MIT vs. RISD

Deciding between Massachusetts Institute of Technology 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.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Rhode Island School of Design

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • MIT Midsize City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • MIT 11,886
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MIT #8
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MIT -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • MIT Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MIT
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • MIT $20,280
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • MIT $20,996
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MIT $61,734
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MIT 59%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MIT 28,232
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • MIT 1,284
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MIT 4.5%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • MIT 85.8%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MIT 1550
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • MIT 35
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • MIT 3.96
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MIT A
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MIT Elite
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • MIT Extreme
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • MIT 34/36
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • MIT 1520/1580
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MIT Required
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MIT 3:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MIT
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (10%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MIT 93%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MIT $142,100
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MIT 92%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MIT $17,316
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MIT $179
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MIT 56%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • MIT 44%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MIT Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • MIT No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • MIT 37%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • MIT 25%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • MIT 6%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • MIT 15%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • MIT 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MIT 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MIT 6%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • MIT 10%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MIT 2%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MIT 8%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MIT 80%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (11,886 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology 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: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

MIT vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIT 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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology than RISD ($20,996 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 18% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($16,626 vs. $20,280).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than MIT (about $292 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.5% higher at RISD than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (about $292 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at Rhode Island School of Design (59% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students is 61.5% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($61,734 vs. $38,223).

MIT vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MIT 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 MIT.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is 90 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming MIT students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 32 at RISD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MIT - Required; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIT Jan 1, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MIT students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than MIT (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 85.8% at MIT vs. 41.5% at RISD.

MIT vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MIT 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).

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $91,000 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates have a $9,684 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($17,316 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, MIT graduates have an estimated $100 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($179 vs. $279).
  • More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RISD students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.