Wellesley vs. RISD

Deciding between Wellesley 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.

Wellesley College
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wellesley Wellesley, MA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Wellesley Large Suburban
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Wellesley 2,407
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Wellesley Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wellesley #18
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wellesley -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Wellesley Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wellesley
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Wellesley $21,024
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Wellesley $22,174
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wellesley $64,116
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wellesley 54%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wellesley 8,714
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Wellesley 1,224
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wellesley 14%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Wellesley 47.6%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wellesley 1510
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wellesley 34
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wellesley 3.86
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wellesley A
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wellesley Elite
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wellesley Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Wellesley 33/35
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Wellesley 1460/1560
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wellesley Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Wellesley Jan 8, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wellesley 7:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wellesley
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wellesley 92%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wellesley $68,100
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wellesley 86%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wellesley $8,900
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wellesley $92
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wellesley 2%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Wellesley 98%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wellesley Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Wellesley No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Wellesley 40%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Wellesley 23%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Wellesley 6%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wellesley 11%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Wellesley 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wellesley 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wellesley 6%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Wellesley 12%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wellesley 4%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wellesley 12%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wellesley 73%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA 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 Wellesley based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 2,407 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Wellesley vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wellesley 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 Wellesley College than RISD ($22,174 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 20.9% lower than at Wellesley College ($16,626 vs. $21,024).
  • Wellesley College is 7.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $4,488 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.2% higher at Wellesley than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $4,488 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wellesley College than at Rhode Island School of Design (54% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 67.7% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($64,116 vs. $38,223).

Wellesley vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wellesley 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 Wellesley.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wellesley College (1510) is 50 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming Wellesley 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: Wellesley College 1460/1560; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 33/35; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wellesley - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wellesley Jan 8, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wellesley 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 Wellesley (14%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.6% at Wellesley vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Wellesley vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wellesley 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).

  • Wellesley College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from Wellesley College earn a median of about $17,000 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,100 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wellesley College graduates have a $18,100 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($8,900 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Wellesley graduates have an estimated $187 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($92 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wellesley students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 86%)

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.