US CollegesGetting in
Rhode Island School of Design admits 19% of those who apply, which makes it selective. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1473 out of 1600 (midpoints: 670 in reading and writing, 725 in maths). The midpoint ACT score is 31 out of 36.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees for a year | $65,136 |
| Room and meals on campus | $17,400 |
| Books and supplies | $3,400 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $85,455 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $50,513 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off. It is 69% above the median net price of colleges in Rhode Island on this site ($29,952). International students normally pay the published tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $29,175 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $34,985 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $42,134 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $44,079 |
| Above $110,000 | $72,156 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | RI median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 95% | 83% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 92% | 67% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $69,341 | $73,336 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $26,898 | $24,125 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in Rhode Island and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
17% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 28% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 71% women and 29% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 11 of the 13 colleges in Rhode Island on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 3,868.
Other colleges in Rhode Island of a similar size
- Salve Regina UniversityNewport, private nonprofit
- Johnson & Wales University-OnlineProvidence, private nonprofit
- Bryant UniversitySmithfield, private nonprofit
- College UnboundProvidence, private nonprofit
- Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceProvidence, private nonprofit
- Roger Williams UniversityBristol, private nonprofit
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Rhode Island School of Design?
Rhode Island School of Design admits 19% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Rhode Island School of Design?
Published tuition and fees are $65,136 a year. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Rhode Island School of Design?
92% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.