Denison vs. RISD

Deciding between Denison 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.

Denison University
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Denison Granville, OH
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Denison Rural Fringe
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Denison 2,394
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Denison Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Denison #95
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Denison -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Denison Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Denison
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Denison $67,000
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Denison $67,000
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Denison $16,400
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Denison $43,721
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Denison $38,179
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Denison 94%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Denison 15,012
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Denison 2,611
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Denison 17.4%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Denison 23.8%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Denison 1410
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Denison 31
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Denison 3.76
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Denison A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Denison Exceptional
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Denison Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Denison 30/33
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Denison 1320/1490
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Denison Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Denison Jan 15, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Denison 9:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Denison
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Denison 79%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Denison $56,100
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Denison 83%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Denison $26,000
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Denison $268
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Denison 48%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Denison 52%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Denison Medium
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Denison No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Denison 66%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Denison 4%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Denison 7%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Denison 10%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Denison 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Denison 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Denison 4%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Denison 8%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Denison 2%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Denison 23%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Denison 58%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Rhode Island School of Design is larger than Denison based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 2,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Denison University is located in Granville, OH (Rural Fringe setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Denison 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: Denison University 9:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Denison vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Denison 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 Rhode Island School of Design than Denison ($43,492 vs. $43,721).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Denison University are 1.4% lower than at Rhode Island School of Design ($16,400 vs. $16,626).
  • Denison University is 6.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $4,312 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.9% higher at Denison than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $4,312 more per year; $67,000.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Denison University than at Rhode Island School of Design (94% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 0.1% larger than aid received by Denison University students ($38,223 vs. $38,179).

Denison vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Denison 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 Denison.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 50 points higher than at Denison (1410).
  • Incoming RISD students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at Denison).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Denison University 1320/1490; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Denison University 30/33; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Denison - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Denison Jan 15, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Denison students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than Denison (17.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.8% at Denison vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Denison vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Denison 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 Denison University's (79%).
  • Graduates from Denison University earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,100 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Denison University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Denison graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Denison students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 83%)

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.