Yale vs. RISD

Should I go to Yale University or Rhode Island School of Design? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Yale or RISD is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Yale University vs. Rhode Island School of Design comparison
Yale University Rhode Island School of Design College 3 College 4
Yale University Rhode Island School of Design
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Overview

 Yale RISD
Location New Haven, CT Providence, RI
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 14,776 2,620
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #6 #96
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website yale.edu risd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Yale RISD
Tuition (In State) $62,250 $56,435
Tuition (Out of State) $62,250 $56,435
Room & Board $18,450 $15,234
Avg Net Price $18,647 $39,800
Avg Grant Aid $63,523 $37,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 34%

Admission

 Yale RISD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 50,060 5,099
Admitted 2,289 888
Acceptance Rate 4.6% 17.4%
Enrolled % 67.9% 54.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.95 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 33/35 29/33
SAT Range 1500/1580 1340/1525
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 2, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

 Yale RISD
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • History (9%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Architecture (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Precision Production Trades (4%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 Yale RISD
% Men 47% 33%
% Women 53% 67%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 47% 31%
% Black 7% 2%
% Hispanic 11% 8%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 4%
% International 11% 26%
% Unknown Race 1% 8%

Students

 Yale RISD
% In-State 6% 1%
% Out-of-State 80% 58%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Yale University is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (14,776 students vs. 2,620 students)

Yale vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale or RISD?

  • Yale University is 10.3% more expensive to attend than RISD for in-state tuition ($62,250.00 vs. $56,435.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.3% higher at Yale than Rhode Island School of Design ($62,250.00 vs. $56,435.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Yale University than RISD ($18,647 vs. $39,800)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 21.1% lower than costs at Yale University ($15,234 vs. $18,450)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Yale University than Rhode Island School of Design (52% vs. 34%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 69.5% larger than aid received Rhode Island School of Design ($63,523 vs. $37,480)

Yale vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Yale or RISD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RISD or Yale .

  • The average SAT score at Yale University (1498) is 225 points higher than at RISD (1273)
  • Incoming Yale students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at RISD (29)
  • 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 (17.4%) than Yale (4.6%)

Yale vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Yale or RISD? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between RISD and Yale.

  • The graduation rate at Yale is higher than Rhode Island School of Design (97% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from Yale University earn on average $67,300 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($118,400 vs. $51,100)
  • Yale University students graduate with a $13,500 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($13,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Yale graduates are paying $140 less per month on federal student loans 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/