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Pratt Institute Emmanuel College MICA Yale Cooper Union BU Syracuse Emerson Harvard Carnegie Mellon Cornell UMass| Simmons University | Rhode Island School of Design | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Simmons University | RISD | ||
| Location | Boston, MA | Providence, RI | ||
| Setting | Large City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 5,053 | 2,540 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #122 | #90 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | simmons.edu | risd.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Simmons University | RISD | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $44,208 | $58,690 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $44,208 | $58,690 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,104 | $15,850 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $29,575 | $42,106 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,874 | $36,743 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 33% |
Admission |
Simmons University | RISD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,871 | 7,126 | ||
| Admitted | 3,215 | 984 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 66% | 13.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 11.3% | 51.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.87 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 30/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1230/1390 | 1370/1540 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2026 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Simmons University | RISD | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 8:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Simmons University | RISD | ||
| Graduation Rate | 69% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $52,800 | $51,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 89% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $268 | $279 |
Diversity |
Simmons University | RISD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 8% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 57% | 13% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 31% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 26% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 8% |
Students |
Simmons University | RISD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 57% | 1% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 37% | 61% | ||
Campus |
Simmons University | RISD | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Simmons University is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (5,053 students vs. 2,540 students)
Simmons University vs. RISD Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Simmons University or RISD?
- Rhode Island School of Design is 32.8% more expensive to attend than Simmons University for in-state tuition ($58,690.00 vs. $44,208.00)
- Out of state tuition is 32.8% higher at RISD than Simmons University ($58,690.00 vs. $44,208.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Simmons University than RISD ($29,575 vs. $42,106)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 7.9% lower than costs at Simmons University ($15,850 vs. $17,104)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Simmons University than Rhode Island School of Design (99% vs. 33%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 8.5% larger than aid received Simmons University ($36,743 vs. $33,874)
Simmons University vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Simmons University or RISD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RISD or Simmons University .
- The average SAT score at Rhode Island School of Design (1273) is 110 points higher than at Simmons University (1163)
- Incoming RISD students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Simmons University (27)
- Accepted freshman Simmons University students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at RISD (3.71)
- Simmons University has a higher acceptance rate (66%) than RISD (13.8%)
Simmons University vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Simmons University or RISD? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between RISD and Simmons University.
- The graduation rate at RISD is higher than Simmons University (87% vs. 69%)
- Graduates from Simmons University earn on average $1,700 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($52,800 vs. $51,100)
- Simmons University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
- Simmons University graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than RISD graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
- More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Simmons University students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 80%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/