UMBC vs. RISD

Should I go to University of Maryland Baltimore County or Rhode Island School of Design? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UMBC 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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University of Maryland Baltimore County vs. Rhode Island School of Design comparison
University of Maryland Baltimore County Rhode Island School of Design College 3 College 4
University of Maryland Baltimore County Rhode Island School of Design
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Overview

 UMBC RISD
Location Baltimore, MD Providence, RI
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 13,991 2,620
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #303 #96
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umbc.edu risd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UMBC RISD
Tuition (In State) $9,056 $56,435
Tuition (Out of State) $25,820 $56,435
Room & Board $13,378 $15,234
Avg Net Price $17,692 $39,800
Avg Grant Aid $8,889 $37,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 34%

Admission

 UMBC RISD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,534 5,099
Admitted 9,291 888
Acceptance Rate 80.6% 17.4%
Enrolled % 23.1% 54.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.97 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 23/29 29/33
SAT Range 1210/1390 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 Feb 1, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

 UMBC RISD
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Computer and Information Sciences (17%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Architecture (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Precision Production Trades (4%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 UMBC RISD
% Men 53% 33%
% Women 47% 67%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 44% 31%
% Black 17% 2%
% Hispanic 6% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 4% 26%
% Unknown Race 4% 8%

Students

 UMBC RISD
% In-State 90% 1%
% Out-of-State 5% 58%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Maryland Baltimore County is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (13,991 students vs. 2,620 students)

UMBC vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMBC or RISD?

  • Rhode Island School of Design is 523.2% more expensive to attend than UMBC for in-state tuition ($56,435.00 vs. $9,056.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 118.6% higher at RISD than University of Maryland Baltimore County ($56,435.00 vs. $25,820.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Maryland Baltimore County than RISD ($17,692 vs. $39,800)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maryland Baltimore County are 13.9% lower than costs at Rhode Island School of Design ($13,378 vs. $15,234)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Maryland Baltimore County than Rhode Island School of Design (92% vs. 34%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 321.6% larger than aid received University of Maryland Baltimore County ($37,480 vs. $8,889)

UMBC vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rhode Island School of Design (1273) is 64 points higher than at UMBC (1209)
  • Incoming RISD students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at UMBC (27)
  • 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 (80.6%) than RISD (17.4%)

UMBC vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UMBC 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 UMBC.

  • The graduation rate at RISD is higher than University of Maryland Baltimore County (87% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from University of Maryland Baltimore County earn on average $8,400 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($59,500 vs. $51,100)
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County students graduate with a $5,803 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($21,197 vs. $27,000)
  • UMBC graduates are paying $60 less per month on federal student loans 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/