RISD vs. Trinity

Deciding between Rhode Island School of Design and Trinity University? 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
Trinity University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Trinity San Antonio, TX
  • Setting
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Trinity Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • RISD 2,520
  • Trinity 2,687
  • Type
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • Trinity Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RISD #92
  • Trinity #64
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RISD -
  • Trinity Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • Status
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Trinity Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RISD
  • Trinity

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RISD $62,688
  • Trinity $53,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RISD $62,688
  • Trinity $53,676
  • Room & Board
  • RISD $16,626
  • Trinity $14,750
  • Average Net Price
  • RISD $43,492
  • Trinity $32,224
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RISD $38,223
  • Trinity $35,990
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RISD 31%
  • Trinity 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RISD 6,692
  • Trinity 12,506
  • Admitted
  • RISD 1,249
  • Trinity 3,241
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Trinity 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Trinity 20.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RISD 1460
  • Trinity 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • RISD 32
  • Trinity 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • RISD 3.71
  • Trinity 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RISD A-
  • Trinity A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Trinity Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • RISD Very High
  • Trinity High
  • ACT Range
  • RISD 31/34
  • Trinity 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Trinity 1340/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RISD Test optional
  • Trinity Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027
  • Trinity Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RISD 8:1
  • Trinity 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)
  • Trinity
    • Business (32%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RISD 87%
  • Trinity 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RISD $51,100
  • Trinity $62,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RISD 89%
  • Trinity 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RISD $27,000
  • Trinity $25,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RISD $279
  • Trinity $263

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RISD 29%
  • Trinity 45%
  • % Women
  • RISD 71%
  • Trinity 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RISD Very High
  • Trinity High
  • HBCU
  • RISD No
  • Trinity No
  • % White
  • RISD 31%
  • Trinity 55%
  • % Asian
  • RISD 19%
  • Trinity 6%
  • % Black
  • RISD 2%
  • Trinity 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • RISD 8%
  • Trinity 20%
  • % Native American
  • RISD 0%
  • Trinity 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RISD 0%
  • Trinity 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RISD 4%
  • Trinity 5%
  • % International
  • RISD 26%
  • Trinity 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RISD 8%
  • Trinity 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RISD 2%
  • Trinity 77%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RISD 55%
  • Trinity 18%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI with Trinity University in San Antonio, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Trinity University is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (2,687 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); Trinity University is in San Antonio, TX (Large City setting).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Trinity University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rhode Island School of Design 8:1; Trinity University 8:1.

RISD vs. Trinity Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RISD or Trinity? 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 Trinity University than RISD ($32,224 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Trinity University are 11.3% lower than at Rhode Island School of Design ($14,750 vs. $16,626).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is 16.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Trinity (about $9,012 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $53,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.8% higher at RISD than at Trinity University (about $9,012 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $53,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Trinity University than at Rhode Island School of Design (100% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 6.2% larger than aid received by Trinity University students ($38,223 vs. $35,990).

RISD vs. Trinity Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 40 points higher than at Trinity (1420).
  • Incoming RISD students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 32) as students at Trinity (32).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530; Trinity University 1340/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rhode Island School of Design 31/34; Trinity University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RISD - Test optional; Trinity - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RISD Feb 1, 2027; Trinity Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Trinity (3.68).
  • Trinity has a higher acceptance rate (25.9%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 41.5% at RISD vs. 20.1% at Trinity.

RISD vs. Trinity Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RISD and Trinity? 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 Trinity University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Trinity University earn a median of about $11,700 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,800 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Trinity University graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($25,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Trinity graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($263 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Trinity 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.