F&M vs. RISD

Deciding between Franklin and Marshall 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.

Franklin and Marshall College
Rhode Island School of Design

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • F&M Lancaster, PA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • F&M Small City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • F&M 1,808
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • F&M Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • F&M #60
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • F&M -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • F&M Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • F&M
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • F&M $70,794
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • F&M $70,794
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • F&M $16,188
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • F&M $43,987
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • F&M $41,901
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • F&M 80%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • F&M 9,881
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • F&M 2,785
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • F&M 28.2%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • F&M 17.1%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • F&M 1390
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • F&M 31
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • F&M -
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • F&M -
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • F&M Very High
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • F&M High
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • F&M 30/33
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • F&M 1310/1463
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • F&M Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • F&M Jan 15, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • F&M 9:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • F&M
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • F&M 85%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • F&M $61,900
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • F&M 88%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • F&M $22,000
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • F&M $227
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • F&M 49%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • F&M 51%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • F&M High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • F&M No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • F&M 59%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • F&M 5%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • F&M 6%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • F&M 8%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • F&M 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • F&M 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • F&M 2%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • F&M 14%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • F&M 6%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • F&M 29%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • F&M 55%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA 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 F&M based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Franklin and Marshall College is located in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Franklin and Marshall 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: Franklin and Marshall College 9:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

F&M vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, F&M 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 F&M ($43,492 vs. $43,987).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 2.6% lower than at Rhode Island School of Design ($16,188 vs. $16,626).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is 12.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $8,106 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.9% higher at F&M than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $8,106 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than at Rhode Island School of Design (80% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 9.6% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($41,901 vs. $38,223).

F&M vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, F&M 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 F&M.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 70 points higher than at F&M (1390).
  • Incoming RISD students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at F&M).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franklin and Marshall College 30/33; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: F&M - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: F&M Jan 15, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • F&M has a higher acceptance rate (28.2%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at F&M vs. 41.5% at RISD.

F&M vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for F&M 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 Franklin and Marshall College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Franklin and Marshall College earn a median of about $10,800 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Franklin and Marshall College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($22,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, F&M graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($227 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former F&M students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 88%)

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.