RISD vs. EMU

Should I go to Rhode Island School of Design or Eastern Mennonite University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if RISD or EMU 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Pratt Institute MICA Yale Cooper Union Syracuse JMU Harvard Carnegie Mellon Cornell SCAD UD NYU
Rhode Island School of Design vs. Eastern Mennonite University comparison
Rhode Island School of Design Eastern Mennonite University College 3 College 4
Rhode Island School of Design Eastern Mennonite University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 RISD EMU
Location Providence, RI Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 2,620 1,334
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #96 #215
Religious Affiliation - Mennonite Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website risd.edu emu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 RISD EMU
Tuition (In State) $56,435 $40,590
Tuition (Out of State) $56,435 $40,590
Room & Board $15,234 $12,240
Avg Net Price $39,800 $23,783
Avg Grant Aid $37,480 $30,460
% Receiving Grant Aid 34% 96%

Admission

 RISD EMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,099 1,144
Admitted 888 1,138
Acceptance Rate 17.4% 99.5%
Enrolled % 54.2% 17.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.71 3.7
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 29/33 25/34
SAT Range 1340/1525 1040/1590
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2025

Academics

 RISD EMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Architecture (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Precision Production Trades (4%)
  • Health Professions (30%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • General Studies (5%)

Outcomes

 RISD EMU
Graduation Rate 87% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,100 $43,900
Making Student Loan Payments 89% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $23,450
Median Loan Payment $279 $242

Diversity

 RISD EMU
% Men 33% 34%
% Women 67% 66%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 31% 71%
% Black 2% 10%
% Hispanic 8% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 26% 3%
% Unknown Race 8% 2%

Students

 RISD EMU
% In-State 1% 68%
% Out-of-State 58% 27%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Rhode Island School of Design is larger than than EMU based on total student enrollment (2,620 students vs. 1,334 students)

RISD vs. EMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RISD or EMU?

  • Rhode Island School of Design is 39% more expensive to attend than EMU for in-state tuition ($56,435.00 vs. $40,590.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 39% higher at RISD than Eastern Mennonite University ($56,435.00 vs. $40,590.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Eastern Mennonite University than RISD ($23,783 vs. $39,800)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Mennonite University are 24.5% lower than costs at Rhode Island School of Design ($12,240 vs. $15,234)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern Mennonite University than Rhode Island School of Design (96% vs. 34%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 23% larger than aid received Eastern Mennonite University ($37,480 vs. $30,460)

RISD vs. EMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rhode Island School of Design (1273) is 264 points higher than at EMU (1009)
  • Incoming RISD students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at EMU (22)
  • Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at EMU (3.7)
  • EMU has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than RISD (17.4%)

RISD vs. EMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, RISD or EMU? 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 EMU and RISD.

  • The graduation rate at RISD is higher than Eastern Mennonite University (87% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn on average $7,200 more per year than EMU graduates after ten years. ($51,100 vs. $43,900)
  • Eastern Mennonite University students graduate with a $3,550 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($23,450 vs. $27,000)
  • EMU graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than RISD graduates. ($242 vs. $279)
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former EMU 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/