Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, Rhode Island · Private · 2,084 undergraduates · risd.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
19%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1396 to 1530
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$97,520Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Rhode Island School of Design
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
19% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$97,520
a year in 2027-28, from a $97,520 sticker price
What to do with your 1460
Send your score
About 83% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1320, and yours is above it.
Source: College Navigator (federal data on fall 2024 freshmen)
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
Source: Apply to RISD | First-Year Admissions | RISD · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Decision · November 1, 2026Binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll.
- Jan20Regular Decision · January 20, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
19%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 1396 to 1530
Reading and Writing 688 to 750
Math 708 to 780
ACT composite 31 to 34
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$97,520
a year
- Tuition$70,380
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 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
- Over $110,000$72,156
Financial aidEstimate
71%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
31%
of freshmen receive grants
$38,223
average grant to freshmen
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
34 of 34
Earn credit with a score of 3
None
You need a 4 or 5 for credit here.
A 3-credit course is worth
about $7,040Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| African American Studies | 4 | 3 | HPSS 8600 |
| Art History | 4 | 3 | THAD 8600 |
| Biology | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | HPSS 8600 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | LAS 8600 |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| European History | 4 | 3 | HPSS 8600 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| Human Geography | 4 | 3 | HPSS 8600 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| Latin | 4 | 3 | LAS 8600 |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 3 | HPSS 8600 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 3 | HPSS 8600 |
| Music Theory | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| Pre-Calculus | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| Psychology | 4 | 3 | HPSS 8600 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 3 | LAS 8600 |
| Statistics | 4 | 3 | LAEL 8600 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | HPSS 8600 |
| United States History | 4 | 3 | HPSS 8600 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 3 | HPSS 8600 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
92%
Come back for a second year
95%
Typical earnings
$69,341
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Rhode Island School of Design$75,040
- All colleges$55,092
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 5 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Rhode Island School of Design. The Rhode Island School of Design logo is a trademark of the college.