Emerson vs. RISD

Deciding between Emerson 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.

Emerson College
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Emerson Boston, MA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Emerson Large City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Emerson 5,263
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Emerson Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Emerson #208
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Emerson -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Emerson Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Emerson
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Emerson $20,920
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Emerson $53,432
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Emerson $26,997
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Emerson 77%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Emerson 10,378
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Emerson 5,325
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Emerson 51.3%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Emerson 15.5%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Emerson 1350
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Emerson 30
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Emerson 3.73
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Emerson A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Emerson Very High
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Emerson Low
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Emerson 29/32
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Emerson 1270/1420
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Emerson Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Emerson Feb 20, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Emerson 14:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Emerson
    • Communication (33%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
    • English and Literature (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (2%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Emerson 81%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Emerson $49,200
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Emerson 80%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Emerson $23,500
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Emerson $242
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Emerson 29%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Emerson 71%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Emerson Medium
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Emerson No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Emerson 67%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Emerson 4%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Emerson 3%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Emerson 11%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Emerson 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Emerson 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Emerson 4%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Emerson 7%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Emerson 3%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Emerson 15%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Emerson 67%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Emerson College in Boston, MA with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Emerson College is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (5,263 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Emerson College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Emerson 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: Emerson College 14:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Emerson vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson 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 Emerson ($43,492 vs. $53,432).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 20.5% lower than at Emerson College ($16,626 vs. $20,920).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is 9.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Emerson (about $5,632 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.9% higher at RISD than at Emerson College (about $5,632 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $57,056.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Emerson College than at Rhode Island School of Design (77% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 41.6% larger than aid received by Emerson College students ($38,223 vs. $26,997).

Emerson vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Emerson 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 Emerson.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 110 points higher than at Emerson (1350).
  • Incoming RISD students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Emerson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Emerson students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • Emerson has a higher acceptance rate (51.3%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Emerson vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson 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 Emerson College's (81%).
  • Graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Emerson College graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($23,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Emerson graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($242 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emerson students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 80%)

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.