Kenyon vs. RISD

Deciding between Kenyon 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.

Kenyon College
Rhode Island School of Design

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Kenyon Gambier, OH
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Kenyon Distant Rural
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Kenyon 2,249
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Kenyon Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Kenyon #62
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Kenyon -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Kenyon Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Kenyon
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Kenyon $15,640
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Kenyon $46,859
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Kenyon $40,731
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Kenyon 82%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Kenyon 7,726
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Kenyon 2,397
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Kenyon 31%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Kenyon 18.3%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Kenyon 1430
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Kenyon 32
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Kenyon 3.84
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Kenyon A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Kenyon Exceptional
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Kenyon High
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Kenyon 31/33
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Kenyon 1358/1503
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Kenyon Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Kenyon Jan 15, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Kenyon 9:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Kenyon
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • English and Literature (17%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Kenyon 87%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Kenyon $52,900
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Kenyon 87%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Kenyon $19,000
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Kenyon $196
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Kenyon 44%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Kenyon 56%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Kenyon Low
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Kenyon No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Kenyon 73%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Kenyon 4%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Kenyon 4%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Kenyon 7%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Kenyon 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Kenyon 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Kenyon 4%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Kenyon 5%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Kenyon 3%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Kenyon 12%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Kenyon 78%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Kenyon College in Gambier, OH 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 Kenyon based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 2,249 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kenyon College is located in Gambier, OH (Distant Rural setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Kenyon 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: Kenyon College 9:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Kenyon vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kenyon 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 Kenyon ($43,492 vs. $46,859).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kenyon College are 5.9% lower than at Rhode Island School of Design ($15,640 vs. $16,626).
  • Kenyon College is 14.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $8,832 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.1% higher at Kenyon than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $8,832 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kenyon College than at Rhode Island School of Design (82% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kenyon College students is 6.6% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($40,731 vs. $38,223).

Kenyon vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kenyon 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 Kenyon.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 30 points higher than at Kenyon (1430).
  • Incoming Kenyon 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: Kenyon College 1358/1503; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kenyon College 31/33; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kenyon - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kenyon Jan 15, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Kenyon students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • Kenyon has a higher acceptance rate (31%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Kenyon vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Kenyon vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kenyon 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).

  • The graduation rate at Kenyon is the same as at Rhode Island School of Design (87% vs. 87%).
  • Graduates from Kenyon College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,900 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kenyon College graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($19,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Kenyon graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($196 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kenyon 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.