RPI vs. RISD

Should I go to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Rhode Island School of Design? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if RPI or RISD is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs. Rhode Island School of Design comparison
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhode Island School of Design College 3 College 4
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhode Island School of Design
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Overview

 RPI RISD
Location Troy, NY Providence, RI
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 7,024 2,540
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #124 #90
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rpi.edu risd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 RPI RISD
Tuition (In State) $60,360 $58,690
Tuition (Out of State) $60,360 $58,690
Room & Board $17,530 $15,850
Avg Net Price $35,940 $42,106
Avg Grant Aid $43,994 $36,743
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 33%

Admission

 RPI RISD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,283 7,126
Admitted 9,517 984
Acceptance Rate 58.4% 13.8%
Enrolled % 16.3% 51.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.88 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 30/34 30/33
SAT Range 1330/1500 1370/1540
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2026 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

 RPI RISD
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Architecture (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Precision Production Trades (4%)

Outcomes

 RPI RISD
Graduation Rate 84% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $82,500 $51,100
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $284 $279

Diversity

 RPI RISD
% Men 10% 5%
% Women 5% 13%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 59% 31%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 8% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 4%
% International 11% 26%
% Unknown Race 2% 8%

Students

 RPI RISD
% In-State 36% 1%
% Out-of-State 58% 61%

Campus

 RPI RISD
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (7,024 students vs. 2,540 students)

RPI vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI or RISD?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 2.8% more expensive to attend than RISD for in-state tuition ($60,360.00 vs. $58,690.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.8% higher at RPI than Rhode Island School of Design ($60,360.00 vs. $58,690.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than RISD ($35,940 vs. $42,106)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 10.6% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($15,850 vs. $17,530)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Rhode Island School of Design (96% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 19.7% larger than aid received Rhode Island School of Design ($43,994 vs. $36,743)

RPI vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RPI or RISD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RISD or RPI .

  • The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 95 points higher than at RISD (1273)
  • Incoming RPI students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at RISD (29)
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at RISD (3.71)
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (58.4%) than RISD (13.8%)

RPI vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, RPI or RISD? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between RISD and RPI.

  • The graduation rate at RISD is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (87% vs. 84%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $31,400 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $51,100)
  • Rhode Island School of Design students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($27,000 vs. $27,500)
  • RISD graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($279 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RISD students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 89%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/