Harvard vs. RISD

Deciding between Harvard 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.

Harvard University
Rhode Island School of Design

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Harvard 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: Harvard University 7:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Harvard vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than RISD ($17,525 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 21.5% lower than at Harvard University ($16,626 vs. $21,190).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is 1.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $1,012 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at RISD than at Harvard University (about $1,012 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at Rhode Island School of Design (56% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 77.9% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($68,015 vs. $38,223).

Harvard vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 90 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 32 at RISD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Harvard vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $85,600 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $20,500 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($6,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $212 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($67 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 70%)

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.