Ringling College of Art and Design vs. Messenger College

Comparable Facts

Compare Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, FL with Messenger College in Bedford, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ringling College of Art and Design is larger than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (1,666 students vs. 24 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ringling College of Art and Design is located in Sarasota, FL (Small City setting); Messenger College is in Bedford, TX (Small City setting).
• Ringling College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Messenger College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Ringling College of Art and Design 11:1; Messenger College 8:1.

Ringling College of Art and Design vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ringling College of Art and Design or Messenger 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 Messenger College than Ringling College of Art and Design ($25,941 vs. $62,012).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messenger College are 30.3% lower than at Ringling College of Art and Design ($13,305 vs. $19,100).
• Ringling College of Art and Design is 398.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Messenger College (about $46,280 more per year; $57,900.00 vs. $11,620.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 398.3% higher at Ringling College of Art and Design than at Messenger College (about $46,280 more per year; $57,900.00 vs. $11,620.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ringling College of Art and Design than at Messenger College (100% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ringling College of Art and Design students is 368.1% larger than aid received by Messenger College students ($18,442 vs. $3,940).

Ringling College of Art and Design vs. Messenger College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Ringling College of Art and Design or Messenger 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 Messenger College and Ringling College of Art and Design.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ringling College of Art and Design - Test-free; Messenger College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Messenger College Jul 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Ringling College of Art and Design students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Messenger College (2.9).
• Ringling College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (69.7%) than Messenger College (37.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.5% at Ringling College of Art and Design vs. 66.7% at Messenger College.

Ringling College of Art and Design vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Ringling College of Art and Design and Messenger 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).

• Ringling College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than Messenger College's (10%).
• Graduates from Ringling College of Art and Design earn a median of about $17,800 more per year than Messenger College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,800 vs. $24,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Ringling College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Messenger College students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 40%)

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.