Penn vs. RISD

Deciding between University of Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Penn Philadelphia, PA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Penn Large City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn 29,109
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Penn Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Penn #23
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Penn -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Penn Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Penn
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Penn $68,686
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Penn $68,686
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Penn $19,174
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Penn $23,570
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Penn $65,458
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Penn 51%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Penn 65,226
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Penn 3,523
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Penn 5.4%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Penn 68%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn 1540
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn 35
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Penn 3.95
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Penn A
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Penn Elite
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Penn Extreme
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Penn 34/36
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Penn 1510/1570
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Penn Required
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Penn Jan 5, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Penn 8:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Penn
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Penn 96%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Penn $123,600
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Penn 84%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Penn $20,633
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Penn $213
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Penn 44%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Penn 56%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Penn Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Penn No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Penn 45%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Penn 19%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Penn 7%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Penn 10%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Penn 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Penn 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Penn 4%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Penn 11%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Penn 3%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Penn 15%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Penn 70%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Pennsylvania is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Pennsylvania is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Pennsylvania 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: University of Pennsylvania 8:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Penn vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn 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 Pennsylvania than RISD ($23,570 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 13.3% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($16,626 vs. $19,174).
  • University of Pennsylvania is 9.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $5,998 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.6% higher at Penn than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $5,998 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Pennsylvania than at Rhode Island School of Design (51% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 71.3% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($65,458 vs. $38,223).

Penn vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn 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 Penn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pennsylvania (1540) is 80 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming Penn students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 32 at RISD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Pennsylvania 34/36; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn - Required; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Penn Jan 5, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than Penn (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68% at Penn vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Penn vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn 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).

  • University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $72,500 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $6,367 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($20,633 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn graduates have an estimated $66 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($213 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 84%)

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.