Hofstra vs. RISD

Should I go to Hofstra University or Rhode Island School of Design? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Hofstra or RISD is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Hofstra University vs. Rhode Island School of Design comparison
Hofstra University Rhode Island School of Design College 3 College 4
Hofstra University Rhode Island School of Design
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Overview

 Hofstra RISD
Location Hempstead, NY Providence, RI
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 10,393 2,540
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #204 #90
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hofstra.edu risd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Hofstra RISD
Tuition (In State) $54,335 $58,690
Tuition (Out of State) $54,335 $58,690
Room & Board $17,720 $15,850
Avg Net Price $35,687 $42,106
Avg Grant Aid $33,007 $36,743
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 33%

Admission

 Hofstra RISD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,890 7,126
Admitted 16,157 984
Acceptance Rate 70.6% 13.8%
Enrolled % 9.9% 51.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 27/31 30/33
SAT Range 1210/1380 1370/1540
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026

Academics

 Hofstra RISD
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (30%)
  • Communication (16%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Architecture (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Precision Production Trades (4%)

Outcomes

 Hofstra RISD
Graduation Rate 58% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,200 $51,100
Making Student Loan Payments 72% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $242 $279

Diversity

 Hofstra RISD
% Men 15% 5%
% Women 25% 13%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 57% 31%
% Black 8% 2%
% Hispanic 14% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 4% 26%
% Unknown Race 4% 8%

Students

 Hofstra RISD
% In-State 67% 1%
% Out-of-State 29% 61%

Campus

 Hofstra RISD
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Hofstra University is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (10,393 students vs. 2,540 students)

Hofstra vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hofstra or RISD?

  • Rhode Island School of Design is 8% more expensive to attend than Hofstra for in-state tuition ($58,690.00 vs. $54,335.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8% higher at RISD than Hofstra University ($58,690.00 vs. $54,335.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Hofstra University than RISD ($35,687 vs. $42,106)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 11.8% lower than costs at Hofstra University ($15,850 vs. $17,720)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Hofstra University than Rhode Island School of Design (99% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 11.3% larger than aid received Hofstra University ($36,743 vs. $33,007)

Hofstra vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hofstra or RISD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RISD or Hofstra .

  • Accepted freshman Hofstra students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at RISD (3.71)
  • Hofstra has a higher acceptance rate (70.6%) than RISD (13.8%)

Hofstra vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Hofstra or RISD? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between RISD and Hofstra.

  • The graduation rate at RISD is higher than Hofstra University (87% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Hofstra University earn on average $8,100 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($59,200 vs. $51,100)
  • Hofstra University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($23,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Hofstra graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than RISD graduates. ($242 vs. $279)
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hofstra students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/