Grinnell vs. RISD

Should I go to Grinnell College or Rhode Island School of Design? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Grinnell 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Carleton College Pratt Institute Macalester College Oberlin Kenyon MICA Haverford College Cornell WUSTL Reed Davidson Swarthmore
Grinnell College vs. Rhode Island School of Design comparison
Grinnell College Rhode Island School of Design College 3 College 4
Grinnell College Rhode Island School of Design
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Grinnell RISD
Location Grinnell, IA Providence, RI
Setting Remote Town Midsize City
Enrollment 1,759 2,620
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #55 #96
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website grinnell.edu risd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Grinnell RISD
Tuition (In State) $60,988 $56,435
Tuition (Out of State) $60,988 $56,435
Room & Board $15,048 $15,234
Avg Net Price $33,467 $39,800
Avg Grant Aid $42,231 $37,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 34%

Admission

Grinnell RISD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,997 5,099
Admitted 1,076 888
Acceptance Rate 10.8% 17.4%
Enrolled % 40.6% 54.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 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 1380/1530 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

Grinnell RISD
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Foreign Languages (12%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • History (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Architecture (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Precision Production Trades (4%)

Outcomes

Grinnell RISD
Graduation Rate 88% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,500 $51,100
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $13,170 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $136 $279

Diversity

Grinnell RISD
% Men 47% 33%
% Women 53% 67%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 56% 31%
% Black 6% 2%
% Hispanic 7% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 16% 26%
% Unknown Race 3% 8%

Students

Grinnell RISD
% In-State 7% 1%
% Out-of-State 72% 58%

Campus

Grinnell 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

  • Rhode Island School of Design is larger than than Grinnell based on total student enrollment (2,620 students vs. 1,759 students)

Grinnell vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Grinnell or RISD?

  • Grinnell College is 8.1% more expensive to attend than RISD for in-state tuition ($60,988.00 vs. $56,435.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.1% higher at Grinnell than Rhode Island School of Design ($60,988.00 vs. $56,435.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Grinnell College than RISD ($33,467 vs. $39,800)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 1.2% lower than costs at Rhode Island School of Design ($15,048 vs. $15,234)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Grinnell College than Rhode Island School of Design (91% vs. 34%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 12.7% larger than aid received Rhode Island School of Design ($42,231 vs. $37,480)

Grinnell vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Grinnell College (1402) is 129 points higher than at RISD (1273)
  • Incoming Grinnell students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at RISD (29)
  • Accepted freshman Grinnell 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 Grinnell (10.8%)

Grinnell vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Grinnell 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 Grinnell.

  • The graduation rate at Grinnell is higher than Rhode Island School of Design (88% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from Grinnell College earn on average $8,400 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($59,500 vs. $51,100)
  • Grinnell College students graduate with a $13,830 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($13,170 vs. $27,000)
  • Grinnell graduates are paying $143 less per month on federal student loans than RISD graduates. ($136 vs. $279)
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Grinnell students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 87%)

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