Oxy vs. RISD

Deciding between Occidental 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.

Occidental College
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Oxy Los Angeles, CA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Oxy Large City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Oxy 1,881
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Oxy Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Oxy #75
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Oxy -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Oxy Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Oxy
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Oxy $66,274
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Oxy $66,274
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Oxy $19,252
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Oxy $48,400
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Oxy $36,400
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Oxy 75%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Oxy 6,461
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Oxy 2,854
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Oxy 44.2%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Oxy 17.8%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Oxy 1450
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Oxy 32
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Oxy 3.63
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Oxy A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Oxy Exceptional
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Oxy Low
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Oxy 31/34
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Oxy 1380/1520
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Oxy Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Oxy Jan 10, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Oxy 9:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Oxy
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Oxy 83%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Oxy $56,600
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Oxy 87%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Oxy $23,652
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Oxy $244
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Oxy 41%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Oxy 59%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Oxy High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Oxy No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Oxy 49%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Oxy 13%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Oxy 5%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Oxy 16%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Oxy 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Oxy 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Oxy 9%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Oxy 6%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Oxy 2%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Oxy 43%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Oxy 49%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Rhode Island School of Design is larger than Oxy based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 1,881 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Occidental College is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Occidental 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: Occidental College 9:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Oxy vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oxy 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 Oxy ($43,492 vs. $48,400).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 13.6% lower than at Occidental College ($16,626 vs. $19,252).
  • Occidental College is 5.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $3,586 more per year; $66,274.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.7% higher at Oxy than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $3,586 more per year; $66,274.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Occidental College than at Rhode Island School of Design (75% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 5% larger than aid received by Occidental College students ($38,223 vs. $36,400).

Oxy vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oxy 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 Oxy.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 10 points higher than at Oxy (1450).
  • Incoming Oxy 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: Occidental College 1380/1520; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Occidental College 31/34; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oxy - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Oxy Jan 10, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Oxy (3.63).
  • Oxy has a higher acceptance rate (44.2%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.8% at Oxy vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Oxy vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oxy 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 Occidental College's (83%).
  • Graduates from Occidental College earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,600 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Occidental College graduates have a $3,348 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($23,652 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Oxy graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($244 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oxy students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 87%)

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.