Grinnell vs. RISD

Deciding between Grinnell 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.

Grinnell College
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Grinnell Grinnell, IA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Grinnell Remote Town
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Grinnell 1,788
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Grinnell Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Grinnell #57
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Grinnell -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Grinnell Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Grinnell
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Grinnell $68,106
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Grinnell $16,842
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Grinnell $34,363
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Grinnell $49,077
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Grinnell 94%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Grinnell 9,758
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Grinnell 1,416
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Grinnell 14.5%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Grinnell 30.9%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Grinnell 1480
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Grinnell 32
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Grinnell 3.89
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Grinnell A
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Grinnell Exceptional
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Grinnell Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Grinnell 31/34
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Grinnell 1410/1540
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Grinnell Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Grinnell Jan 15, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Grinnell 9:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Grinnell
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • History (8%)
    • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Grinnell 88%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Grinnell $59,500
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Grinnell 87%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Grinnell $13,170
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Grinnell $136
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Grinnell 46%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Grinnell 54%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Grinnell High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Grinnell No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Grinnell 56%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Grinnell 7%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Grinnell 6%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Grinnell 7%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Grinnell 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Grinnell 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Grinnell 5%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Grinnell 16%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Grinnell 3%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Grinnell 8%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Grinnell 68%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA 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 Grinnell based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 1,788 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Grinnell College is located in Grinnell, IA (Remote Town setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Grinnell 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: Grinnell College 9:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Grinnell vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grinnell 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 Grinnell College than RISD ($34,363 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 1.3% lower than at Grinnell College ($16,626 vs. $16,842).
  • Grinnell College is 8.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $5,418 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.6% higher at Grinnell than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $5,418 more per year; $68,106.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Grinnell College than at Rhode Island School of Design (94% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 28.4% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($49,077 vs. $38,223).

Grinnell vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Grinnell 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 Grinnell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Grinnell College (1480) is 20 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming Grinnell students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 32) as students at RISD (32).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Grinnell College 1410/1540; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Grinnell College 31/34; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Grinnell - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Grinnell Jan 15, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Grinnell students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than Grinnell (14.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.9% at Grinnell vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Grinnell vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Grinnell 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).

  • Grinnell College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from Grinnell College earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,500 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Grinnell College graduates have a $13,830 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($13,170 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Grinnell graduates have an estimated $143 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($136 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Grinnell students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 87%)

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.