NYU vs. RISD

Should I go to New York University or Rhode Island School of Design? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NYU 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.
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New York University vs. Rhode Island School of Design comparison
New York University Rhode Island School of Design College 3 College 4
New York University Rhode Island School of Design
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Overview

 NYU RISD
Location New York, NY Providence, RI
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 59,144 2,620
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #38 #96
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nyu.edu risd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 NYU RISD
Tuition (In State) $55,384 $56,435
Tuition (Out of State) $55,384 $56,435
Room & Board $20,272 $15,234
Avg Net Price $29,499 $39,800
Avg Grant Aid $47,096 $37,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 45% 34%

Admission

 NYU RISD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 100,662 5,099
Admitted 12,539 888
Acceptance Rate 12.5% 17.4%
Enrolled % 49.3% 54.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 33/35 29/33
SAT Range 1470/1570 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

 NYU RISD
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Architecture (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Precision Production Trades (4%)

Outcomes

 NYU RISD
Graduation Rate 86% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $76,000 $51,100
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $240 $279

Diversity

 NYU RISD
% Men 41% 33%
% Women 59% 67%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 34% 31%
% Black 5% 2%
% Hispanic 12% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 17% 26%
% Unknown Race 8% 8%

Students

 NYU RISD
% In-State 26% 1%
% Out-of-State 52% 58%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • New York University is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (59,144 students vs. 2,620 students)

NYU vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NYU or RISD?

  • Rhode Island School of Design is 1.9% more expensive to attend than NYU for in-state tuition ($56,435.00 vs. $55,384.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 1.9% higher at RISD than New York University ($56,435.00 vs. $55,384.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at New York University than RISD ($29,499 vs. $39,800)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 33.1% lower than costs at New York University ($15,234 vs. $20,272)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at New York University than Rhode Island School of Design (45% vs. 34%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New York University students is 25.7% larger than aid received Rhode Island School of Design ($47,096 vs. $37,480)

NYU vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at New York University (1360) is 87 points higher than at RISD (1273)
  • Incoming NYU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at RISD (29)
  • Accepted freshman NYU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at RISD (3.71)
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (17.4%) than NYU (12.5%)

NYU vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NYU 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 NYU.

  • The graduation rate at RISD is higher than New York University (87% vs. 86%)
  • Graduates from New York University earn on average $24,900 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($76,000 vs. $51,100)
  • New York University students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($23,250 vs. $27,000)
  • NYU graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than RISD graduates. ($240 vs. $279)
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU 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/