Pratt Institute vs. RISD

Comparable Facts

Compare Pratt Institute Main in Brooklyn, NY with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pratt Institute Main is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (5,356 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pratt Institute Main is located in Brooklyn, NY (Large City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
• Pratt Institute Main 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: Pratt Institute Main 9:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Pratt Institute vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pratt Institute 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 Pratt Institute ($43,492 vs. $54,150).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 4.1% lower than at Pratt Institute Main ($16,626 vs. $17,336).
• Rhode Island School of Design is 1.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pratt Institute (about $843 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $61,845.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.4% higher at RISD than at Pratt Institute Main (about $843 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $61,845.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pratt Institute Main than at Rhode Island School of Design (78% vs. 31%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 46.9% larger than aid received by Pratt Institute Main students ($38,223 vs. $26,021).

Pratt Institute vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pratt Institute 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 Pratt Institute.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 190 points higher than at Pratt Institute (1270).
• Incoming RISD students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at Pratt Institute).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pratt Institute Main 1150/1390; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pratt Institute Main 26/31; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pratt Institute - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pratt Institute Jan 5, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pratt Institute students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at RISD (3.71).
• Pratt Institute has a higher acceptance rate (73.3%) than RISD (18.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Pratt Institute vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Pratt Institute vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pratt Institute 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 Pratt Institute Main's (62%).
• Graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than Pratt Institute graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pratt Institute Main graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($26,250 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Pratt Institute graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($271 vs. $279).
• More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pratt Institute students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 76%)

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.