Reed vs. RISD

Deciding between Reed 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.

Reed College
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Reed Portland, OR
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Reed Large City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Reed 1,358
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Reed Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Reed #77
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Reed -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Reed Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Reed
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Reed $69,350
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Reed $69,350
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Reed $17,660
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Reed $30,953
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Reed $55,445
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Reed 58%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Reed 9,431
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Reed 2,321
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Reed 24.6%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Reed 13.1%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Reed 1410
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Reed 32
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Reed 4.0
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Reed A/A+
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Reed Exceptional
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Reed High
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Reed 30/34
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Reed 1290/1520
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Reed Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Reed
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Reed 9:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Reed
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Foreign Languages (15%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Reed 80%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Reed $47,200
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Reed 84%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Reed $16,000
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Reed $165
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Reed 42%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Reed 58%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Reed Medium
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Reed No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Reed 60%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Reed 5%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Reed 2%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Reed 11%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Reed 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Reed 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Reed 8%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Reed 7%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Reed 5%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Reed 16%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Reed 77%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Reed College in Portland, OR 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 Reed based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 1,358 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Reed College is located in Portland, OR (Large City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Reed 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: Reed College 9:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Reed vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Reed 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 Reed College than RISD ($30,953 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 5.9% lower than at Reed College ($16,626 vs. $17,660).
  • Reed College is 10.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $6,662 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.6% higher at Reed than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $6,662 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Reed College than at Rhode Island School of Design (58% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Reed College students is 45.1% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($55,445 vs. $38,223).

Reed vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Reed 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 Reed.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 50 points higher than at Reed (1410).
  • Incoming Reed 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: Reed College 1290/1520; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Reed College 30/34; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Reed - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Reed students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • Reed has a higher acceptance rate (24.6%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.1% at Reed vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Reed vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Reed 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 Reed College's (80%).
  • Graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than Reed graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $47,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Reed College graduates have a $11,000 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($16,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Reed graduates have an estimated $114 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($165 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Reed students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 84%)

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.