Ringling College of Art and Design vs. USW

Comparable Facts

Compare Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, FL with University of the Southwest in Hobbs, NM on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ringling College of Art and Design is larger than USW based on total student enrollment (1,666 students vs. 1,130 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ringling College of Art and Design is located in Sarasota, FL (Small City setting); University of the Southwest is in Hobbs, NM (Rural Fringe setting).
• Ringling College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of the Southwest is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Ringling College of Art and Design 11:1; University of the Southwest 21:1.

Ringling College of Art and Design vs. USW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ringling College of Art and Design or USW? 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 the Southwest than Ringling College of Art and Design ($17,243 vs. $62,012).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the Southwest are 57.6% lower than at Ringling College of Art and Design ($8,100 vs. $19,100).
• Ringling College of Art and Design is 247.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than USW (about $41,230 more per year; $57,900.00 vs. $16,670.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 247.3% higher at Ringling College of Art and Design than at University of the Southwest (about $41,230 more per year; $57,900.00 vs. $16,670.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ringling College of Art and Design than at University of the Southwest (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ringling College of Art and Design students is 76.7% larger than aid received by University of the Southwest students ($18,442 vs. $10,436).

Ringling College of Art and Design vs. USW Admissions comparison

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

• University of the Southwest reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ringling College of Art and Design - Test-free; USW - Open admission.
• Accepted freshman Ringling College of Art and Design students have a 0.85 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at USW (2.63).

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

How do outcomes compare for Ringling College of Art and Design and USW? 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 University of the Southwest's (18%).
• Graduates from University of the Southwest earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than Ringling College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,700 vs. $41,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of the Southwest graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than Ringling College of Art and Design graduates ($23,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, USW graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ringling College of Art and Design graduates ($242 vs. $279).
• More Ringling College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USW students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 47%)

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.