Lehigh vs. RISD

Deciding between Lehigh 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.

Lehigh University
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Lehigh Small City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Lehigh #53
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Lehigh -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Lehigh
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Lehigh 65%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Lehigh 1440
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Lehigh 32
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Lehigh A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Lehigh High
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Lehigh 87%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Lehigh 89%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Lehigh $250
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Lehigh 52%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Lehigh 48%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Lehigh Medium
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Lehigh No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Lehigh 66%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Lehigh 9%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Lehigh 4%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Lehigh 9%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Lehigh 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Lehigh 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Lehigh 3%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Lehigh 8%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Lehigh 3%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Lehigh 25%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Lehigh 69%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Lehigh University is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (7,692 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Lehigh 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: Lehigh University 10:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Lehigh vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lehigh 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 Lehigh University than RISD ($34,154 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 3.4% lower than at Lehigh University ($16,626 vs. $17,220).
  • Lehigh University is 3.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $2,292 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.7% higher at Lehigh than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $2,292 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lehigh University than at Rhode Island School of Design (65% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 22.3% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($46,731 vs. $38,223).

Lehigh vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lehigh 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 Lehigh.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 20 points higher than at Lehigh (1440).
  • Incoming Lehigh 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: Lehigh University 1370/1500; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lehigh University 31/34; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lehigh - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Lehigh Jan 1, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Lehigh students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • Lehigh has a higher acceptance rate (25.9%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.4% at Lehigh vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Lehigh vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lehigh 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 Lehigh is the same as at Rhode Island School of Design (87% vs. 87%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $38,100 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Lehigh University graduates have a $2,744 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($24,256 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Lehigh graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($250 vs. $279).
  • More Lehigh graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RISD students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 89%)

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.