RISD vs. Middlebury

Deciding between Rhode Island School of Design and Middlebury College? 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
Middlebury College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Middlebury Middlebury, VT
  • Setting
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Middlebury Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • RISD 2,520
  • Middlebury 2,803
  • Type
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • Middlebury Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RISD #92
  • Middlebury #24
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RISD -
  • Middlebury -
  • Status
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Middlebury Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RISD
  • Middlebury

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RISD $62,688
  • Middlebury $67,600
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RISD $62,688
  • Middlebury $67,600
  • Room & Board
  • RISD $16,626
  • Middlebury $19,250
  • Average Net Price
  • RISD $43,492
  • Middlebury $26,233
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RISD $38,223
  • Middlebury $59,647
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RISD 31%
  • Middlebury 47%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RISD 6,692
  • Middlebury 12,540
  • Admitted
  • RISD 1,249
  • Middlebury 1,348
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Middlebury 10.7%
  • Enrolled
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Middlebury 44.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RISD 1460
  • Middlebury 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • RISD 32
  • Middlebury 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • RISD 3.71
  • Middlebury 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RISD A-
  • Middlebury A
  • Admissions Standards
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Middlebury Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • RISD Very High
  • Middlebury Very High
  • ACT Range
  • RISD 31/34
  • Middlebury 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Middlebury 1445/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RISD Test optional
  • Middlebury Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027
  • Middlebury Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RISD 8:1
  • Middlebury 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)
  • Middlebury
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Foreign Languages (12%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • English and Literature (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RISD 87%
  • Middlebury 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RISD $51,100
  • Middlebury $72,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RISD 89%
  • Middlebury 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RISD $27,000
  • Middlebury $15,889
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RISD $279
  • Middlebury $164

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RISD 29%
  • Middlebury 46%
  • % Women
  • RISD 71%
  • Middlebury 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RISD Very High
  • Middlebury Medium
  • HBCU
  • RISD No
  • Middlebury No
  • % White
  • RISD 31%
  • Middlebury 65%
  • % Asian
  • RISD 19%
  • Middlebury 6%
  • % Black
  • RISD 2%
  • Middlebury 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • RISD 8%
  • Middlebury 9%
  • % Native American
  • RISD 0%
  • Middlebury 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RISD 0%
  • Middlebury 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RISD 4%
  • Middlebury 5%
  • % International
  • RISD 26%
  • Middlebury 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RISD 8%
  • Middlebury 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RISD 2%
  • Middlebury 5%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RISD 55%
  • Middlebury 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI with Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Middlebury College is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (2,803 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rhode Island School of Design is located in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting); Middlebury College is in Middlebury, VT (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Middlebury College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rhode Island School of Design 8:1; Middlebury College 8:1.

RISD vs. Middlebury Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RISD or Middlebury? 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 Middlebury College than RISD ($26,233 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 13.6% lower than at Middlebury College ($16,626 vs. $19,250).
  • Middlebury College is 7.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $4,912 more per year; $67,600.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.8% higher at Middlebury than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $4,912 more per year; $67,600.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Middlebury College than at Rhode Island School of Design (47% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Middlebury College students is 56.1% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($59,647 vs. $38,223).

RISD vs. Middlebury Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Middlebury College (1500) is 40 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming Middlebury students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at RISD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530; Middlebury College 1445/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rhode Island School of Design 31/34; Middlebury College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RISD - Test optional; Middlebury - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RISD Feb 1, 2027; Middlebury Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Middlebury students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than Middlebury (10.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 41.5% at RISD vs. 44.4% at Middlebury.

RISD vs. Middlebury Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RISD and Middlebury? 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).

  • Middlebury College's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from Middlebury College earn a median of about $21,300 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,400 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Middlebury College graduates have a $11,111 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($15,889 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Middlebury graduates have an estimated $115 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($164 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Middlebury students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 88%)

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.