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 Tennessee State University Yale Cooper Union Syracuse Harvard Carnegie Mellon Cornell SCAD UD NYU| Rhode Island School of Design | Fisk University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
RISD | Fisk University | ||
| Location | Providence, RI | Nashville, TN | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 2,540 | 1,005 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #90 | #600 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | risd.edu | fisk.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
RISD | Fisk University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $58,690 | $22,320 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $58,690 | $22,320 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,850 | $11,698 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $42,106 | $19,836 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $36,743 | $20,400 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 33% | 96% |
Admission |
RISD | Fisk University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,126 | 7,982 | ||
| Admitted | 984 | 4,622 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 13.8% | 57.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 51.2% | 6.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.71 | 3.1 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 30/33 | 20/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1370/1540 | 1160/1480 | ||
| 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 | Feb 1, 2026 | Aug 1, 2026 |
Academics |
RISD | Fisk University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 8:1 | 11:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
RISD | Fisk University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 87% | 45% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $51,100 | $35,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 89% | 38% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $26,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $268 |
Diversity |
RISD | Fisk University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 1% | ||
| % Women | 13% | 4% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 31% | 1% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 88% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 1% | ||
| % International | 26% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 8% | 6% |
Students |
RISD | Fisk University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 1% | 30% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 61% | 57% | ||
Campus |
RISD | Fisk University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Rhode Island School of Design is larger than than Fisk University based on total student enrollment (2,540 students vs. 1,005 students)
RISD vs. Fisk University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, RISD or Fisk University?
- Rhode Island School of Design is 162.9% more expensive to attend than Fisk University for in-state tuition ($58,690.00 vs. $22,320.00)
- Out of state tuition is 162.9% higher at RISD than Fisk University ($58,690.00 vs. $22,320.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fisk University than RISD ($19,836 vs. $42,106)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fisk University are 35.5% lower than costs at Rhode Island School of Design ($11,698 vs. $15,850)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Fisk University than Rhode Island School of Design (96% vs. 33%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 80.1% larger than aid received Fisk University ($36,743 vs. $20,400)
RISD vs. Fisk University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, RISD or Fisk University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Fisk University or RISD .
- The average SAT score at Rhode Island School of Design (1273) is 336 points higher than at Fisk University (937)
- Incoming RISD students have a 9 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Fisk University (20)
- Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.61 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Fisk University (3.1)
- Fisk University has a higher acceptance rate (57.9%) than RISD (13.8%)
RISD vs. Fisk University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, RISD or Fisk University? 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 Fisk University and RISD.
- The graduation rate at RISD is higher than Fisk University (87% vs. 45%)
- Graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn on average $15,200 more per year than Fisk University graduates after ten years. ($51,100 vs. $35,900)
- Fisk University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
- Fisk University graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than RISD graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
- More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fisk University students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 38%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/