Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) vs Stanford

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and Stanford University, two prestigious institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. RISD, a private art and design college in Providence, Rhode Island, is renowned for its rigorous fine arts programs, while Stanford, a private research university in Stanford, California, excels in a wide range of academic disciplines, including engineering, computer science, and business. With acceptance rates of 38% and 4%, respectively, both universities are highly selective. RISD's student body is predominantly female (63%), while Stanford's is more evenly balanced (48% female, 52% male). RISD graduates boast a 95% placement rate within six months of graduation, while Stanford's graduates enjoy a 94% placement rate. Explore the comparison table below to delve deeper into the differences between these two esteemed institutions and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and career goals.
Rhode Island School of Design logo

Rhode Island School of Design

Stanford University logo

Stanford University

Overview

Location Providence, Rhode Island Stanford, California
Campus setting City: Midsize Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system 4-1-4 Quarter
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 95.0% 98.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 18.7% 3.9%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $90

Graduate: $125
SAT range 1310 - 1480 1470 - 1570
ACT range 28 - 34 34 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 31.0% 15.0%
Students submitting ACT score 7.0% 11.0%
Total number of applicants 4,742 55,471
Total number of admissions given out 886 2,190
Admitted students who chose to enroll 496 1,757
Yield rate 56.0% 80.2%
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 Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $77,280 $78,898
Average net price $38,234 $14,402
Tuition $55,220 $55,473
Room & board $14,790
Room/dormitory: $11,166

Meal plan: $6,694
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

37.0%
Average amount $37,286
61.0%
Average amount $56,211
Students receiving federal student loan 36.0%
Average amount $5,296
5.0%
Average amount $5,151
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $39,311
1.0%
Average amount $17,186

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,044
Men 33.5% Women 66.5%
7,645
Men 49.4% Women 50.6%
Graduate students 532
Men 34.2% Women 65.8%
10,035
Men 56.5% Women 43.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 58.5%
International students 35.6% 24.4%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 1,450 14,621
First year students are required to live on campus? No Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A California Texas Washington New York Illinois

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Architecture
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Precision Production
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Physical Science
Students to faculty ratio 9:1 5:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 86.2% 95.5%
Dropout rate 11.9% 1.7%
Transferred out N/A 0.6%
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
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $151,574
  • Year 2: $170,457
  • Year 3: $210,837
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $159,729
  • Year 2: $168,942
  • Year 3: $203,193
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $164,734
  • Year 2: $163,337
  • Year 3: $187,054
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $137,457
  • Year 2: $150,874
  • Year 3: $173,548
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $136,126
  • Year 2: $136,499
  • Year 3: $165,375
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $128,556
  • Year 2: $135,709
  • Year 3: $157,500
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $123,354
  • Year 2: $106,421
  • Year 3: $139,234
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $105,326
  • Year 2: $111,435
  • Year 3: $126,185
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $108,457
  • Year 2: $90,856
  • Year 3: $107,477
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,475
  • Year 2: $85,391
  • Year 3: $104,592

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