Villanova vs. RISD

Deciding between Villanova University 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.

Villanova University
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Villanova Villanova, PA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Villanova Large Suburban
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Villanova 10,041
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Villanova Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Villanova #67
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Villanova Roman Catholic
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Villanova Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Villanova
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Villanova $67,776
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Villanova $67,776
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Villanova $17,694
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Villanova $37,201
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Villanova $47,609
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Villanova 48%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Villanova 23,256
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Villanova 6,274
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Villanova 27%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Villanova 27.7%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Villanova 1450
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Villanova 33
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Villanova 3.87
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Villanova A
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Villanova Exceptional
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Villanova High
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Villanova 32/34
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Villanova 1395/1510
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Villanova Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Villanova Jan 15, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Villanova 10:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Villanova
    • Business (32%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Villanova 90%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Villanova $85,100
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Villanova 90%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Villanova $26,497
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Villanova $273
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Villanova 46%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Villanova 54%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Villanova Low
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Villanova No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Villanova 74%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Villanova 7%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Villanova 5%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Villanova 8%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Villanova 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Villanova 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Villanova 2%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Villanova 2%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Villanova 1%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Villanova 21%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Villanova 77%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Villanova University is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (10,041 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Villanova University is located in Villanova, PA (Large Suburban setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Villanova University 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: Villanova University 10:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Villanova vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Villanova 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 Villanova University than RISD ($37,201 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 6% lower than at Villanova University ($16,626 vs. $17,694).
  • Villanova University is 8.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $5,088 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.1% higher at Villanova than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $5,088 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Villanova University than at Rhode Island School of Design (48% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Villanova University students is 24.6% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($47,609 vs. $38,223).

Villanova vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Villanova 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 Villanova.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 10 points higher than at Villanova (1450).
  • Incoming Villanova students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at RISD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Villanova University 1395/1510; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Villanova University 32/34; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Villanova - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Villanova Jan 15, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Villanova students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at RISD (3.71).
  • Villanova has a higher acceptance rate (27%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.7% at Villanova vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Villanova vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Villanova 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).

  • Villanova University's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from Villanova University earn a median of about $34,000 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,100 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Villanova University graduates have a $503 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($26,497 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Villanova graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($273 vs. $279).
  • More Villanova graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RISD students, three years after graduation. (90% 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.