Davidson vs. RISD

Davidson College and Rhode Island School of Design side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Davidson College
Rhode Island School of Design

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Davidson (13.4% admitted vs 18.7%). Typical SAT 1470 vs 1460.
  • Cheaper after aid: Davidson. Average net price is $27,720 vs $43,492 at RISD.
  • Graduation: Davidson 92% vs RISD 87%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Davidson $63,500 vs RISD $51,100 (median).
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Key differences

Davidson College Rhode Island School of Design
Acceptance rate
Davidson more selective
Davidson13.4%
RISD18.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Davidson higher
Davidson1400-1530
RISD1396-1530
Average net price
Davidson $15,772 less
Davidson$27,720
RISD$43,492
In-state tuition
RISD $1,722 less
Davidson$64,410
RISD$62,688
Out-of-state tuition
RISD $1,722 less
Davidson$64,410
RISD$62,688
Graduation rate
Davidson +5 pts
Davidson92%
RISD87%
Median earnings (10 years)
Davidson +$12,400
Davidson$63,500
RISD$51,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Davidson 8,114
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Davidson 1,085
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance rate
  • Davidson 13.4%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Davidson 47.9%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Davidson 1470
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Davidson 32
  • RISD 32
  • Average high school GPA
  • Davidson 3.81
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical high school grades
  • Davidson A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Davidson Exceptional
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant competition
  • Davidson Very High
  • RISD Very High
  • SAT range
  • Davidson 1400-1530
  • RISD 1396-1530
  • ACT range
  • Davidson 31-34
  • RISD 31-34
  • Submit test scores
  • Davidson Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Davidson Jan 7, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Davidson $64,410
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & board
  • Davidson $17,100
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average net price
  • Davidson $27,720
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average grant aid
  • Davidson $51,755
  • RISD $38,223
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Davidson 65%
  • RISD 31%
  • Graduation rate
  • Davidson 92%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Davidson $63,500
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • Davidson 89%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Davidson $17,000
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Davidson $175
  • RISD $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Davidson 8:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • Davidson
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)
  • Location
  • Davidson Davidson, NC
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Davidson Large Suburban
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Davidson 1,869
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Davidson Private 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Davidson #32
  • RISD #92

Comparable Facts

Compare Davidson College in Davidson, NC with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Rhode Island School of Design is larger than Davidson based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 1,869 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Davidson College is located in Davidson, NC (Large Suburban setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Davidson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island School of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Davidson College 8:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 2.8% lower than at Davidson College ($16,626 vs. $17,100).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.7% higher at Davidson than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $1,722 more per year; $64,410 vs. $62,688).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Davidson College than at Rhode Island School of Design (65% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Davidson College students is 35.4% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($51,755 vs. $38,223).

Admissions details

  • Incoming Davidson students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 32) as students at RISD (32).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Davidson and RISD.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Davidson Jan 7, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Davidson average a 3.81 high school GPA, 0.1 higher than at RISD (3.71).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.9% at Davidson vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Davidson College graduates have a $10,000 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($17,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Davidson graduates have an estimated $104 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($175 vs. $279).
  • More Davidson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RISD students, three years after graduation (89% vs. 89%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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