Stevens vs. RISD

Deciding between Stevens Institute of Technology 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.

Stevens Institute of Technology
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Stevens Hoboken, NJ
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Stevens Large Suburban
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Stevens 8,469
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Stevens Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Stevens #116
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Stevens -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Stevens Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Stevens
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Stevens $63,462
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Stevens $63,462
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Stevens $19,124
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Stevens $46,165
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Stevens $33,897
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Stevens 98%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Stevens 10,673
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Stevens 5,078
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Stevens 47.6%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Stevens 20.8%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Stevens 1440
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Stevens 32
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Stevens 3.88
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Stevens A
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Stevens Exceptional
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Stevens Low
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Stevens 31/34
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Stevens 1380/1505
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Stevens Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Stevens
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Stevens 11:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Stevens
    • Engineering (65%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering Technology (6%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Stevens 79%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Stevens $89,100
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Stevens 89%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Stevens $28,250
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Stevens $292
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Stevens 68%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Stevens 32%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Stevens Medium
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Stevens No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Stevens 66%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Stevens 10%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Stevens 2%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Stevens 9%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Stevens 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Stevens 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Stevens 0%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Stevens 4%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Stevens 8%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Stevens 64%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Stevens 30%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Stevens Institute of Technology is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (8,469 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Stevens Institute of Technology is located in Hoboken, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Stevens Institute of Technology 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: Stevens Institute of Technology 11:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Stevens vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Stevens 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 Stevens ($43,492 vs. $46,165).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 13.1% lower than at Stevens Institute of Technology ($16,626 vs. $19,124).
  • Stevens Institute of Technology is 1.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $774 more per year; $63,462.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.2% higher at Stevens than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $774 more per year; $63,462.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stevens Institute of Technology than at Rhode Island School of Design (98% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 12.8% larger than aid received by Stevens Institute of Technology students ($38,223 vs. $33,897).

Stevens vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Stevens 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 Stevens.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 20 points higher than at Stevens (1440).
  • Incoming Stevens students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 32) as students at RISD (32).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stevens Institute of Technology 1380/1505; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stevens Institute of Technology 31/34; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Stevens - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Stevens students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • Stevens has a higher acceptance rate (47.6%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.8% at Stevens vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Stevens vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Stevens 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 Stevens Institute of Technology's (79%).
  • Graduates from Stevens Institute of Technology earn a median of about $38,000 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,100 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island School of Design graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than Stevens graduates ($27,000 vs. $28,250).
  • Among borrowers, RISD graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Stevens graduates ($279 vs. $292).
  • More Stevens graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RISD students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 89%)

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.