Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Northeastern BC NYU Babson Tufts UMass Brandeis University Pratt Institute Lehigh Colgate George Washington Binghamton University| Boston University | Rhode Island School of Design | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
BU | RISD | ||
| Location | Boston, MA | Providence, RI | ||
| Setting | Large City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 36,714 | 2,620 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #79 | #96 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bu.edu | risd.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
BU | RISD | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $61,050 | $56,435 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $61,050 | $56,435 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,400 | $15,234 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,829 | $39,800 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $51,565 | $37,480 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 48% | 34% |
Admission |
BU | RISD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 80,796 | 5,099 | ||
| Admitted | 11,607 | 888 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 14.4% | 17.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 31.3% | 54.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.79 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 31/34 | 29/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1350/1500 | 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 4, 2024 | Feb 1, 2024 |
Academics |
BU | RISD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 9:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
BU | RISD | ||
| Graduation Rate | 85% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $72,000 | $51,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 82% | 89% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $279 |
Diversity |
BU | RISD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 43% | 33% | ||
| % Women | 57% | 67% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 43% | 31% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 20% | 26% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 8% |
Students |
BU | RISD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 14% | 1% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 61% | 58% | ||
Campus |
BU | RISD | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Boston University is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (36,714 students vs. 2,620 students)
BU vs. RISD Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, BU or RISD?
- Boston University is 8.2% more expensive to attend than RISD for in-state tuition ($61,050.00 vs. $56,435.00)
- Out of state tuition is 8.2% higher at BU than Rhode Island School of Design ($61,050.00 vs. $56,435.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boston University than RISD ($27,829 vs. $39,800)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 14.2% lower than costs at Boston University ($15,234 vs. $17,400)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Boston University than Rhode Island School of Design (48% vs. 34%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 37.6% larger than aid received Rhode Island School of Design ($51,565 vs. $37,480)
BU vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, BU or RISD? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RISD or BU .
- The average SAT score at Boston University (1303) is 30 points higher than at RISD (1273)
- Incoming BU students have at the same average ACT score (29) as students at RISD (29)
- Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at RISD (3.71)
- RISD has a higher acceptance rate (17.4%) than BU (14.4%)
BU vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, BU 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 BU.
- The graduation rate at RISD is higher than Boston University (87% vs. 85%)
- Graduates from Boston University earn on average $20,900 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($72,000 vs. $51,100)
- Rhode Island School of Design and BU graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
- Rhode Island School of Design and BU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($279 vs. $279)
- More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 82%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/