Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Pratt Institute MICA Yale Cooper Union Liberty University Syracuse Harvard Carnegie Mellon Cornell SCAD UD NYU| Messiah College | Rhode Island School of Design | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Messiah College | RISD | ||
| Location | Grantham, PA | Providence, RI | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,231 | 2,620 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #358 | #96 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Interdenominational | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | messiah.edu | risd.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Messiah College | RISD | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $38,550 | $56,435 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $38,550 | $56,435 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,560 | $15,234 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,120 | $39,800 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $27,519 | $37,480 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 34% |
Admission |
Messiah College | RISD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,438 | 5,099 | ||
| Admitted | 1,936 | 888 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 79.4% | 17.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 30.3% | 54.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.8 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | |||
| ACT Range | 25/30 | 29/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1090/1340 | 1340/1525 | ||
| 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, 2025 |
Academics |
Messiah College | RISD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 9:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Messiah College | RISD | ||
| Graduation Rate | 74% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $48,600 | $51,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 89% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,989 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $279 |
Diversity |
Messiah College | RISD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 33% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 67% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 83% | 31% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 4% | 26% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 8% |
Students |
Messiah College | RISD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 63% | 1% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 35% | 58% | ||
Campus |
Messiah College | 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
- Messiah College is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (3,231 students vs. 2,620 students)
Messiah College vs. RISD Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Messiah College or RISD?
- Rhode Island School of Design is 46.4% more expensive to attend than Messiah College for in-state tuition ($56,435.00 vs. $38,550.00)
- Out of state tuition is 46.4% higher at RISD than Messiah College ($56,435.00 vs. $38,550.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Messiah College than RISD ($24,120 vs. $39,800)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messiah College are 31.8% lower than costs at Rhode Island School of Design ($11,560 vs. $15,234)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Messiah College than Rhode Island School of Design (100% vs. 34%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 36.2% larger than aid received Messiah College ($37,480 vs. $27,519)
Messiah College vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Messiah College or RISD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RISD or Messiah College .
- The average SAT score at Rhode Island School of Design (1273) is 144 points higher than at Messiah College (1129)
- Incoming RISD students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Messiah College (25)
- Accepted freshman Messiah College students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at RISD (3.71)
- Messiah College has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than RISD (17.4%)
Messiah College vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Messiah College 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 Messiah College.
- The graduation rate at RISD is higher than Messiah College (87% vs. 74%)
- Graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn on average $2,500 more per year than Messiah College graduates after ten years. ($51,100 vs. $48,600)
- Messiah College students graduate with a $1,011 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($25,989 vs. $27,000)
- Messiah College graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than RISD graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
- More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Messiah College students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 85%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/