Pomona vs. RISD

Deciding between Pomona 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.

Pomona College
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Pomona Claremont, CA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Pomona Large Suburban
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Pomona 1,700
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Pomona Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Pomona #20
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Pomona -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Pomona Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Pomona
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Pomona $65,420
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Pomona $65,420
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Pomona $21,394
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Pomona $19,938
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Pomona $65,362
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Pomona 59%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Pomona 12,249
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Pomona 868
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Pomona 7.1%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Pomona 50.2%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Pomona 1530
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Pomona 34
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Pomona 3.89
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Pomona A
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Pomona Elite
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Pomona Extreme
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Pomona 33/35
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Pomona 1490/1560
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Pomona Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Pomona Jan 8, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Pomona 7:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Pomona
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (9%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Pomona 95%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Pomona $70,500
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Pomona -
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Pomona $11,000
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Pomona $113
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Pomona 45%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Pomona 55%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Pomona Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Pomona No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Pomona 40%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Pomona 14%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Pomona 7%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Pomona 15%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Pomona 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Pomona 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Pomona 8%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Pomona 10%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Pomona 6%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Pomona 25%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Pomona 50%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Pomona College in Claremont, 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 Pomona based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 1,700 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Pomona College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Pomona 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: Pomona College 7:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Pomona vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pomona 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 Pomona College than RISD ($19,938 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 22.3% lower than at Pomona College ($16,626 vs. $21,394).
  • Pomona College is 4.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $2,732 more per year; $65,420.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.4% higher at Pomona than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $2,732 more per year; $65,420.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pomona College than at Rhode Island School of Design (59% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pomona College students is 71% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($65,362 vs. $38,223).

Pomona vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pomona 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 Pomona.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Pomona College (1530) is 70 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming Pomona 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: Pomona College 1490/1560; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pomona College 33/35; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pomona - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Pomona Jan 8, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Pomona students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than Pomona (7.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.2% at Pomona vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Pomona vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pomona 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).

  • Pomona College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from Pomona College earn a median of about $19,400 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,500 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Pomona College graduates have a $16,000 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($11,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Pomona graduates have an estimated $166 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($113 vs. $279).

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.