Admit rate has ranged 14%–27% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is a fiercely selective, avant-garde powerhouse where creativity isn’t just encouraged—it’s the oxygen. With an acceptance rate hovering around 19%, RISD attracts obsessive makers and thinkers who thrive in its intense, studio-driven environment. Its graduates command impressive earnings in creative fields, proving that art school can pay off—literally.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
Demonstrated competencies
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
2,084
In-state tuition
$62,688
Out-of-state tuition
$62,688
Social Vibe
Artsy, low-key, Brown-adjacent
Acceptance Rate
18.7%
Graduation Rate
89%
Notable Programs
Industrial Design, Illustration, Graphic Design
Median Earnings (6 Years)
$46,000
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$68,140
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.3×
Median debt at graduation
$27,000
Graduation rate
89%
First-year retention
95%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
87%
Pell (lower-income) share
38%
First-generation share
11%
Endowment / student
$205,273
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Architecture$50,439
Apparel and Textiles$41,937
Design and Applied Arts$36,166
Woodworking$30,228
Fine and Studio Arts$22,627
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$22,192
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
8
Per 1,000 students
3.84
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
91
Summer high
82°F
Winter low
26°F
Annual rain
52.9"
Annual snow
27.9"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
64
Scholarly works
1,217
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.3%
Bottom → top quintile
33%
From bottom quintile
4%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Rhode Island School of Design?
Rhode Island School of Design's acceptance rate is approximately 19% (Providence, RI), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Rhode Island School of Design?
Admitted students at Rhode Island School of Design typically score 1396–1530 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Rhode Island School of Design cost?
At Rhode Island School of Design, the average net price (after aid) is about $50,507 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Rhode Island School of Design?
Rhode Island School of Design enrolls approximately 2,084 undergraduate students.
Where is Rhode Island School of Design located?
Rhode Island School of Design is located in Providence, RI.
Admissions
RISD’s admissions process is as rigorous as its studio critiques, with an 18.7% acceptance rate (1,249 admits from 6,692 applications in 2024). The middle 50% of admitted students boast SAT scores between 1395–1520 or ACT scores of 31–34, and 58% had GPAs of 3.75 or higher. Notably, 26% of admits had perfect 4.0 GPAs. The regular decision deadline is January 15, and while RISD is Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight., submitted scores are competitive—the average SAT Math score is 732 (middle 50% range: 708–780).
RISD’s BFA program is the crown jewel, with a curriculum that balances relentless studio work (think 3AM critiques) with liberal arts rigor. Students choose from 16 majors, including iconic programs like , , and , while also taking courses in art history and social sciences. The workload is legendary—students describe it as 'intense' but transformative, fostering a 'strong work ethic and critical thinking skills.' RISD’s faculty are working artists and designers, and the school’s partnership with Brown University allows cross-registration for academically adventurous students.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
RISD’s vibe is unapologetically artsy—think 'Greenwich Village meets Providence.' The social scene is low-key, with few on-campus parties; students often migrate to Brown University for bigger events. Campus life revolves around studios, clubs (like the infamous 'Spoon Club' for utensil enthusiasts), and quirky traditions. Housing is guaranteed for freshmen, and the dining hall’s 'Eat the World' events celebrate global cuisines. RISD’s location in Providence—a city with a thriving arts scene—means students have access to galleries, indie theaters, and coffee shops that double as de facto study spaces.
RISD graduates out-earn most art school peers, with median earnings of $46,000 six years post-graduation (jumping to $68,000 after a decade). The 89% graduation rate is stellar for a specialty school, and 68% of alumni earn more than the average high school graduate. While median debt at graduation is $27,000, the ROI is strong—early-career earnings average $64,562, with illustrators and designers landing roles at studios like Pixar, Pentagram, and Apple.
Attending RISD isn’t cheap—tuition and fees total $60,790—but 54% of students receive financial aid. The average grant award is $25,317, and 36% of students secure school-specific grants (averaging $24,007). Need-based loans and work-study programs help bridge gaps, with 32.1% of students benefiting from aid packages that bring the Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. down to $42,106 for many.
RISD isn’t just an art school—it’s a creative boot camp for the fiercely dedicated. Its 19% acceptance rate rivals Ivy Leagues, and its alumni network includes MacArthur 'geniuses' and design legends. The Brown University cross-registration adds intellectual heft, while Providence’s gritty charm keeps students grounded. RISD’s secret sauce? It turns 'starving artists' into thriving ones, with earnings data that silences skeptics. For students who eat, sleep, and breathe art, there’s no substitute.
Rhode Island School of Design logo · sourceRhode Island School of Design - Providence, RI | Appily · sourceRhode Island School of Design · sourceRhode Island School of Design - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges · source
