Rutgers vs. RISD

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick and Rhode Island School of Design? 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island School of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Rutgers vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or RISD? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than RISD ($20,522 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 5.5% lower than at Rhode Island School of Design ($15,714 vs. $16,626).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is 249.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $44,759 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 67.4% higher at RISD than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $25,247 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rutgers University New Brunswick than at Rhode Island School of Design (50% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 128.3% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($38,223 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. RISD Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 50 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming RISD students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Rutgers vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers and RISD? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $15,100 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $4,785 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($22,215 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($229 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 68%)

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.