Vassar vs. RISD

Deciding between Vassar College 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.

Vassar College
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Vassar Large Suburban
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Vassar 2,462
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Vassar Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Vassar #46
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Vassar -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Vassar Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Vassar
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Vassar $71,030
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Vassar $71,030
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Vassar $18,240
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Vassar $29,981
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Vassar $57,443
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Vassar 55%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Vassar 12,447
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Vassar 2,311
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Vassar 18.6%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Vassar 28.8%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Vassar 1500
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Vassar 34
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Vassar 3.86
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Vassar A
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Vassar Elite
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Vassar Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Vassar 33/35
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Vassar 1450/1550
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Vassar Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Vassar Jan 1, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Vassar 7:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Vassar
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Vassar 91%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Vassar $58,400
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Vassar 92%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Vassar $15,780
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Vassar $163
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Vassar 38%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Vassar 62%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Vassar High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Vassar No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Vassar 59%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Vassar 11%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Vassar 5%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Vassar 11%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Vassar 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Vassar 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Vassar 6%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Vassar 7%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Vassar 0%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Vassar 29%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Vassar 63%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, 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 Vassar based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Vassar College is located in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Vassar 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: Vassar College 7:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Vassar vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Vassar 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 Vassar College than RISD ($29,981 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 8.8% lower than at Vassar College ($16,626 vs. $18,240).
  • Vassar College is 13.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $8,342 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.3% higher at Vassar than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $8,342 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vassar College than at Rhode Island School of Design (55% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 50.3% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($57,443 vs. $38,223).

Vassar vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Vassar 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 Vassar.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vassar College (1500) is 40 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming Vassar students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at RISD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 1450/1550; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Vassar College 33/35; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Vassar - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Vassar Jan 1, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Vassar students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (18.7%) than Vassar (18.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Vassar vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Vassar vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Vassar 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).

  • Vassar College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from Vassar College earn a median of about $7,300 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $11,220 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($15,780 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $116 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($163 vs. $279).
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RISD students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 89%)

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.