Swarthmore vs. RISD

Deciding between Swarthmore College 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.

Swarthmore College
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Swarthmore #40
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Swarthmore -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Swarthmore Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Swarthmore
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Swarthmore 57%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Swarthmore 975
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Swarthmore 34
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Swarthmore A
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Swarthmore 33/35
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Swarthmore 1490/1560
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Swarthmore $201
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Swarthmore 48%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Swarthmore 52%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Swarthmore Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Swarthmore No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Swarthmore 42%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Swarthmore 17%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Swarthmore 6%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Swarthmore 13%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Swarthmore 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Swarthmore 8%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Swarthmore 11%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Swarthmore 3%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Swarthmore 10%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Swarthmore 77%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Rhode Island School of Design is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 1,623 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Swarthmore College is located in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Swarthmore 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: Swarthmore College 7:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Swarthmore vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Swarthmore 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 Swarthmore College than RISD ($22,469 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 18.1% lower than at Swarthmore College ($16,626 vs. $20,308).
  • Swarthmore College is 4.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $2,806 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.5% higher at Swarthmore than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $2,806 more per year; $65,494.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Swarthmore College than at Rhode Island School of Design (57% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 61.2% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($61,634 vs. $38,223).

Swarthmore vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Swarthmore 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 Swarthmore.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Swarthmore College (1530) is 70 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming Swarthmore students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at RISD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Swarthmore College 1490/1560; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Swarthmore College 33/35; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Swarthmore - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Swarthmore students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than Swarthmore (7.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.8% at Swarthmore vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Swarthmore vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Swarthmore 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).

  • Swarthmore College's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from Swarthmore College earn a median of about $14,700 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Swarthmore College graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($19,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Swarthmore graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($201 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Swarthmore students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 87%)

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.