Union College vs. RISD

Comparable Facts

Compare Union College in Schenectady, NY 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 Union College based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 2,065 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Union College is located in Schenectady, NY (Small City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
• Union 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: Union College 9:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Union College vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Union College 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 Union College than RISD ($42,137 vs. $43,492).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 2.3% lower than at Union College ($16,626 vs. $17,010).
• Union College is 10.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $6,351 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $62,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.1% higher at Union College than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $6,351 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $62,688.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Union College than at Rhode Island School of Design (96% vs. 31%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 11.3% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($42,534 vs. $38,223).

Union College vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Union College 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 Union College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 60 points higher than at Union College (1400).
• Incoming RISD students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at Union College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Union College 1310/1480; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Union College 29/33; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Union College - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Union College Jan 15, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Union College (3.5).
• Union College has a higher acceptance rate (43.9%) than RISD (18.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Union College vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Union College vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Union College 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 Union College's (86%).
• Graduates from Union College earn a median of about $23,100 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,200 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island School of Design and Union College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Rhode Island School of Design and Union College 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 Union College 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.