Lehigh vs. RISD

Should I go to Lehigh University or Rhode Island School of Design? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Lehigh 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Lafayette College Villanova Bucknell Colgate University of Richmond Pratt Institute BU Washington and Lee Case Western BC RPI Penn State
Lehigh University vs. Rhode Island School of Design comparison
Lehigh University Rhode Island School of Design College 3 College 4
Lehigh University Rhode Island School of Design
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Lehigh RISD
Location Bethlehem, PA Providence, RI
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 7,590 2,540
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #58 #90
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website lehigh.edu risd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Lehigh RISD
Tuition (In State) $61,180 $58,690
Tuition (Out of State) $61,180 $58,690
Room & Board $16,470 $15,850
Avg Net Price $33,289 $42,106
Avg Grant Aid $43,644 $36,743
% Receiving Grant Aid 59% 33%

Admission

 Lehigh RISD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 18,415 7,126
Admitted 5,389 984
Acceptance Rate 29.3% 13.8%
Enrolled % 28.4% 51.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition High Very High
ACT Range 31/33 30/33
SAT Range 1350/1490 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 Jan 1, 2026 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 Lehigh RISD
% Men 12% 5%
% Women 11% 13%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 66% 31%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 9% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 8% 26%
% Unknown Race 3% 8%

Students

 Lehigh RISD
% In-State 23% 1%
% Out-of-State 69% 61%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Lehigh University is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (7,590 students vs. 2,540 students)

Lehigh vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lehigh or RISD?

  • Lehigh University is 4.2% more expensive to attend than RISD for in-state tuition ($61,180.00 vs. $58,690.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.2% higher at Lehigh than Rhode Island School of Design ($61,180.00 vs. $58,690.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lehigh University than RISD ($33,289 vs. $42,106)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 3.9% lower than costs at Lehigh University ($15,850 vs. $16,470)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Lehigh University than Rhode Island School of Design (59% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 18.8% larger than aid received Rhode Island School of Design ($43,644 vs. $36,743)

Lehigh vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Lehigh University (1338) is 65 points higher than at RISD (1273)
  • Incoming Lehigh students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at RISD (29)
  • 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 (29.3%) than RISD (13.8%)

Lehigh vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Lehigh 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 Lehigh.

  • The graduation rate at Lehigh is the same as at Rhode Island School of Design (87% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn on average $38,100 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($89,200 vs. $51,100)
  • Lehigh University students graduate with a $2,744 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($24,256 vs. $27,000)
  • Lehigh graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans 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/