UMBC vs. RISD

Deciding between University of Maryland Baltimore County 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.

University of Maryland Baltimore County
Rhode Island School of Design

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMBC Baltimore, MD
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • UMBC Large Suburban
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMBC 13,906
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • UMBC Public 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMBC #257
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMBC -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • UMBC Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMBC
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMBC $13,256
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMBC $31,275
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • UMBC $15,146
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • UMBC $18,770
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMBC $10,203
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMBC 88%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMBC 14,325
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • UMBC 10,375
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMBC 72.4%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UMBC 21.6%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMBC 1330
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMBC 28
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMBC 3.97
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMBC A
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMBC Very High
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMBC Low
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UMBC 25/31
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • UMBC 1240/1420
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMBC Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMBC Feb 1, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMBC 17:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMBC
    • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMBC 57%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMBC $59,500
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMBC 67%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMBC $21,197
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMBC $219
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMBC 54%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • UMBC 46%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMBC Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • UMBC No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • UMBC 44%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • UMBC 20%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • UMBC 17%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMBC 6%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • UMBC 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMBC 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMBC 4%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • UMBC 4%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMBC 4%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMBC 90%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMBC 4%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (13,906 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is located in Baltimore, MD (Large Suburban setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island School of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Maryland Baltimore County 17:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

UMBC vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC 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 University of Maryland Baltimore County than RISD ($18,770 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 8.9% lower than at Rhode Island School of Design ($15,146 vs. $16,626).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is 372.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMBC (about $49,432 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $13,256.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 100.4% higher at RISD than at University of Maryland Baltimore County (about $31,413 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $31,275.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than at Rhode Island School of Design (88% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 274.6% larger than aid received by University of Maryland Baltimore County students ($38,223 vs. $10,203).

UMBC vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMBC 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 UMBC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 130 points higher than at UMBC (1330).
  • Incoming RISD students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at UMBC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 1240/1420; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Maryland Baltimore County 25/31; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMBC - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMBC Feb 1, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMBC students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • UMBC has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at UMBC vs. 41.5% at RISD.

UMBC vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMBC 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 University of Maryland Baltimore County's (57%).
  • Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,500 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Maryland Baltimore County graduates have a $5,803 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($21,197 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UMBC graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($219 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMBC students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 67%)

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.