Northeastern vs. RISD

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

Northeastern RISD
Location Boston, MA Providence, RI
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 30,013 2,620
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #130 #96
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website northeastern.edu risd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Northeastern RISD
Tuition (In State) $59,100 $56,435
Tuition (Out of State) $59,100 $56,435
Room & Board $18,430 $15,234
Avg Net Price $35,827 $39,800
Avg Grant Aid $42,331 $37,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 34%

Admission

Northeastern RISD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 91,000 5,099
Admitted 6,191 888
Acceptance Rate 6.8% 17.4%
Enrolled % 40.7% 54.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.91 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 33/35 29/33
SAT Range 1440/1550 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 Jan 1, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Northeastern RISD
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Architecture (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Precision Production Trades (4%)

Outcomes

Northeastern RISD
Graduation Rate 77% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $69,500 $51,100
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,875 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $288 $279

Diversity

Northeastern RISD
% Men 48% 33%
% Women 52% 67%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 48% 31%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 7% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 20% 26%
% Unknown Race 6% 8%

Students

Northeastern RISD
% In-State 21% 1%
% Out-of-State 66% 58%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northeastern University is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (30,013 students vs. 2,620 students)

Northeastern vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern or RISD?

  • Northeastern University is 4.7% more expensive to attend than RISD for in-state tuition ($59,100.00 vs. $56,435.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.7% higher at Northeastern than Rhode Island School of Design ($59,100.00 vs. $56,435.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northeastern University than RISD ($35,827 vs. $39,800)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 21% lower than costs at Northeastern University ($15,234 vs. $18,430)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northeastern University than Rhode Island School of Design (82% vs. 34%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern University students is 12.9% larger than aid received Rhode Island School of Design ($42,331 vs. $37,480)

Northeastern vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Northeastern University (1435) is 162 points higher than at RISD (1273)
  • Incoming Northeastern students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at RISD (29)
  • Accepted freshman Northeastern students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at RISD (3.71)
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (17.4%) than Northeastern (6.8%)

Northeastern vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Northeastern 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 Northeastern.

  • The graduation rate at RISD is higher than Northeastern University (87% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Northeastern University earn on average $18,400 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($69,500 vs. $51,100)
  • Rhode Island School of Design students graduate with a $875 lower median federal student loan debt than Northeastern graduates. ($27,000 vs. $27,875)
  • RISD graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than Northeastern graduates. ($279 vs. $288)
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 79%)

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