Gordon College vs. RISD

Comparable Facts

Compare Gordon College in Wenham, MA 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 Gordon College based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 1,595 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Gordon College is located in Wenham, MA (Large Suburban setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
• Gordon 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: Gordon College 10:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Gordon College vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gordon 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 Gordon College than RISD ($25,299 vs. $43,492).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gordon College are 20% lower than at Rhode Island School of Design ($13,300 vs. $16,626).
• Rhode Island School of Design is 104.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Gordon College (about $31,988 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $30,700.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 104.2% higher at RISD than at Gordon College (about $31,988 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $30,700.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gordon 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 127.5% larger than aid received by Gordon College students ($38,223 vs. $16,802).

Gordon College vs. RISD Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 220 points higher than at Gordon College (1240).
• Incoming RISD students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at Gordon College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon College 1130/1355; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Gordon College 25/31; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Gordon College - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Gordon College Feb 1, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Gordon College (3.58).
• Gordon College has a higher acceptance rate (69.2%) than RISD (18.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at Gordon College vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Gordon College vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Gordon 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 Gordon College's (74%).
• Graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than Gordon College graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island School of Design and Gordon College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Rhode Island School of Design and Gordon College 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 Gordon College students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 85%)

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.