Jefferson vs. RISD

Should I go to Thomas Jefferson University or Rhode Island School of Design? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Jefferson or RISD is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Thomas Jefferson University vs. Rhode Island School of Design comparison
Thomas Jefferson University Rhode Island School of Design College 3 College 4
Rhode Island School of Design
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Overview

Jefferson RISD
Location Philadelphia, PA Providence, RI
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 8,286 2,620
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #96
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website jefferson.edu risd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Jefferson RISD
Tuition (In State) $43,100 $56,435
Tuition (Out of State) $43,100 $56,435
Room & Board $14,715 $15,234
Avg Net Price $28,110 $39,800
Avg Grant Aid $32,486 $37,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 34%

Admission

Jefferson RISD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,723 5,099
Admitted 5,085 888
Acceptance Rate 88.9% 17.4%
Enrolled % 14.9% 54.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 27/31 29/33
SAT Range 1130/1350 1340/1525
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 Jul 31, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Jefferson RISD
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Architecture (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Precision Production Trades (4%)

Outcomes

Jefferson RISD
Graduation Rate - 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $122,900 $51,100
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $12,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $129 $279

Diversity

Jefferson RISD
% Men 27% 33%
% Women 73% 67%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 72% 31%
% Black 7% 2%
% Hispanic 1% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 26%
% Unknown Race 7% 8%

Students

Jefferson RISD
% In-State 63% 1%
% Out-of-State 35% 58%

Campus

Jefferson RISD
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Thomas Jefferson University is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (8,286 students vs. 2,620 students)

Jefferson vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Jefferson or RISD?

  • Rhode Island School of Design is 30.9% more expensive to attend than Jefferson for in-state tuition ($56,435.00 vs. $43,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.9% higher at RISD than Thomas Jefferson University ($56,435.00 vs. $43,100.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Thomas Jefferson University than RISD ($28,110 vs. $39,800)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Jefferson University are 3.5% lower than costs at Rhode Island School of Design ($14,715 vs. $15,234)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Thomas Jefferson University than Rhode Island School of Design (100% vs. 34%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 15.4% larger than aid received Thomas Jefferson University ($37,480 vs. $32,486)

Jefferson vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Jefferson or RISD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RISD or Jefferson .

  • Accepted freshman Jefferson students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at RISD (3.71)
  • Jefferson has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than RISD (17.4%)

Jefferson vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Jefferson 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 Jefferson.

  • Graduates from Thomas Jefferson University earn on average $71,800 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($122,900 vs. $51,100)
  • Thomas Jefferson University students graduate with a $14,500 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($12,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Jefferson graduates are paying $150 less per month on federal student loans than RISD graduates. ($129 vs. $279)
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jefferson students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 86%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/