Penn State vs. RISD

Penn State Main Campus and Rhode Island School of Design side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Penn State Main Campus
Rhode Island School of Design

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: RISD (18.7% admitted vs 60.6%). Typical SAT 1460 vs 1330.
  • Cheaper after aid: Penn State. Average net price is $27,889 vs $43,492 at RISD.
  • Graduation: Penn State 87% vs RISD 87%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Penn State $55,300 vs RISD $51,100 (median).
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Key differences

Penn State Main Campus Rhode Island School of Design
Acceptance rate
RISD more selective
Penn State60.6%
RISD18.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
RISD higher
Penn State1240-1420
RISD1396-1530
Average net price
Penn State $15,603 less
Penn State$27,889
RISD$43,492
In-state tuition
Penn State $42,044 less
Penn State$20,644
RISD$62,688
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State $20,898 less
Penn State$41,790
RISD$62,688
Graduation rate
Penn State +0 pts
Penn State87%
RISD87%
Median earnings (10 years)
Penn State +$4,200
Penn State$55,300
RISD$51,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Penn State 88,478
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • Penn State 53,579
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance rate
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn State 1330
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn State 29
  • RISD 32
  • Average high school GPA
  • Penn State -
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical high school grades
  • Penn State -
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Penn State Very High
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant competition
  • Penn State Low
  • RISD Very High
  • SAT range
  • Penn State 1240-1420
  • RISD 1396-1530
  • ACT range
  • Penn State 27-32
  • RISD 31-34
  • Submit test scores
  • Penn State Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Penn State
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Penn State $20,644
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Penn State $41,790
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & board
  • Penn State $14,474
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average net price
  • Penn State $27,889
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average grant aid
  • Penn State $11,336
  • RISD $38,223
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Penn State 37%
  • RISD 31%
  • Graduation rate
  • Penn State 87%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Penn State $55,300
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • Penn State 69%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Penn State $26,818
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Penn State $277
  • RISD $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Penn State 16:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)
  • Location
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Penn State Small City
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn State 50,737
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Penn State #185
  • RISD #92

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 2,520 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Penn State Main Campus is located in University Park, PA (Small City setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Penn State Main Campus 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: Penn State Main Campus 16:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 12.9% lower than at Rhode Island School of Design ($14,474 vs. $16,626).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 50% higher at RISD than at Penn State Main Campus (about $20,898 more per year; $62,688 vs. $41,790).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Main Campus than at Rhode Island School of Design (37% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 237.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($38,223 vs. $11,336).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at RISD than at Penn State (32 vs. 29, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Penn State and RISD.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at Penn State vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation (89% vs. 69%).

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

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