Fordham vs. RISD

Deciding between Fordham 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.

Fordham University
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Fordham Bronx, NY
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Fordham Large City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Fordham 16,150
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Fordham Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Fordham #133
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Fordham Roman Catholic
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Fordham Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Fordham
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Fordham $64,915
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Fordham $64,915
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Fordham $24,090
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Fordham $48,190
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Fordham $35,988
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Fordham 95%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Fordham 43,364
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Fordham 25,719
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Fordham 59.3%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Fordham 9.7%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Fordham 1400
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Fordham 31
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Fordham 3.67
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Fordham A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Fordham Exceptional
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Fordham Low
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Fordham 30/33
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Fordham 1320/1480
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Fordham Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Fordham Jan 1, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Fordham 14:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Fordham
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Fordham 78%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Fordham $64,200
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Fordham 77%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Fordham $26,000
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Fordham $268
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Fordham 39%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Fordham 61%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Fordham High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Fordham No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Fordham 59%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Fordham 10%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Fordham 4%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Fordham 14%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Fordham 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Fordham 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Fordham 3%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Fordham 7%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Fordham 2%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Fordham 38%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Fordham 51%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Fordham University is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (16,150 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Fordham University is located in Bronx, NY (Large City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Fordham 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: Fordham University 14:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Fordham vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fordham 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 Fordham ($43,492 vs. $48,190).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 31% lower than at Fordham University ($16,626 vs. $24,090).
  • Fordham University is 3.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $2,227 more per year; $64,915.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.6% higher at Fordham than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $2,227 more per year; $64,915.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fordham University than at Rhode Island School of Design (95% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 6.2% larger than aid received by Fordham University students ($38,223 vs. $35,988).

Fordham vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fordham 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 Fordham.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 60 points higher than at Fordham (1400).
  • Incoming RISD students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at Fordham).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fordham University 1320/1480; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fordham University 30/33; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Fordham - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Fordham Jan 1, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Fordham (3.67).
  • Fordham has a higher acceptance rate (59.3%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.7% at Fordham vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Fordham vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fordham 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 Fordham University's (78%).
  • Graduates from Fordham University earn a median of about $13,100 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,200 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Fordham University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Fordham 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 Fordham 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.