RPI vs. RISD

Deciding between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 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.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • RPI Small City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • RPI 7,040
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RPI #130
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RPI -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • RPI Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RPI
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • RPI $18,120
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • RPI $38,887
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RPI $43,517
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RPI 95%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RPI 17,175
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • RPI 10,901
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RPI 63.5%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • RPI 12.1%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RPI 1440
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • RPI 32
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • RPI 3.88
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RPI A
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • RPI Exceptional
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • RPI Low
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • RPI 30/34
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RPI Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RPI 69%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • RPI 31%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RPI High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • RPI No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • RPI 59%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • RPI 10%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • RPI 3%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • RPI 8%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • RPI 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RPI 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RPI 7%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • RPI 11%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RPI 2%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RPI 37%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RPI 58%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (7,040 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is located in Troy, NY (Small City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 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: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

RPI vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI 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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than RISD ($38,887 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 8.2% lower than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($16,626 vs. $18,120).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $1,393 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.2% higher at RPI than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $1,393 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Rhode Island School of Design (95% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 13.9% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($43,517 vs. $38,223).

RPI vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RPI 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 RPI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 20 points higher than at RPI (1440).
  • Incoming RPI 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: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RPI - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RPI Jan 15, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • 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 (63.5%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.1% at RPI vs. 41.5% at RISD.

RPI vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RPI 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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $31,400 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island School of Design graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, RISD graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.