EC vs. RISD

Deciding between Elmira 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.

Elmira College
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • EC Elmira, NY
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • EC Small City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • EC 786
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • EC Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • EC
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • EC -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • EC Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • EC
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • EC $38,976
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • EC $38,976
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • EC $14,550
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • EC $23,682
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • EC $28,780
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • EC 100%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • EC 2,674
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • EC 2,058
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • EC 77%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • EC 12.3%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • EC 1240
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • EC 27
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • EC 3.22
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • EC B+
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • EC Difficult
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • EC
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • EC 26/29
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • EC 1090/1385
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • EC Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • EC
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • EC 11:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • EC
    • Education (18%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • EC 60%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • EC $46,000
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • EC 72%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • EC $27,000
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • EC $279
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • EC 34%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • EC 66%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • EC Low
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • EC No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • EC 80%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • EC 2%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • EC 4%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • EC 3%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • EC 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • EC 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • EC 2%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • EC 5%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • EC 4%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • EC 69%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • EC 25%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Elmira College in Elmira, NY 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 EC based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 786 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Elmira College is located in Elmira, NY (Small City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Elmira College 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: Elmira College 11:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

EC vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EC 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 Elmira College than RISD ($23,682 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elmira College are 12.5% lower than at Rhode Island School of Design ($14,550 vs. $16,626).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is 60.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than EC (about $23,712 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $38,976.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 60.8% higher at RISD than at Elmira College (about $23,712 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $38,976.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elmira College 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 32.8% larger than aid received by Elmira College students ($38,223 vs. $28,780).

EC vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, EC 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 EC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 220 points higher than at EC (1240).
  • Incoming RISD students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 27 at EC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elmira College 1090/1385; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elmira College 26/29; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EC - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at EC (3.22).
  • EC has a higher acceptance rate (77%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at EC vs. 41.5% at RISD.

EC vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EC 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 Elmira College's (60%).
  • Graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than EC graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $46,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island School of Design and EC graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Rhode Island School of Design and EC graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former EC students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 72%)

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.