Siena College vs. RISD

Comparable Facts

Compare Siena College in Loudonville, NY with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Siena College is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (3,720 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Siena College is located in Loudonville, NY (Large Suburban setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
• Siena College 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: Siena College 12:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Siena College vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Siena College 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 Siena College than RISD ($32,955 vs. $43,492).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 2.7% lower than at Siena College ($16,626 vs. $17,085).
• Rhode Island School of Design is 34.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Siena College (about $16,108 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $46,580.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34.6% higher at RISD than at Siena College (about $16,108 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $46,580.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Siena College than at Rhode Island School of Design (97% vs. 31%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 19.8% larger than aid received by Siena College students ($38,223 vs. $31,915).

Siena College vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Siena College 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 Siena College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 220 points higher than at Siena College (1240).
• Incoming RISD students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Siena College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Siena College 1110/1360; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Siena College 27/33; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Siena College - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Siena College Feb 15, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Siena College (3.53).
• Siena College has a higher acceptance rate (69%) than RISD (18.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.9% at Siena College vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Siena College vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Siena College 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 Siena College's (74%).
• Graduates from Siena College earn a median of about $8,700 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,800 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island School of Design and Siena College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Rhode Island School of Design and Siena College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Siena College students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 81%)

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.