Gettysburg College vs. RISD

Deciding between Gettysburg 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.

Gettysburg College
Rhode Island School of Design

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Gettysburg College Gettysburg, PA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Gettysburg College Distant Town
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Gettysburg College 2,812
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Gettysburg College Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Gettysburg College #80
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Gettysburg College Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Gettysburg College Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Gettysburg College
  • RISD
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Gettysburg College $66,640
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Gettysburg College $66,640
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Gettysburg College $16,110
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Gettysburg College $32,769
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Gettysburg College $49,191
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Gettysburg College 98%
  • RISD 31%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Gettysburg College 8,366
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Gettysburg College 3,254
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Gettysburg College 38.9%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Gettysburg College 15.6%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Gettysburg College 1370
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Gettysburg College 30
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Gettysburg College -
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Gettysburg College -
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Gettysburg College Very High
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Gettysburg College High
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Gettysburg College 29/32
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Gettysburg College 1270/1460
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Gettysburg College Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Gettysburg College Jan 15, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Gettysburg College 10:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Gettysburg College
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Business (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Gettysburg College 85%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Gettysburg College $60,900
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Gettysburg College 90%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Gettysburg College $22,000
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Gettysburg College $227
  • RISD $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Gettysburg College 50%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Gettysburg College 50%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Gettysburg College Low
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Gettysburg College No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Gettysburg College 79%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Gettysburg College 2%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Gettysburg College 3%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Gettysburg College 5%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Gettysburg College 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Gettysburg College 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Gettysburg College 2%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Gettysburg College 5%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Gettysburg College 3%
  • RISD 8%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Gettysburg College 23%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Gettysburg College 60%
  • RISD 55%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Gettysburg College is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (2,812 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Gettysburg College is located in Gettysburg, PA (Distant Town setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Gettysburg 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: Gettysburg College 10:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Gettysburg College vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gettysburg College 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 Gettysburg College than RISD ($32,769 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gettysburg College are 3.1% lower than at Rhode Island School of Design ($16,110 vs. $16,626).
  • Gettysburg College is 6.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $3,952 more per year; $66,640.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.3% higher at Gettysburg College than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $3,952 more per year; $66,640.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gettysburg College than at Rhode Island School of Design (98% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gettysburg College students is 28.7% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($49,191 vs. $38,223).

Gettysburg College vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Gettysburg College 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 Gettysburg College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 90 points higher than at Gettysburg College (1370).
  • Incoming RISD students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Gettysburg College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gettysburg College 1270/1460; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gettysburg College 29/32; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Gettysburg College - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Gettysburg College Jan 15, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Gettysburg College has a higher acceptance rate (38.9%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at Gettysburg College vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Gettysburg College vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gettysburg College 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 Gettysburg College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Gettysburg College earn a median of about $9,800 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,900 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Gettysburg College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($22,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Gettysburg College graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($227 vs. $279).
  • More Gettysburg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RISD students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 89%)

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.