AU vs. RISD

Should I go to American University or Rhode Island School of Design? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU 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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American University vs. Rhode Island School of Design comparison
American University Rhode Island School of Design College 3 College 4
American University Rhode Island School of Design
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Overview

 AU RISD
Location Washington, DC Providence, RI
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 13,885 2,620
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #96
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu risd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 AU RISD
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $56,435
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $56,435
Room & Board $15,706 $15,234
Avg Net Price $41,369 $39,800
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $37,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 34%

Admission

 AU RISD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 5,099
Admitted 7,926 888
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 17.4%
Enrolled % 22.2% 54.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 29/32 29/33
SAT Range 1290/1430 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 15, 2024 Feb 1, 2024

Academics

 AU RISD
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Architecture (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Precision Production Trades (4%)

Outcomes

 AU RISD
Graduation Rate 77% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $51,100
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $250 $279

Diversity

 AU RISD
% Men 37% 33%
% Women 63% 67%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 58% 31%
% Black 7% 2%
% Hispanic 12% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 7% 26%
% Unknown Race 4% 8%

Students

 AU RISD
% In-State 2% 1%
% Out-of-State 94% 58%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • American University is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 2,620 students)

AU vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or RISD?

  • Rhode Island School of Design is 6.3% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($56,435.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.3% higher at RISD than American University ($56,435.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rhode Island School of Design than AU ($39,800 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 3.1% lower than costs at American University ($15,234 vs. $15,706)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at American University than Rhode Island School of Design (66% vs. 34%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 38.1% larger than aid received American University ($37,480 vs. $27,138)

AU vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rhode Island School of Design (1273) is 21 points higher than at AU (1252)
  • Incoming RISD students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at AU (28)
  • Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at AU (3.7)
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (40.6%) than RISD (17.4%)

AU vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU 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 AU.

  • The graduation rate at RISD is higher than American University (87% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from American University earn on average $13,700 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $51,100)
  • American University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,000)
  • AU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than RISD graduates. ($250 vs. $279)
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 80%)

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