter (3.7).
  • Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Hunter vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Hunter vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hunter and RISD? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Rhode Island School of Design's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $15,452 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($11,548 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $160 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($119 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 56%)

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.