Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. RISD

Comparable Facts

Compare Hobart William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 1,841 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hobart William Smith Colleges is located in Geneva, NY (Distant Town setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
• Hobart William Smith Colleges 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: Hobart William Smith Colleges 11:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hobart William Smith Colleges 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges than RISD ($34,170 vs. $43,492).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 6.4% lower than at Hobart William Smith Colleges ($16,626 vs. $17,768).
• Hobart William Smith Colleges is 3.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $2,429 more per year; $65,117.00 vs. $62,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at Hobart William Smith Colleges than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $2,429 more per year; $65,117.00 vs. $62,688.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hobart William Smith Colleges than at Rhode Island School of Design (100% vs. 31%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hobart William Smith Colleges students is 26.7% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($48,432 vs. $38,223).

Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hobart William Smith Colleges 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 170 points higher than at Hobart William Smith Colleges (1290).
• Incoming RISD students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Hobart William Smith Colleges).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hobart William Smith Colleges 1190/1385; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hobart William Smith Colleges 28/32; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hobart William Smith Colleges - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Hobart William Smith Colleges Feb 1, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Hobart William Smith Colleges (3.55).
• Hobart William Smith Colleges has a higher acceptance rate (64%) than RISD (18.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.6% at Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hobart William Smith Colleges 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges's (75%).
• Graduates from Hobart William Smith Colleges earn a median of about $9,100 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,200 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island School of Design and Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Rhode Island School of Design and Hobart William Smith Colleges 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 84%)

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.