Syracuse vs. RISD

Deciding between Syracuse University 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.

Syracuse University
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Syracuse #158
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Syracuse -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Syracuse
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Syracuse 76%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Syracuse 1360
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Syracuse 30
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Syracuse A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Syracuse Very High
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Syracuse Low
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Syracuse 80%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Syracuse 80%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Syracuse $279
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Syracuse 44%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Syracuse 56%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Syracuse High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Syracuse No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Syracuse 55%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Syracuse 8%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Syracuse 8%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Syracuse 11%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Syracuse 1%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Syracuse 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Syracuse 3%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Syracuse 12%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Syracuse 2%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Syracuse 31%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Syracuse 63%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Syracuse University is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Syracuse University is located in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Syracuse University 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: Syracuse University 15:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Syracuse vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Syracuse 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 Syracuse ($43,492 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 13.4% lower than at Syracuse University ($16,626 vs. $19,188).
  • Syracuse University is 4.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $2,840 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.5% higher at Syracuse than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $2,840 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Syracuse University than at Rhode Island School of Design (76% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 5% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($38,223 vs. $36,417).

Syracuse vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Syracuse 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 Syracuse.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 100 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming RISD students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Syracuse).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Syracuse University 1270/1440; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Syracuse University 29/32; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Syracuse - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Syracuse Jan 1, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (45.9%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at Syracuse vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Syracuse vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Syracuse 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 Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn a median of about $14,800 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,900 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island School of Design and Syracuse graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Rhode Island School of Design and Syracuse 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 Syracuse 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.