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Rhode Island School of Design

Acceptance Rate

Fall 2021 admitted students

18.7%

In Fall 2021, a total of 496 first-time undergrad students enrolled at RISD. Among these students, 155 (0%) submitted SAT scores, while 34 (0%), submitted ACT scores.

The data shows that the SAT was more popular among the first-time enrolled students, with a majority of students opting for this test.

Average SAT Score

1395

Students submitting SAT Score

Out of the total 886 admitted students 155 students submitted their SAT score when applying.

31%

For the admitted students who submitted SAT scores, 50% of their scores fell within the following range 1310-1480. Specifically, in the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) section, 50% of admitted students scored between 630 and 710, while 25% scored below 630 and another 25% scored above 710.

In the Math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 680 and 770, while 25% scored below 680 and 25% achieved a score of 770. The data suggests that, applicants with a composite SAT score of 1395 or higher have competitive chances of gaining admission to RISD.

Overall, for the admitted students who submitted SAT scores, their scores placed most of them within the top 13% nationally.

  • Reading and Writing

    630-710
  • Math

    680-770

Average ACT Score

The average ACT score of admitted students for Fall 2021 enrollment season.

31

Students who Submitted ACT Score

Out of the 886 admitted students 34 students submitted their ACT score when applying.

7%

Similar to the SAT, RISD does not require applicants to submit either SAT or ACT scores. However, during the Fall 2021 admissions season, around 7% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

The middle 50% of admitted students received a composite ACT score between 28 and 34, with 25% scoring above 34 and another 25% scoring below 28.

For the admitted students who submitted ACT scores, their scores placed most of them around the middle, above 51% of test takers nationally.

  • English

    27-35
  • Math

    26-32
  • Composite

    28-34

Application Fees

Fall 2021

$60

Undergraduate

$60

Graduate

Applicants Stats

The following table details the number of students who applied, admitted, and enrolled in RISD during the Fall 2021 enrollment season.

Total Men Women
Applicants 4,742 1,145 3,597
Admitted students 886 281 605
Enrolled students 496 161 335
Acceptance rate 19% 24% 17%
Yield rate 56% 57% 55%
    • Total Applicants

      During the Fall 2021 enrollment season, RISD received a total of 4,742 applications. These applications included 1,145 male applicants and 3,597 female applicants.
    • Admitted Students

      Out of the 4,742 applicants, RISD admitted 886 students. Among the admitted students, there were 281 males and 605 females who received offers of admission.
    • Enrolled Students

      Among the admitted students, 496 students chose to enroll at RISD. This means that 496 students accepted the admission offers and officially registered to attend the university for the Fall 2021 term. Among the enrolled students, 161 were male and 335 were female.
    • Acceptance Rate

      The acceptance rate is the percentage of applicants who were offered admission. In this case, RISD had an overall acceptance rate of 19% for the Fall 2021 enrollment season. When we break it down by gender, the acceptance rate for male applicants was 24% while the acceptance rate for female applicants was 17%.
    • Yield Rate

      The yield rate is the percentage of admitted students who actually chose to enroll at the university. RISD had an overall yield rate of 56% for the Fall 2021 term. The yield rate for male admitted students was 57%, and for female admitted students, it was 55%.

Admission and Enrollment Trends

The following table presents the application, admission, and enrollment statistics for RISD over the past 7 years.

Applicants Admitted Students Acceptance Rate Enrolled Students Yield Rate
Year Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women
2015 2,425 581 1,844 902 286 616 37% 49% 33% 464 142 322 51% 50% 52%
2016 2,793 632 2,147 953 285 663 34% 45% 31% 456 134 322 48% 47% 49%
2017 3,421 874 2,547 983 322 661 29% 37% 26% 451 158 293 46% 49% 44%
2018 3,913 971 2,942 934 332 602 24% 34% 20% 473 169 304 51% 51% 50%
2019 3,832 929 2,903 987 330 657 26% 36% 23% 480 154 326 49% 47% 50%
2020 4,001 998 3,003 1,085 363 722 27% 36% 24% 413 137 276 38% 38% 38%
2021 4,742 1,145 3,597 886 281 605 19% 24% 17% 496 161 335 56% 57% 55%

Admission Requirements

Fall 2021

Rhode Island School of Design uses the following list of admission requirements and recommended documents when evaluating students' applications. All documents listed under the Required sections must be submitted with your application, but those listed under the Recommended section are optional.

RISD is a test-optional college where applicants are not required to submit standardized test (SAT or ACT) scores with their applications. Test scores are considered if submitted, but they are not mandatory. In the 1 enrollment season, 1 of admitted students submitted SAT scores, and 1 submitted ACT scores for admission. Please double-check with the school to verify the current and complete admission requirements.

Required

  • Secondary school GPA
  • Secondary school record
  • Recommendation letters
  • Formal demonstration of competencies
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

Recommended

  • Completion of college-preparatory program

Considered

  • Test scores (SAT/ACT)

Neither required nor recommended

  • Secondary school rank
  • Other tests (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Accepted Credits

Fall 2021

The following is a list of college preparatory work and life experience that are accepted at Rhode Island School of Design.

  • Credit for life experiences

    Not Accepted
  • Advanced placement (AP) credits

    Accepted
  • Dual credit (college credit earned while in high school)

    Not Accepted

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