Providence vs. RISD

Deciding between Providence 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.

Providence College
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Providence Providence, RI
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Providence Midsize City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Providence 4,666
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Providence Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Providence #125
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Providence Roman Catholic
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Providence Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Providence
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Providence $63,550
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Providence $63,550
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Providence $17,840
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Providence $48,618
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Providence $31,873
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Providence 83%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Providence 12,521
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Providence 6,372
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Providence 50.9%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Providence 19.2%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Providence 1320
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Providence 30
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Providence 3.47
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Providence B+
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Providence Very High
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Providence Low
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Providence 29/32
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Providence 1250/1390
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Providence Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Providence Jan 15, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Providence 11:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Providence
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Providence 85%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Providence $68,000
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Providence 80%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Providence $27,000
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Providence $279
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Providence 45%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Providence 55%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Providence Low
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Providence No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Providence 77%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Providence 1%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Providence 4%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Providence 9%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Providence 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Providence 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Providence 2%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Providence 2%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Providence 5%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Providence 9%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Providence 90%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Providence College is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (4,666 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Providence College is located in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Providence 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: Providence College 11:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Providence vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Providence 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 Providence ($43,492 vs. $48,618).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 6.8% lower than at Providence College ($16,626 vs. $17,840).
  • Providence College is 1.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $862 more per year; $63,550.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.4% higher at Providence than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $862 more per year; $63,550.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Providence College than at Rhode Island School of Design (83% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 19.9% larger than aid received by Providence College students ($38,223 vs. $31,873).

Providence vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Providence 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 Providence.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 140 points higher than at Providence (1320).
  • Incoming RISD students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Providence).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Providence College 1250/1390; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Providence College 29/32; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Providence - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Providence Jan 15, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Providence (3.47).
  • Providence has a higher acceptance rate (50.9%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at Providence vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Providence vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Providence 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 Providence College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Providence College earn a median of about $16,900 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,000 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island School of Design and Providence graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Rhode Island School of Design and Providence graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Providence students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 80%)

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.