HMC vs. RISD

Deciding between Harvey Mudd 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.

Harvey Mudd College
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • HMC Claremont, CA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • HMC Large Suburban
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • HMC 951
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • HMC Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HMC
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HMC -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • HMC Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HMC
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • HMC $22,318
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • HMC $43,966
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HMC $46,199
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HMC 64%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HMC 5,094
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • HMC 645
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HMC 12.7%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • HMC 35.8%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • HMC 1540
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • HMC 35
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • HMC 3.96
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HMC A
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • HMC Elite
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • HMC Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • HMC 34/36
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • HMC 1500/1570
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HMC Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • HMC Jan 5, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HMC 8:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HMC
    • Engineering (42%)
    • Physical Sciences (18%)
    • Mathematics (13%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HMC 84%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HMC $84,900
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HMC -
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HMC $25,540
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HMC $264
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HMC 50%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • HMC 50%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HMC Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • HMC No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • HMC 38%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • HMC 20%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • HMC 2%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • HMC 13%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • HMC 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HMC 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HMC 8%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • HMC 13%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HMC 5%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HMC 43%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HMC 46%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, CA 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 HMC based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvey Mudd College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Harvey Mudd 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: Harvey Mudd College 8:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

HMC vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HMC 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 HMC ($43,492 vs. $43,966).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 25.5% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($16,626 vs. $22,318).
  • Harvey Mudd College is 9.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $5,925 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.5% higher at HMC than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $5,925 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvey Mudd College than at Rhode Island School of Design (64% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvey Mudd College students is 20.9% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($46,199 vs. $38,223).

HMC vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HMC 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 HMC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is 80 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming HMC 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: Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 34/36; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HMC - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: HMC Jan 5, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman HMC students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than HMC (12.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at HMC vs. 41.5% at RISD.

HMC vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HMC 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 Harvey Mudd College's (84%).
  • Graduates from Harvey Mudd College earn a median of about $33,800 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,900 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvey Mudd College graduates have a $1,460 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($25,540 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, HMC graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($264 vs. $279).

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.