School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. RISD

Comparable Facts

Compare School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, IL with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (3,394 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• School of the Art Institute of Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island School of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: School of the Art Institute of Chicago 10:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, School of the Art Institute of Chicago 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 Rhode Island School of Design than School of the Art Institute of Chicago ($43,492 vs. $55,631).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at School of the Art Institute of Chicago are 0.5% lower than at Rhode Island School of Design ($16,550 vs. $16,626).
• Rhode Island School of Design is 11.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than School of the Art Institute of Chicago (about $6,268 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $56,420.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.1% higher at RISD than at School of the Art Institute of Chicago (about $6,268 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $56,420.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at School of the Art Institute of Chicago than at Rhode Island School of Design (99% vs. 31%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 90.6% larger than aid received by School of the Art Institute of Chicago students ($38,223 vs. $20,050).

School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, School of the Art Institute of Chicago 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 School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 310 points higher than at School of the Art Institute of Chicago (1150).
• Incoming RISD students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 23 at School of the Art Institute of Chicago).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: School of the Art Institute of Chicago 1048/1260; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: School of the Art Institute of Chicago 22/25; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: School of the Art Institute of Chicago - Test-free; RISD - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: School of the Art Institute of Chicago Nov 15, 2026; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at School of the Art Institute of Chicago (3.51).
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago has a higher acceptance rate (77.5%) than RISD (18.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.8% at School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. 41.5% at RISD.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for School of the Art Institute of Chicago 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 School of the Art Institute of Chicago's (60%).
• Graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn a median of about $12,000 more per year than School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates have a $1,287 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($25,713 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($265 vs. $279).
• More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former School of the Art Institute of Chicago students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 62%)

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.