B+
Very Good
Score: 74/100
Overall (traditional)
A
Outcome Rating
85/100 · earnings-weighted

Rhode Island School of Design

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Rhode Island School of Design campus, Providence, RI
Rhode Island School of Design campus, Providence, RI. Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
A+
92/100
Affordability
F
22/100
Resources
A
86/100
Experience
A+
94/100
Prestige
B+
76/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

2,540
Total Enrollment
88%
Graduation Rate
93%
Retention Rate
8.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
14%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Rhode Island School of Design, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$68,140
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$45,932
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$27,000
Median debt at graduation
88.8%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,473
Average SAT
31
Median ACT
14.8%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 40% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 82nd percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (RI wage index 1.03). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Rhode Island School of Design

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Design and Applied Arts$29,489$67,771+32%#30 of 299#33$27,000
Apparel and Textiles$14,537$59,372+3%#20 of 57#30$27,000
Architectural Sciences and Technology$55,673—————
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$17,701$51,278+17%#27 of 144#27$27,000
Fine and Studio Arts$16,510$40,568-2%#239 of 423#259$27,000
Woodworking$19,151$37,055-22%——$26,558
Systems Science and Theory$34,265————$26,748

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Rhode Island School of Design Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $442,324
  • Avg rent near campus: $2,514/mo
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 02903 (4.4% cap, Providence)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

✓ Sent — check your inbox

Free — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.

🏆 Where Rhode Island School of Design Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

🥇
Painting
of 7 schools
🥇
Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Other
of 15 schools
🥇
Sculpture
of 1 schools
🥇
Furniture Design and Manufacturing
of 1 schools
🥇
Fiber, Textile and Weaving Arts
of 1 schools
🥈
Illustration
of 28 schools
#4
Computer Graphics
of 32 schools
#5
Systems Science and Theory
of 13 schools
#25
Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology
of 88 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $58,690 $58,690
Total Cost (On-Campus) $81,810 $81,810

Financial Aid

40%
Receive Any Aid
16%
Receive Pell Grants
30%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Student Demographics

2,540
Total Students
70%
Women
97%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 23%
Hispanic 9%
Black 4%
Asian 21%
Two or More 4%
Non-Resident 37%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 100%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 97%
25-64 (Adult) 2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Rhode Island School of Design?
Rhode Island School of Design has an acceptance rate of 14%. This makes it a highly selective institution where admission is very competitive.
How much does it cost to attend Rhode Island School of Design?
Tuition at Rhode Island School of Design is $58,690 for in-state students and $58,690 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at Rhode Island School of Design?
The graduation rate at Rhode Island School of Design is 88%. This is considered an excellent graduation rate, indicating strong student success and support systems.
Is Rhode Island School of Design a good school?
Rhode Island School of Design has a Repit College Score of 74/100 (Grade: B+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (A): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (B+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Rhode Island School of Design?
Rhode Island School of Design has a total enrollment of 2,540 students. Most students (97%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Rhode Island School of Design — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Rhode Island School of Design

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

B
Providence College
Providence, RI · 4,635 students
C+
Bryant University
Smithfield, RI · 3,592 students
C+
Salve Regina University
Newport, RI · 2,836 students
C
Roger Williams University
Bristol, RI · 4,344 students
C
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
Providence, RI · 4,372 students
C
New England Institute of Technology
East Greenwich, RI · 1,850 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology