Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) vs The University of the Arts (UArts)

When it comes to art and design education, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and The University of the Arts (UArts) stand out as two of the most prestigious institutions in the United States. While both schools offer a wide range of programs and opportunities for aspiring artists and designers, there are some key differences between them. RISD has a lower acceptance rate and a smaller student body, while UArts has a more diverse student population and a higher graduation rate. RISD is known for its rigorous academic programs and strong emphasis on studio work, while UArts offers a more flexible curriculum and a wider range of extracurricular activities. To help you make an informed decision about which school is the best fit for you, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that highlights the key differences between RISD and UArts.

	Rhode Island School of Design	The University of the Arts
Overview
Location	Providence, Rhode Island	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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%	87.0%
Common app member	Yes	No
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	18.7%	85.2%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $60 Graduate: $60	Undergraduate: $60 Graduate: $60
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	1,293
Total number of admissions given out	886	1,101
Admitted students who chose to enroll	496	269
Yield rate	56.0%	24.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Not required
Recommendation letters	Required	Not required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$77,280	$68,690
Average net price	$38,234	$25,932
Tuition	$55,220	$48,350
Room & board	$14,790	Room/dormitory: $11,380 Meal plan: $6,250
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	37.0% Average amount $37,286	100.0% Average amount $26,798
Students receiving federal student loan	36.0% Average amount $5,296	94.0% Average amount $5,851
Students taking out private loans	4.0% Average amount $39,311	21.0% Average amount $24,297

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	2,044 Men 33.5% Women 66.5%	1,397 Men 34.7% Women 65.3%
Graduate students	532 Men 34.2% Women 65.8%	160 Men 28.8% Women 71.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	N/A
International students	35.6%	2.8%
Campus local/setting	City: Midsize	City: Large
Dormitory capacity	1,450	582
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 Education Communications Technology Multidisciplinary Studies English Language and Literature
Students to faculty ratio	9:1	8:1
Institutional accreditation	New England Commission on Higher Education	Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	86.2%	68.1%
Dropout rate	11.9%	31.7%
Transferred out	N/A	N/A
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	Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $45,721 Year 2: $50,677 Year 3: $49,511 Museology/Museum Studies (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $33,796 Year 2: $36,848 Year 3: $44,041 Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $32,047 Year 2: $21,964 Year 3: $30,926 Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $18,932 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $29,322 Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $19,815 Year 2: $20,140 Year 3: $28,945 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $19,696 Year 2: $21,052 Year 3: $28,612 Dance (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $21,267 Year 2: $21,613 Year 3: $26,673 Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $16,297 Year 2: $18,771 Year 3: $25,853 Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $21,067 Year 2: $22,329 Year 3: $25,752 Music (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $18,579 Year 2: $19,358 Year 3: $25,140

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Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) vs The University of the Arts (UArts)

Rhode Island School of Design

The University of the Arts

Overview

Admission

Tuition and Fees

Financial Aid

Students and Campus

Academics

Outcome

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