Carnegie Mellon vs. RISD

Should I go to Carnegie Mellon University or Rhode Island School of Design? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Carnegie Mellon or RISD is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Carnegie Mellon University vs. Rhode Island School of Design comparison
Carnegie Mellon University Rhode Island School of Design College 3 College 4
Carnegie Mellon University Rhode Island School of Design
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Overview

Carnegie Mellon RISD
Location Pittsburgh, PA Providence, RI
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 16,002 2,620
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #41 #96
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cmu.edu risd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Carnegie Mellon RISD
Tuition (In State) $59,864 $56,435
Tuition (Out of State) $59,864 $56,435
Room & Board $16,486 $15,234
Avg Net Price $33,499 $39,800
Avg Grant Aid $43,966 $37,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 47% 34%

Admission

Carnegie Mellon RISD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 34,261 5,099
Admitted 3,873 888
Acceptance Rate 11.3% 17.4%
Enrolled % 44.3% 54.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 34/35 29/33
SAT Range 1490/1570 1340/1525
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2024 Feb 1, 2024

Academics

Carnegie Mellon RISD
Student to Faculty Ratio 5:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (26%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Business (9%)
  • General Studies (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Architecture (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Precision Production Trades (4%)

Outcomes

Carnegie Mellon RISD
Graduation Rate 87% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $102,700 $51,100
Making Student Loan Payments 91% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,250 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $271 $279

Diversity

Carnegie Mellon RISD
% Men 56% 33%
% Women 44% 67%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 32% 31%
% Black 5% 2%
% Hispanic 8% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 18% 26%
% Unknown Race 5% 8%

Students

Carnegie Mellon RISD
% In-State 11% 1%
% Out-of-State 69% 58%

Campus

Carnegie Mellon RISD
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Carnegie Mellon University is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (16,002 students vs. 2,620 students)

Carnegie Mellon vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Carnegie Mellon or RISD?

  • Carnegie Mellon University is 6.1% more expensive to attend than RISD for in-state tuition ($59,864.00 vs. $56,435.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.1% higher at Carnegie Mellon than Rhode Island School of Design ($59,864.00 vs. $56,435.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Carnegie Mellon University than RISD ($33,499 vs. $39,800)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 8.2% lower than costs at Carnegie Mellon University ($15,234 vs. $16,486)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Carnegie Mellon University than Rhode Island School of Design (47% vs. 34%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 17.3% larger than aid received Rhode Island School of Design ($43,966 vs. $37,480)

Carnegie Mellon vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Carnegie Mellon or RISD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RISD or Carnegie Mellon .

  • The average SAT score at Carnegie Mellon University (1448) is 175 points higher than at RISD (1273)
  • Incoming Carnegie Mellon students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at RISD (29)
  • Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at RISD (3.71)
  • RISD has a higher acceptance rate (17.4%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.3%)

Carnegie Mellon vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Carnegie Mellon or RISD? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between RISD and Carnegie Mellon.

  • The graduation rate at Carnegie Mellon is the same as at Rhode Island School of Design (87% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn on average $51,600 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($102,700 vs. $51,100)
  • Carnegie Mellon University students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($26,250 vs. $27,000)
  • Carnegie Mellon graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than RISD graduates. ($271 vs. $279)
  • More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RISD students, three years after graduation. (91% vs. 89%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/