Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) vs School of the Art Institute of Chicago

When it comes to art and design education, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) stand out as two of the most prestigious institutions in the United States. While both schools offer a rigorous curriculum and a vibrant artistic community, there are some key differences between them. RISD has a lower acceptance rate (39% vs. 55%) and a smaller student body (2,500 vs. 3,500), fostering a more intimate learning environment. SAIC, on the other hand, offers a wider range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Fashion Design, which RISD does not. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details on acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, helping you make an informed decision about which school aligns best with your artistic aspirations and academic goals.

	Rhode Island School of Design	School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Overview
Location	Providence, Rhode Island	Chicago, Illinois
Campus setting	City: Midsize	City: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	4-1-4	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	95.0%	83.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	18.7%	81.0%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $60 Graduate: $60	Undergraduate: $65 Graduate: $45
SAT range	1310 - 1480	N/A
ACT range	28 - 34	N/A
Students submitting SAT score	31.0%
Students submitting ACT score	7.0%
Total number of applicants	4,742	5,835
Total number of admissions given out	886	4,725
Admitted students who chose to enroll	496	669
Yield rate	56.0%	14.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Not required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$77,280	$67,380
Average net price	$38,234	$50,214
Tuition	$55,220	$52,200
Room & board	$14,790	Room/dormitory: $13,500 Meal plan: $2,480
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	37.0% Average amount $37,286	93.0% Average amount $20,194
Students receiving federal student loan	36.0% Average amount $5,296	45.0% Average amount $5,504
Students taking out private loans	4.0% Average amount $39,311	8.0% Average amount $32,788

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	2,044 Men 33.5% Women 66.5%	2,795 Men 24.8% Women 75.2%
Graduate students	532 Men 34.2% Women 65.8%	764 Men 25.8% Women 74.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	N/A
International students	35.6%	30.4%
Campus local/setting	City: Midsize	City: Large
Dormitory capacity	1,450	990
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 Multidisciplinary Studies Architecture Computer and Information Science Precision Production	Visual & Performing Arts English Language and Literature Health Professions Education Architecture
Students to faculty ratio	9:1	10:1
Institutional accreditation	New England Commission on Higher Education	Higher Learning Commission

Outcome
Graduation rate	86.2%	65.0%
Dropout rate	11.9%	7.5%
Transferred out	N/A	25.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	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	Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $24,981 Year 2: $22,192 Year 3: $28,893 Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $26,095 Year 2: $22,055 Year 3: $27,442 Architecture (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $49,707 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $38,461 Year 2: $35,600 Year 3: N/A Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $27,550 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $42,246 Year 2: $38,829 Year 3: N/A

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Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) vs School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Rhode Island School of Design

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Overview

Admission

Tuition and Fees

Financial Aid

Students and Campus

Academics

Outcome

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