NJIT vs. RISD

Should I go to New Jersey Institute of Technology or Rhode Island School of Design? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NJIT 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. 

Rutgers Stevens TCNJ Pratt Institute Rutgers University-Newark Rowan University UMBC Penn State Northeastern RIT MIT Virginia Tech
New Jersey Institute of Technology vs. Rhode Island School of Design comparison
New Jersey Institute of Technology Rhode Island School of Design College 3 College 4
New Jersey Institute of Technology Rhode Island School of Design
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 NJIT RISD
Location Newark, NJ Providence, RI
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 12,332 2,620
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #177 #96
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website njit.edu risd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 NJIT RISD
Tuition (In State) $15,198 $56,435
Tuition (Out of State) $31,658 $56,435
Room & Board $14,600 $15,234
Avg Net Price $17,762 $39,800
Avg Grant Aid $15,959 $37,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 34%

Admission

 NJIT RISD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,010 5,099
Admitted 8,585 888
Acceptance Rate 66% 17.4%
Enrolled % 18.3% 54.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 27/33 29/33
SAT Range 1190/1450 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 Mar 1, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

 NJIT RISD
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (38%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (16%)
  • Engineering Technology (14%)
  • Architecture (13%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Architecture (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Precision Production Trades (4%)

Outcomes

 NJIT RISD
Graduation Rate 54% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $67,200 $51,100
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $237 $279

Diversity

 NJIT RISD
% Men 71% 33%
% Women 29% 67%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 33% 31%
% Black 9% 2%
% Hispanic 22% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 4% 26%
% Unknown Race 6% 8%

Students

 NJIT RISD
% In-State 90% 1%
% Out-of-State 6% 58%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • New Jersey Institute of Technology is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (12,332 students vs. 2,620 students)

NJIT vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NJIT or RISD?

  • Rhode Island School of Design is 271.3% more expensive to attend than NJIT for in-state tuition ($56,435.00 vs. $15,198.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 78.3% higher at RISD than New Jersey Institute of Technology ($56,435.00 vs. $31,658.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at New Jersey Institute of Technology than RISD ($17,762 vs. $39,800)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at New Jersey Institute of Technology are 4.3% lower than costs at Rhode Island School of Design ($14,600 vs. $15,234)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at New Jersey Institute of Technology than Rhode Island School of Design (89% vs. 34%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 134.9% larger than aid received New Jersey Institute of Technology ($37,480 vs. $15,959)

NJIT vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rhode Island School of Design (1273) is 68 points higher than at NJIT (1205)
  • Incoming RISD students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at NJIT (26)
  • Accepted freshman NJIT students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at RISD (3.71)
  • NJIT has a higher acceptance rate (66%) than RISD (17.4%)

NJIT vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NJIT 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 NJIT.

  • The graduation rate at RISD is higher than New Jersey Institute of Technology (87% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from New Jersey Institute of Technology earn on average $16,100 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($67,200 vs. $51,100)
  • New Jersey Institute of Technology students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($23,000 vs. $27,000)
  • NJIT graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than RISD graduates. ($237 vs. $279)
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NJIT students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/