Tufts vs. RISD

Deciding between Tufts 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.

Tufts University
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Tufts Medford, MA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Tufts Large Suburban
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Tufts 13,599
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Tufts Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Tufts #33
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Tufts -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Tufts Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Tufts
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Tufts $18,588
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Tufts $32,367
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Tufts $55,933
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Tufts 39%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Tufts 34,432
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Tufts 3,957
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Tufts 11.5%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Tufts 45.5%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tufts 1520
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tufts 34
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Tufts 3.91
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Tufts A
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Tufts Elite
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Tufts Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Tufts 33/35
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Tufts 1470/1560
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Tufts Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Tufts Jan 1, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Tufts 10:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Tufts
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Tufts 90%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Tufts $83,100
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Tufts 91%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Tufts $18,000
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Tufts $186
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Tufts 41%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Tufts 59%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Tufts High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Tufts No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Tufts 58%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Tufts 11%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Tufts 4%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Tufts 6%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Tufts 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Tufts 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Tufts 4%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Tufts 9%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Tufts 7%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Tufts 22%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Tufts 63%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Tufts University is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (13,599 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Tufts University is located in Medford, MA (Large Suburban setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Tufts 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: Tufts University 10:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Tufts vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tufts 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 Tufts University than RISD ($32,367 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 10.6% lower than at Tufts University ($16,626 vs. $18,588).
  • Tufts University is 12.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $8,016 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.8% higher at Tufts than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $8,016 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tufts University than at Rhode Island School of Design (39% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tufts University students is 46.3% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($55,933 vs. $38,223).

Tufts vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Tufts 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 Tufts.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Tufts University (1520) is 60 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming Tufts 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: Tufts University 1470/1560; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 33/35; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tufts - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Tufts Jan 1, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Tufts students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than Tufts (11.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Tufts vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Tufts vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tufts 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).

  • Tufts University's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from Tufts University earn a median of about $32,000 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($83,100 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Tufts University graduates have a $9,000 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($18,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Tufts graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($186 vs. $279).
  • More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RISD students, three years after graduation. (91% 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.