Colleges by Location
Colleges by Fields of Study
Colleges by Tuition Range
Colleges by GPA Range
College by SAT Range
Colleges by ACT Score
Graduate Schools by Location
Graduate Schools by Fields of Study
Graduate School by Degree Type
Paying for Graduate School
Online Graduate Programs
Test Preparation
Career Planning
College Planning
Graduate School Planning
Applying to Graduate School
Engineering Careers
- More
Providence , RI
The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is a renowned art and design institution located in Providence, Rhode Island. Established in 1877, RISD offers a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields such as fine arts, architecture, design, and photography. RISD has consistently been ranked one of the top art schools in the United States, known for its strong emphasis on creativity, innovation, and hands-on learning.
At RISD, students are immersed in a rigorous and transformative educational experience that fosters critical thinking, technical skills, and creative problem-solving. The school's curriculum encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, allowing students to explore diverse artistic practices and experiment with different mediums. RISD is also committed to sustainability and encourages students to incorporate ecological considerations into their artwork and design projects.
RISD's campus is a vibrant and inspiring environment, housing state-of-the-art facilities, art galleries, and studios. The school maintains close ties with the local community, allowing students to engage in collaborative projects and exhibit their work at various venues in Providence. RISD graduates have excelled in a wide range of creative fields, from fine arts to industrial design, and have made significant contributions to the global art and design community.
Rhode Island School of Design is a private comprehensive higher education institution located in Providence, RI and set in an urban environment. This school follows a 4-1-4 calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 18%. The freshman retention rate at Rhode Island School of Design is 95% and the six-year graduation rate is 89%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 17.
Read more about what you can expect if you get into Rhode Island School of Design.
Quick Facts
2,087
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$63,966
Tuition
8:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
89%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Learning as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission maximizes your chances of getting admitted. Read on to learn some vital information about admission policy and requirements at Rhode Island School of Design.
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,249 in 2025. Rhode Island School of Design has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores for the applicants who choose to submit them.
Test Scores
15% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 3% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 75% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 23% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 2% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 82 and 18 between 24-29.
The ACT composite average score for all the accepted students in 2025 was 32 while the average GPA was 3.76. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Rhode Island School of Design; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 709 and an average SAT Math score of 732.
Deadlines
The deadline for submitting applications to Rhode Island School of Design is January 15. If you are applying for a transfer, note that the application deadline is March 17.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Rhode Island School of Design was 95%, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 89%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Rhode Island School of Design in 2025 was 2,520.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 97. There was a total of 2,087 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 690 international students. 43 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 725 male and 1,795 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution.
Student Population Diversity
The significance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 537 Asian students and 102 Afro-American students in 2025. 169 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 103 as multirace. There were also 39 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into account. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Rhode Island School of Design that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Rhode Island School of Design? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition in 2025 was $63,966 for full-time domestic students. Since Rhode Island School of Design is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students summed up to $1,170 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
The estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another important financial element. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $3,400.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
In 2025, room and board cost at Rhode Island School of Design amounted to $17,276 a year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $10,300.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 63,966 |
| Room and Board | $ 17,276 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 3,400 |
| Total Expense | $ 84,642 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial help can be a great deal for many students. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid students could get at Rhode Island School of Design.
The most recent records show that 163 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students totaled $43,913.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 627 students who secured need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Rhode Island School of Design is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 671. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $2,090,838, and state $5,583. The students of Rhode Island School of Design received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $23,732,863, and external in the amount of $892,800.
$8,548
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 5 students overall (including freshmen) at Rhode Island School of Design in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 1 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $81,900. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $250,044 USD.
Majors
Faculty
8:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at Rhode Island School of Design was 8:1. That means that there were 8 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 524. Out of that number, there were 251 men and 273 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Rhode Island School of Design.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Rhode Island School of Design is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about social life at Rhode Island School of Design.
Its campus is 19 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Participating in different student organizations can make your educational experience more interesting and fulfilling.
For those drawn to acting, there is a drama club where you can participate. You have a talent for media and communication? Rhode Island School of Design publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
Rhode Island School of Design offers a number of services vital for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Rhode Island School of Design is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Rhode Island School of Design.
Career Counselling
At Rhode Island School of Design, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
-
Rhode Island School of Design is located in Providence, RI.
-
Rhode Island School of Design offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
-
The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Rhode Island School of Design is 63,966 USD, based on the most recent data.
-
This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
-
The most recent reported acceptance rate for Rhode Island School of Design is 18%.
-
The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Rhode Island School of Design is 95%.
Contact Information
Rhode Island School of Design
20 Washington Place
Providence , RI
02903-2784
401 454-6100
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
Find the best schools for you.
Need help with choosing grad school? We got you.
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.