NYU vs. RISD

Deciding between New York University 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.

New York University
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • NYU New York, NY
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • NYU Large City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • NYU 56,832
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NYU #43
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NYU -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • NYU Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NYU
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NYU $62,796
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NYU $62,796
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • NYU $23,530
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • NYU $30,325
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NYU $53,901
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NYU 37%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NYU 110,807
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • NYU 10,232
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NYU 9.2%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • NYU 55.4%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NYU 1520
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • NYU 34
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • NYU 3.79
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NYU A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • NYU Elite
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • NYU Extreme
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • NYU 34/35
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NYU Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NYU
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NYU 42%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • NYU 58%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NYU Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • NYU No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • NYU 34%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • NYU 20%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • NYU 5%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • NYU 12%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • NYU 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NYU 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NYU 4%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • NYU 17%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NYU 8%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NYU 26%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NYU 49%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare New York University in New York, NY with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

New York University is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • New York University is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • New York University 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: New York University 8:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

NYU vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NYU 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 New York University than RISD ($30,325 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 29.3% lower than at New York University ($16,626 vs. $23,530).
  • New York University is 0.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $108 more per year; $62,796.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at NYU than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $108 more per year; $62,796.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at New York University than at Rhode Island School of Design (37% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New York University students is 41% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($53,901 vs. $38,223).

NYU vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NYU 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 NYU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at New York University (1520) is 60 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming NYU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at RISD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New York University 1480/1560; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New York University 34/35; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NYU - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • 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 (18.7%) than NYU (9.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 55.4% at NYU vs. 41.5% at RISD.

NYU vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NYU 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 New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from New York University earn a median of about $24,900 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,000 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, New York University graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, NYU graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.