Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, RI
18.7%
Acceptance Rate
$62,688
Avg Cost (In-State)
$62,688
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
88.6%
Graduation Rate
2,084
Total Enrollment
We're showing you this because it offers your suggested major.
← Back to graphic design collegesBy the numbers
Rhode Island School of Design, at a glance
Graduation rate is the standard federal 6-year completion rate (students often take longer than four years). Earnings & selectivity rankings are computed across every US college in our catalog. Figures from College Scorecard / IPEDS; sticker cost is before financial aid.
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
February 1
Early Deadline
November 1 (Early Decision)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
1
Letters of Rec
2
Application Fee
$60
Interview
Not required
Essays: Common App personal essay required
Note: Portfolio required (12-20 images of artwork), drawing assignments (3 specific prompts), writing supplement responding to portfolio prompts
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$45,932
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$68,140
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
89%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts. | $29,489 | $67,771 | 162 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | $16,510 | $40,568 | 87 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts. | $17,701 | $51,278 | 44 |
| Systems Science and Theory. | $34,265 | — | 26 |
| Woodworking. | $19,151 | $37,055 | 24 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology. | $55,673 | — | 20 |
| Apparel and Textiles. | $14,537 | $59,372 | 20 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
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Personalized cost estimate based on your family's finances and academic profile
Calculate Your Cost at Rhode Island School of Design
Get a personalized estimate of what you'd pay to attend Rhode Island School of Design
Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
URI Centennial Scholarship
$4,000-$15,000/year
universityTop URI incoming freshmen via automatic merit grid.
Deadline: December 15
Learn more ↗URI Presidential Scholarship
$10,000-$20,000/year
universityTop URI incoming freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: December 15
Learn more ↗Brown Brown Promise (Need-Met No-Loan)
100% need met; no loans for any student (Brown Promise)
universityAll admitted Brown students with demonstrated need; loans replaced with grants.
Deadline: CSS Profile + FAFSA
Learn more ↗Bryant University Trustee Scholarship
$15,000-$25,000/year
universityTop Bryant incoming freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: November 15
Learn more ↗Rhode Island Last Dollar Scholarship
Last-dollar at RI URI Hope Scholarship
stateRI HS grads in URI's Hope Scholarship cohort with continued financial need.
Deadline: URI aid office
Learn more ↗Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Diversity Scholarship
Up to full tuition
universityUnderrepresented RISD incoming freshmen with strong portfolio.
Deadline: February 1
Learn more ↗RISD Presidential Scholarship
$10,000-$25,000/year
universityTop RISD incoming freshmen with strong portfolio + academic record.
Deadline: February 1
Learn more ↗University of Rhode Island Centennial Scholarship
Up to full tuition + fees
universityTop URI incoming freshmen via competitive process.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Sail Newport Junior Sailing Scholarship
Program tuition assistance
localNewport-area youth from underrepresented backgrounds in Sail Newport's youth sailing programs.
Deadline: Spring
Learn more ↗Net price by income
What it actually costs your family.
Average net price (tuition, fees, room/board minus grant aid) by household income tier, AY 2023–24. Source: IPEDS NPRC1.
| Household income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0 – $30,000 | $29,135 |
| $30,001 – $48,000 | $30,233 |
| $48,001 – $75,000 | $25,872 |
| $75,001 – $110,000 | $33,893 |
| $110,001+ | $64,493 |
Cost calculator
See the full income-tier cost breakdown for Rhode Island School of Design →
Type your household income and get a per-family estimate, plus % off sticker and a methodology breakdown.
Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 18.7% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
18.66%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
14.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
17.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
5.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
18.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
35.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
95.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
90.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Considered
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