URI vs. RISD

Deciding between University of Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island
Rhode Island School of Design

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • URI Kingston, RI
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • URI Large Suburban
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • URI 17,210
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • URI Public 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • URI #425
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • URI -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • URI Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • URI
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • URI $16,942
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • URI $37,146
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • URI $15,607
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • URI $24,118
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • URI $12,578
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • URI 96%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • URI 26,987
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • URI 19,475
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • URI 72.2%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • URI 15.4%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • URI 1150
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • URI
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • URI 3.58
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • URI A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • URI Average
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • URI Low
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • URI
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • URI 1020/1280
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • URI Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • URI Feb 1, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • URI 17:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • URI
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • URI 63%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • URI $56,200
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • URI 69%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • URI $23,438
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • URI $242
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • URI 41%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • URI 59%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • URI Low
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • URI No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • URI 71%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • URI 3%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • URI 5%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • URI 9%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • URI 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • URI 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • URI 3%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • URI 1%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • URI 7%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • URI 42%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • URI 57%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Rhode Island is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (17,210 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Rhode Island is located in Kingston, RI (Large Suburban setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 17:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

URI vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, URI 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 Rhode Island than RISD ($24,118 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Rhode Island are 6.1% lower than at Rhode Island School of Design ($15,607 vs. $16,626).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is 270% more expensive for in-state tuition than URI (about $45,746 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $16,942.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 68.8% higher at RISD than at University of Rhode Island (about $25,542 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $37,146.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rhode Island than at Rhode Island School of Design (96% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 203.9% larger than aid received by University of Rhode Island students ($38,223 vs. $12,578).

URI vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, URI 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 URI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 310 points higher than at URI (1150).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Rhode Island 1020/1280; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: URI - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: URI Feb 1, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at URI (3.58).
  • URI has a higher acceptance rate (72.2%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at URI vs. 41.5% at RISD.

URI vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for URI 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 Rhode Island's (63%).
  • Graduates from University of Rhode Island earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Rhode Island graduates have a $3,562 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($23,438 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, URI graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($242 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former URI students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 69%)

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.