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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 academic institution uses 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%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 15. The transfer application deadline is March 17.
To find out more about what Rhode Island School of Design has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
2,087
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$61,564
Tuition
8:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
89%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to learn as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the institution in order to maximize your chances of being accepted. Here are the most important facts you have to know about admission policy and requirements at Rhode Island School of Design.
According to the most recent data, this school 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 if the applicant decides 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 overall 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 first-year 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 admitted students in 2025 was 32 and 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 SAT Critical Reading average score was 709 for the newly enrolled students, while the average SAT Math score was 732.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 15. When submitting your application as a transfer student, note that the application deadline is March 17.
Retention Rate
The percentage of new students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Rhode Island School of Design was 95%, which is an outstanding 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
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better idea of the school's culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution had an enrollment of 2,520 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 97. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 2,087, 690 of which were foreign students. The number of transfer students at this school was 43.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 725 male and 1,795 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
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
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Rhode Island School of Design? Here is what you need to know.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $61,564 in 2025. Rhode Island School of Design is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 were obliged to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,124.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 61,564 |
| Total Expense | $ 61,564 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial help available to students. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid at Rhode Island School of Design.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 163 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students equaled $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 obtained 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 total 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 was $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
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
5 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 1 full-time freshman. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants 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
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
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. This school has recently reported to have 524 faculty members. This number included 251 male and 273 female faculty members. 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
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some details about campus life at Rhode Island School of Design.
It has a campus size of 19 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? Rhode Island School of Design publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
At Rhode Island School of Design, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a medical 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. There is 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
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Rhode Island School of Design is located in Providence, RI.
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Rhode Island School of Design offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 61,564 USD per academic year for Rhode Island School of Design.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Rhode Island School of Design is 18%.
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According to the latest information, 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.
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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.
