Rhode Island School of Design: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Providence, Rhode Island · Private nonprofit · Highly selective · CDS 2024-2025
Or open Rhode Island School of Design in College Search to compare programs, costs and outcomes side by side.
Rhode Island School of Design is a private nonprofit university in Providence, Rhode Island that admits about 19% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $50,507 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Fine and Studio Arts, Design and Applied Arts and Systems Science and Theory, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 11.5 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Rhode Island School of Design is a private institution located in Providence, Rhode Island and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Rhode Island School of Design admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 19%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1473 and an ACT composite around 31. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $50,507 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Rhode Island School of Design?
Most admitted students at Rhode Island School of Design present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
SAT and ACT scores Rhode Island School of Design typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 708–780, with an EBRW midpoint near 670. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–34. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.
| 25th percentile | — |
| 50th percentile | 1473 |
| 75th percentile | — |
| 25th percentile | 31 |
| 50th percentile | 31 |
| 75th percentile | 34 |
How much does Rhode Island School of Design actually cost?
Published tuition is $62,688 for in-state students and $62,688 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $16,626 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $50,507 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 15% of students receive Pell Grants.
| Average net price (after aid) | $50,507 |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Rhode Island School of Design
Most popular majors at Rhode Island School of Design
The most popular undergraduate programs at Rhode Island School of Design, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Fine and Studio Arts, Design and Applied Arts and Systems Science and Theory. Across all programs, Rhode Island School of Design confers roughly 447 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Fine and Studio Arts program report a median income of about $42,001 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Fine and Studio Arts | 101 | $42,001 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 91 | $68,157 |
| Systems Science and Theory | 75 | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 55 | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 54 | $51,503 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 34 | — |
| Architecture | 22 | $69,048 |
| Apparel and Textiles | 15 | — |
Is Rhode Island School of Design safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Rhode Island School of Design disclosed 24 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 11.5 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 15 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
Other colleges in Rhode Island parents ask about
Colleges that admit at a similar rate
Next steps for Rhode Island School of Design
Common questions parents ask about Rhode Island School of Design
What GPA do I need for Rhode Island School of Design?
Most admitted students at Rhode Island School of Design present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
What SAT or ACT score does Rhode Island School of Design typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 708–780, with an EBRW midpoint near 670. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–34.
How much does Rhode Island School of Design actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Rhode Island School of Design after grants and scholarships is $50,507 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $62,688. Budget against the net figure.
Is Rhode Island School of Design realistic for my child?
Rhode Island School of Design admits 19% of applicants, so 708–780 SAT Math is target range and below 708 is a reach. Then check the $50,507 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Rhode Island School of Design?
Rhode Island School of Design accepts about 19% of applicants. That makes it a highly selective school.
Is Rhode Island School of Design a public or private school, and where is it located?
Rhode Island School of Design is a private nonprofit institution located in Providence, Rhode Island.
What are the most popular majors at Rhode Island School of Design?
The largest undergraduate majors at Rhode Island School of Design by annual graduates are Fine and Studio Arts, Design and Applied Arts and Systems Science and Theory. The school awards about 447 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Rhode Island School of Design safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Rhode Island School of Design reported 24 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 11.5 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Rhode Island School of Design, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers