Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) vs Duke University

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and Duke University stand as two distinct beacons of higher education, each offering a unique blend of academic excellence and vibrant campus life. RISD, renowned for its exceptional arts and design programs, boasts an acceptance rate of 38%, while Duke, a prestigious research university, maintains a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 8%. While RISD's student body primarily comprises aspiring artists and designers, Duke's diverse student population pursues a wide range of disciplines, including engineering, medicine, and public policy. With RISD's graduation rate hovering around 85% and Duke's at an impressive 94%, both institutions prioritize student success and equip their graduates with the skills and knowledge to thrive in their chosen fields. Delve into the comprehensive comparison table below to discover more about these esteemed institutions and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Duke University logo

Duke University

Rhode Island School of Design logo

Rhode Island School of Design

Overview

Location Durham, North Carolina Providence, Rhode Island
Campus setting City: Large 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%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Methodism

Admission

Acceptance rate 5.9% 18.7%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $85

Graduate: $95
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $60
SAT range 1468 - 1558 1310 - 1480
ACT range 33 - 35 28 - 34
Students submitting SAT score 47.0% 31.0%
Students submitting ACT score 46.0% 7.0%
Total number of applicants 49,703 4,742
Total number of admissions given out 2,927 886
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,744 496
Yield rate 59.6% 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

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $79,860 $77,280
Average net price $27,297 $38,234
Tuition $58,085 $55,220
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $9,164

Meal plan: $6,862
$14,790
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

46.0%
Average amount $50,731
37.0%
Average amount $37,286
Students receiving federal student loan 20.0%
Average amount $4,537
36.0%
Average amount $5,296
Students taking out private loans 3.0%
Average amount $22,957
4.0%
Average amount $39,311

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 6,883
Men 48.4% Women 51.6%
2,044
Men 33.5% Women 66.5%
Graduate students 10,737
Men 45.5% Women 54.5%
532
Men 34.2% Women 65.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 21.4% 35.6%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 5,718 1,450
First year students are required to live on campus? Yes No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Legal Profession
  • Social Sciences
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Architecture
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Precision Production
Students to faculty ratio 6:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 95.9% 86.2%
Dropout rate 4.0% 11.9%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
International Business (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $151,472
  • Year 2: $213,978
  • Year 3: $201,782
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $155,031
  • Year 2: $168,098
  • Year 3: $200,300
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $143,622
  • Year 2: $148,189
  • Year 3: $163,560
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $163,977
  • Year 2: $138,342
  • Year 3: $159,598
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $115,135
  • Year 2: $106,898
  • Year 3: $134,542
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $123,138
  • Year 2: $116,541
  • Year 3: $124,406
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $108,817
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $117,262
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,699
  • Year 2: $90,856
  • Year 3: $112,646
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,661
  • Year 2: $91,078
  • Year 3: $108,736
Economics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $104,348
Design and Applied Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,121
  • Year 2: $68,219
  • Year 3: $70,583
Architecture (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,475
  • Year 2: $48,198
  • Year 3: $58,141
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,129
  • Year 2: $36,166
  • Year 3: $46,057
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,604
  • Year 2: $22,192
  • Year 3: $35,453
Woodworking (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $22,714
  • Year 2: $30,228
  • Year 3: $27,613
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,365
  • Year 2: $28,055
  • Year 3: $27,580
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $20,934
  • Year 2: $22,627
  • Year 3: $27,562
Architecture (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,281
  • Year 2: $50,439
  • Year 3: N/A
Interior Architecture (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $54,035
  • Year 3: N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,493
  • Year 2: $35,060
  • Year 3: N/A

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