RISD vs. Olin College

Deciding between Rhode Island School of Design and Franklin W Olin College of Engineering? 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.

Rhode Island School of Design
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Olin College Needham, MA
  • Setting
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Olin College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • RISD 2,520
  • Olin College 405
  • Type
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • Olin College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RISD #92
  • Olin College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RISD -
  • Olin College -
  • Status
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Olin College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RISD
  • Olin College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RISD $62,688
  • Olin College $66,398
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RISD $62,688
  • Olin College $66,398
  • Room & Board
  • RISD $16,626
  • Olin College $20,810
  • Average Net Price
  • RISD $43,492
  • Olin College $43,184
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RISD $38,223
  • Olin College $43,290
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RISD 31%
  • Olin College 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RISD 6,692
  • Olin College 1,000
  • Admitted
  • RISD 1,249
  • Olin College 252
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Olin College 25.2%
  • Enrolled
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Olin College 43.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RISD 1460
  • Olin College 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • RISD 32
  • Olin College
  • Average High School GPA
  • RISD 3.71
  • Olin College 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RISD A-
  • Olin College A
  • Admissions Standards
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Olin College Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • RISD Very High
  • Olin College High
  • ACT Range
  • RISD 31/34
  • Olin College
  • SAT Range
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Olin College 1493/1558
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RISD Test optional
  • Olin College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027
  • Olin College Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RISD 8:1
  • Olin College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)
  • Olin College
    • Engineering (100%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RISD 87%
  • Olin College 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RISD $51,100
  • Olin College N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RISD 89%
  • Olin College -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RISD $27,000
  • Olin College $14,710
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RISD $279
  • Olin College $152

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RISD 29%
  • Olin College 52%
  • % Women
  • RISD 71%
  • Olin College 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RISD Very High
  • Olin College High
  • HBCU
  • RISD No
  • Olin College No
  • % White
  • RISD 31%
  • Olin College 53%
  • % Asian
  • RISD 19%
  • Olin College 16%
  • % Black
  • RISD 2%
  • Olin College 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • RISD 8%
  • Olin College 4%
  • % Native American
  • RISD 0%
  • Olin College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RISD 0%
  • Olin College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RISD 4%
  • Olin College 7%
  • % International
  • RISD 26%
  • Olin College 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RISD 8%
  • Olin College 11%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RISD 2%
  • Olin College 22%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RISD 55%
  • Olin College 71%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI with Franklin W Olin College of Engineering in Needham, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rhode Island School of Design is larger than Olin College based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 405 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rhode Island School of Design is located in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting); Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is in Needham, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rhode Island School of Design 8:1; Franklin W Olin College of Engineering 9:1.

RISD vs. Olin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RISD or Olin College? 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 Franklin W Olin College of Engineering than RISD ($43,184 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 20.1% lower than at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering ($16,626 vs. $20,810).
  • Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is 5.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $3,710 more per year; $66,398.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.9% higher at Olin College than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $3,710 more per year; $66,398.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering than at Rhode Island School of Design (100% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin W Olin College of Engineering students is 13.3% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($43,290 vs. $38,223).

RISD vs. Olin College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RISD or Olin College? 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 Olin College and RISD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering (1530) is 70 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530; Franklin W Olin College of Engineering 1493/1558.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RISD - Test optional; Olin College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RISD Feb 1, 2027; Olin College Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Olin College students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • Olin College has a higher acceptance rate (25.2%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 41.5% at RISD vs. 43.7% at Olin College.

RISD vs. Olin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RISD and Olin College? 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).

  • Franklin W Olin College of Engineering's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Franklin W Olin College of Engineering graduates have a $12,290 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($14,710 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Olin College graduates have an estimated $127 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($152 vs. $279).

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.