Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, RI · Private nonprofit · offers Graduate degrees
19%Acceptance rate
$50,507Average net price / year
89%Graduation rate
$68,140Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$27,000Median debt at graduation
2,084Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $62,688
- Total cost of attendance
- $81,727
- Room & board
- $16,626
- Books & supplies
- $3,000
- Average net price
- $50,507
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $29,135
- $30–48k
- $30,233
- $48–75k
- $25,872
- $75–110k
- $33,893
- $110k+
- $64,493
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 18.7%
- Average SAT
- 1473
- SAT reading (25–75%)
- 688–750
- SAT math (25–75%)
- 708–780
- ACT composite (25–75%)
- 31–34
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 89%
- First-year retention
- 95%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $45,932
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $68,140
- Median debt (graduates)
- $27,000
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 15%
- Students with federal loans
- 29%
Programs: what graduates earn
12 of 25 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Bachelor's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 48 | $55,673 | — |
| Systems Science and Theory | 92 | $34,265 | $26,748 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 91 | $29,489 | $27,000 |
| Woodworking | 29 | $19,151 | $26,558 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 44 | $17,701 | $27,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 143 | $16,510 | $27,000 |
| Apparel and Textiles | 22 | $14,537 | $27,000 |
| Architecture | — | $69,048 | — |
Master's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 110 | $53,439 | $76,145 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 50 | $28,281 | $42,005 |
| Architecture | — | $58,141 | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | — | $70,583 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 2,084
- Graduate students
- 457
- Part-time
- 0%
- Women / men
- 71% / 29%
- White
- 21%
- Hispanic
- 8%
- Black
- 5%
- Asian
- 26%
- International
- 33%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 8:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $101,034 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 39%
- Accreditor
- New England Commission on Higher Education
- Website
- www.risd.edu
- Also known as
- RISD
Most popular fields
- Architecture – 9% of degrees
- Computer & Information Sciences – 8% of degrees
- Family & Consumer Sciences – 2% of degrees
- Interdisciplinary Studies – 13% of degrees
- Precision Production – 4% of degrees
- Visual & Performing Arts – 63% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Rhode Island School of Design?
18.7% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1473 on the SAT.
How much does Rhode Island School of Design cost?
The average net price after grants is $50,507 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $62,688 and the full cost of attendance is $81,727.
How much do Rhode Island School of Design graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $68,140 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
89% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Other colleges in Providence
| College | Net price | Acceptance | Graduation | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown University Providence, RI · Private nonprofit · 7,226 students |
$25,184 | 5% | 96% | $93,487 |
| Rhode Island College Providence, RI · Public · 5,049 students |
$9,478 | 92% | 48% | $56,318 |
| Providence College Providence, RI · Private nonprofit · 4,229 students |
$48,523 | 51% | 86% | $87,054 |
| Johnson & Wales University-Providence Providence, RI · Private nonprofit · 3,868 students |
$31,027 | 88% | 55% | $43,418 |
| Johnson & Wales University-Online Providence, RI · Private nonprofit · 2,202 students |
$20,252 | 91% | 0% | $43,418 |
| College Unbound Providence, RI · Private nonprofit · 491 students |
$21,108 | — | — | — |
| Empire Beauty School-Warwick Providence, RI · Private for-profit · 107 students |
$22,794 | — | 88% | $23,589 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.