RISD vs. UVM

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

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • UVM Burlington, VT
  • Setting
  • RISD Midsize City
  • UVM Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • RISD 2,520
  • UVM 14,476
  • Type
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • UVM Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RISD #92
  • UVM #205
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RISD -
  • UVM -
  • Status
  • RISD Non-profit
  • UVM Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RISD
  • UVM

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RISD $62,688
  • UVM $19,058
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RISD $62,688
  • UVM $45,502
  • Room & Board
  • RISD $16,626
  • UVM $13,776
  • Average Net Price
  • RISD $43,492
  • UVM $20,084
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RISD $38,223
  • UVM $19,897
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RISD 31%
  • UVM 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RISD 6,692
  • UVM 27,138
  • Admitted
  • RISD 1,249
  • UVM 17,722
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RISD 18.7%
  • UVM 65.3%
  • Enrolled
  • RISD 41.5%
  • UVM 15.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RISD 1460
  • UVM 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • RISD 32
  • UVM 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • RISD 3.71
  • UVM 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RISD A-
  • UVM A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • RISD Exceptional
  • UVM Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • RISD Very High
  • UVM Low
  • ACT Range
  • RISD 31/34
  • UVM 30/32
  • SAT Range
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • UVM 1290/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RISD Test optional
  • UVM Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027
  • UVM Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RISD 8:1
  • UVM 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)
  • UVM
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RISD 87%
  • UVM 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RISD $51,100
  • UVM $53,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RISD 89%
  • UVM 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RISD $27,000
  • UVM $22,300
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RISD $279
  • UVM $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RISD 29%
  • UVM 37%
  • % Women
  • RISD 71%
  • UVM 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RISD Very High
  • UVM Very Low
  • HBCU
  • RISD No
  • UVM No
  • % White
  • RISD 31%
  • UVM 82%
  • % Asian
  • RISD 19%
  • UVM 3%
  • % Black
  • RISD 2%
  • UVM 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • RISD 8%
  • UVM 4%
  • % Native American
  • RISD 0%
  • UVM 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RISD 0%
  • UVM 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RISD 4%
  • UVM 3%
  • % International
  • RISD 26%
  • UVM 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RISD 8%
  • UVM 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RISD 2%
  • UVM 20%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RISD 55%
  • UVM 78%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Vermont is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (14,476 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); University of Vermont is in Burlington, VT (Small City setting).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Vermont is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rhode Island School of Design 8:1; University of Vermont 17:1.

RISD vs. UVM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RISD or UVM? 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 University of Vermont than RISD ($20,084 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Vermont are 17.1% lower than at Rhode Island School of Design ($13,776 vs. $16,626).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is 228.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UVM (about $43,630 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $19,058.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 37.8% higher at RISD than at University of Vermont (about $17,186 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $45,502.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Vermont than at Rhode Island School of Design (93% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 92.1% larger than aid received by University of Vermont students ($38,223 vs. $19,897).

RISD vs. UVM Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 90 points higher than at UVM (1370).
  • Incoming RISD students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at UVM).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530; University of Vermont 1290/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rhode Island School of Design 31/34; University of Vermont 30/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RISD - Test optional; UVM - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RISD Feb 1, 2027; UVM Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UVM students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • UVM has a higher acceptance rate (65.3%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 41.5% at RISD vs. 15.8% at UVM.

RISD vs. UVM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RISD and UVM? 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 University of Vermont's (72%).
  • Graduates from University of Vermont earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,500 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Vermont graduates have a $4,700 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($22,300 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UVM graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($230 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UVM students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 83%)

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.