Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) vs Brown University
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and Brown University, both located in Providence, Rhode Island, offer distinct educational experiences for students seeking higher education. RISD, renowned for its focus on art and design, boasts an acceptance rate of 38%, while Brown, a prestigious Ivy League institution, has a highly selective acceptance rate of 7%. RISD's student body is predominantly female (63%), while Brown's is more evenly balanced (51% female, 49% male). In terms of popular majors, RISD excels in Fine Arts, Illustration, and Graphic Design, while Brown offers a wide range of disciplines, including Social Sciences, Engineering, and Biological Sciences. With a graduation rate of 89%, RISD ensures that its students are well-prepared for careers in the creative industries, while Brown's 96% graduation rate reflects its commitment to academic excellence. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve deeper into the differences between these two
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![]() Brown University |
![]() Rhode Island School of Design |
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Overview |
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Location | Providence, Rhode Island | Providence, Rhode Island |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | 4-1-4 |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 98.0% | 95.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 5.5% | 18.7% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
|
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$60
|
SAT range | 1460 - 1570 | 1310 - 1480 |
ACT range | 33 - 35 | 28 - 34 |
Students submitting SAT score | 51.0% | 31.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 30.0% | 7.0% |
Total number of applicants | 46,568 | 4,742 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,568 | 886 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,705 | 496 |
Yield rate | 66.4% | 56.0% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $82,570 | $77,280 |
Average net price | $25,028 | $38,234 |
Tuition | $60,944 | $55,220 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$10,054
Meal plan:
$6,292
|
$14,790 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
46.0%
Average amount $55,420 |
37.0%
Average amount $37,286 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
9.0%
Average amount $5,159 |
36.0%
Average amount $5,296 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $27,008 |
4.0%
Average amount $39,311 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
7,349
Men 48.1% Women 51.9% |
2,044
Men 33.5% Women 66.5% |
Graduate students |
3,347
Men 50.0% Women 50.0% |
532
Men 34.2% Women 65.8% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | 96.5% | N/A |
International students | 18.6% | 35.6% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 5,013 | 1,450 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New York California Mississippi New Jersey Texas | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 6:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 95.8% | 86.2% |
Dropout rate | 3.7% | 11.9% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Master's Degrees)
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Design and Applied Arts (Master's Degrees)
Architecture (Master's Degrees)
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Woodworking (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Architecture (Bachelor's Degrees)
Interior Architecture (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
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