Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) vs Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD)

When it comes to art and design education, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) stand out as two of the most prestigious institutions in the United States. While both schools offer a comprehensive range of programs and a vibrant artistic community, there are some key differences that set them apart. RISD boasts a lower acceptance rate, a larger student body, and a higher graduation rate, while MIAD offers a more diverse student body and a lower cost of attendance. To help you make an informed decision about your art education, we've compiled a detailed comparison table that delves into these differences and more, including popular majors, faculty-to-student ratios, and notable alumni.
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design logo

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design

Rhode Island School of Design logo

Rhode Island School of Design

Overview

Location Milwaukee, Wisconsin 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 Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 74.0% 95.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 68.3% 18.7%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $60
SAT range N/A 1310 - 1480
ACT range N/A 28 - 34
Students submitting SAT score 31.0%
Students submitting ACT score 7.0%
Total number of applicants 933 4,742
Total number of admissions given out 637 886
Admitted students who chose to enroll 221 496
Yield rate 34.7% 56.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $51,570 $77,280
Average net price $25,270 $38,234
Tuition $38,050 $55,220
Room & board $9,490 $14,790
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $24,879
37.0%
Average amount $37,286
Students receiving federal student loan 83.0%
Average amount $5,699
36.0%
Average amount $5,296
Students taking out private loans 14.0%
Average amount $14,427
4.0%
Average amount $39,311

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 898
Men 24.8% Women 75.2%
2,044
Men 33.5% Women 66.5%
Graduate students N/A 532
Men 34.2% Women 65.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 0.6% 35.6%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 471 1,450
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Architecture
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Architecture
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Precision Production
Students to faculty ratio 11:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 53.1% 86.2%
Dropout rate 46.9% 11.9%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,216
  • Year 2: $37,363
  • Year 3: $45,908
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,444
  • Year 2: $20,140
  • Year 3: $24,755
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,914
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
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

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
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