Baruch vs. RISD

Deciding between CUNY Bernard M Baruch College and Rhode Island School of Design? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
Rhode Island School of Design

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Baruch New York, NY
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Baruch Large City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Enrollment
  • Baruch 20,081
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Baruch Public 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Baruch #186
  • RISD #92
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Baruch -
  • RISD -
  • Status
  • Baruch Non-profit
  • RISD Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Baruch
  • RISD

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Baruch $7,464
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Baruch $15,414
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • Baruch $18,832
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average Net Price
  • Baruch $4,326
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Baruch $10,114
  • RISD $38,223
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Baruch 89%
  • RISD 31%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Baruch 28,111
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Baruch 13,357
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Baruch 47.5%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Baruch 19%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Baruch 1250
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Baruch
  • RISD 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Baruch 3.7
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Baruch A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Baruch Very High
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Baruch Low
  • RISD Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Baruch
  • RISD 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Baruch 1100/1400
  • RISD 1396/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Baruch Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • RISD Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Baruch Feb 1, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Baruch 19:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Baruch
    • Business (78%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • English and Literature (3%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Baruch 63%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Baruch $61,800
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Baruch 66%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Baruch $10,800
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Baruch $111
  • RISD $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Baruch 8%
  • RISD 4%
  • % Women
  • Baruch 10%
  • RISD 13%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Baruch Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • HBCU
  • Baruch No
  • RISD No
  • % White
  • Baruch 23%
  • RISD 31%
  • % Asian
  • Baruch 32%
  • RISD 19%
  • % Black
  • Baruch 9%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Baruch 22%
  • RISD 8%
  • % Native American
  • Baruch 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Baruch 0%
  • RISD 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Baruch 2%
  • RISD 4%
  • % International
  • Baruch 11%
  • RISD 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Baruch 0%
  • RISD 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Baruch 81%
  • RISD 2%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Baruch 0%
  • RISD 55%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Baruch Yes
  • RISD Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Baruch No
  • RISD No
  • Meal Plan
  • Baruch No
  • RISD Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Baruch Yes
  • RISD No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Baruch Yes
  • RISD No

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY Bernard M Baruch College in New York, NY with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (20,081 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island School of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY Bernard M Baruch College 19:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Baruch vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Baruch or RISD? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College than RISD ($4,326 vs. $43,492).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 11.7% lower than at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College ($16,626 vs. $18,832).
  • Rhode Island School of Design is 739.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Baruch (about $55,224 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $7,464.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 306.7% higher at RISD than at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College (about $47,274 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $15,414.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College than at Rhode Island School of Design (89% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 277.9% larger than aid received by CUNY Bernard M Baruch College students ($38,223 vs. $10,114).

Baruch vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Baruch or RISD? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between RISD and Baruch.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 210 points higher than at Baruch (1250).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY Bernard M Baruch College 1100/1400; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRhode Island School of Design 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Baruch - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); RISD - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Baruch Feb 1, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Baruch (3.7).
  • Baruch has a higher acceptance rate (47.5%) than RISD (18.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19% at Baruch vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Baruch vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Baruch and RISD? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Rhode Island School of Design's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than CUNY Bernard M Baruch College's (63%).
  • Graduates from CUNY Bernard M Baruch College earn a median of about $10,700 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,800 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College graduates have a $16,200 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($10,800 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Baruch graduates have an estimated $168 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($111 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Baruch students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.