Drexel vs. RISD

Deciding between Drexel 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.

Drexel University
Rhode Island School of Design

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Drexel Philadelphia, PA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Drexel Large City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Drexel 21,153
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Drexel Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Drexel #118
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Drexel -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Drexel Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Drexel
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Drexel $18,096
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Drexel $42,801
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Drexel $35,051
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Drexel 100%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Drexel 37,314
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Drexel 29,642
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Drexel 79.4%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Drexel 8.1%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Drexel 1340
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Drexel 29
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Drexel 3.67
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Drexel A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Drexel Very High
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Drexel
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Drexel 27/32
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Drexel 1240/1440
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Drexel Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Drexel Jan 15, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Drexel 9:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Drexel
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Drexel 68%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Drexel $77,400
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Drexel 77%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Drexel $26,243
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Drexel $271
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Drexel 46%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Drexel 54%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Drexel High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Drexel No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Drexel 54%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Drexel 14%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Drexel 7%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Drexel 6%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Drexel 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Drexel 1%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Drexel 3%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Drexel 13%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Drexel 2%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Drexel 46%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Drexel 44%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Drexel University is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (21,153 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Drexel University is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Drexel 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: Drexel University 9:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Drexel vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drexel 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 Drexel University than RISD ($42,801 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 8.1% lower than at Drexel University ($16,626 vs. $18,096).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is 0.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Drexel (about $276 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $62,412.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.4% higher at RISD than at Drexel University (about $276 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $62,412.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drexel University than at Rhode Island School of Design (100% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 9% larger than aid received by Drexel University students ($38,223 vs. $35,051).

Drexel vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Drexel 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 Drexel.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 120 points higher than at Drexel (1340).
  • Incoming RISD students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at Drexel).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 1240/1440; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 27/32; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Drexel - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Drexel Jan 15, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Drexel (3.67).
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.1% at Drexel vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Drexel vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Drexel 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 Drexel University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Drexel University earn a median of about $26,300 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,400 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Drexel University graduates have a $757 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($26,243 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Drexel graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($271 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Drexel students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 77%)

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.