Oberlin vs. RISD

Deciding between Oberlin 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.

Oberlin College
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Oberlin #153
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Oberlin -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Oberlin
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Oberlin 99%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Oberlin 1440
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Oberlin 32
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Oberlin A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Oberlin High
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Oberlin 88%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Oberlin 82%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Oberlin $274
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Oberlin 41%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Oberlin 59%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Oberlin Medium
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Oberlin No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Oberlin 68%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Oberlin 4%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Oberlin 5%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Oberlin 8%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Oberlin 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Oberlin 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Oberlin 6%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Oberlin 8%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Oberlin 1%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Oberlin 6%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Oberlin 82%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oberlin College is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (2,909 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Oberlin College is located in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Oberlin 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: Oberlin College 9:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Oberlin vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oberlin 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 Rhode Island School of Design than Oberlin ($43,492 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 14.8% lower than at Oberlin College ($16,626 vs. $19,510).
  • Oberlin College is 7.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $4,678 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.5% higher at Oberlin than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $4,678 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at Rhode Island School of Design (99% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 6.8% larger than aid received by Oberlin College students ($38,223 vs. $35,780).

Oberlin vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oberlin 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 Oberlin.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 20 points higher than at Oberlin (1440).
  • Incoming Oberlin students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 32) as students at RISD (32).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 1360/1520; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 31/34; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oberlin - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Oberlin Jan 15, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
  • Oberlin has a higher acceptance rate (34.2%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.5% at Oberlin vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Oberlin vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oberlin 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).

  • Oberlin College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Oberlin College graduates have a $421 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($26,579 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Oberlin graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($274 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oberlin students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 82%)

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.