Yale vs. RISD

Deciding between Yale 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.

Yale University
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Yale 97%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • RISD 29%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • RISD 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Yale University is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (15,564 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Yale University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Yale 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: Yale University 5:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Yale vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale 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 Yale University than RISD ($22,408 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 16.5% lower than at Yale University ($16,626 vs. $19,900).
  • Yale University is 7.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $4,562 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.3% higher at Yale than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $4,562 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Yale University than at Rhode Island School of Design (56% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 72.4% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($65,892 vs. $38,223).

Yale vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Yale 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 Yale.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Yale University (1520) is 60 points higher than at RISD (1460).
  • Incoming Yale 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: Yale University 1470/1570; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; RISD - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Yale 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 Yale (3.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Yale vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale 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).

  • Yale University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Rhode Island School of Design's (87%).
  • Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $67,300 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Yale University graduates have a $13,500 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($13,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Yale graduates have an estimated $140 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($139 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Yale 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.