MHC vs. RISD

Deciding between Mount Holyoke 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.

Mount Holyoke College
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • MHC 2,275
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MHC #81
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MHC -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • MHC Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MHC
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • MHC $19,684
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • MHC $32,526
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MHC $52,418
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MHC 77%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MHC 5,226
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • MHC 1,883
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MHC 36%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • MHC 27.2%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MHC 1460
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • MHC 33
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • MHC 3.87
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MHC A
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MHC Elite
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • MHC High
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • MHC 32/35
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MHC Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MHC 9:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MHC 85%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MHC $50,000
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MHC 77%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MHC $21,206
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MHC $219
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MHC 1%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • MHC 99%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MHC Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • MHC No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • MHC 45%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • MHC 10%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • MHC 6%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • MHC 8%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • MHC 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MHC 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MHC 4%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • MHC 26%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MHC 1%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MHC 19%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MHC 63%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA 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 MHC based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 2,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Holyoke College is located in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Mount Holyoke 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: Mount Holyoke College 9:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

MHC vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MHC 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 Mount Holyoke College than RISD ($32,526 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 15.5% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($16,626 vs. $19,684).
  • Mount Holyoke College is 6.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $4,330 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.9% higher at MHC than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $4,330 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at Rhode Island School of Design (77% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Holyoke College students is 37.1% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($52,418 vs. $38,223).

MHC vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MHC 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 MHC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Mount Holyoke College (1460) is the same as at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming MHC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at RISD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 32/35; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MHC - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MHC Jan 15, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MHC students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • MHC has a higher acceptance rate (36%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at MHC vs. 41.5% at RISD.

MHC vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MHC 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).

  • Rhode Island School of Design's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Mount Holyoke College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Holyoke College graduates have a $5,794 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($21,206 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, MHC graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($219 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 77%)

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.