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TCU Baylor UT Austin UT Dallas Pratt Institute Texas A&M Tulane Rice Trinity SCU MICA Pepperdine| Rhode Island School of Design | Southern Methodist University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
RISD | SMU | ||
| Location | Providence, RI | Dallas, TX | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 2,620 | 12,053 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #96 | #67 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | United Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | risd.edu | smu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
RISD | SMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $56,435 | $55,012 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $56,435 | $55,012 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,234 | $17,750 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $39,800 | $45,094 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $37,480 | $35,344 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 34% | 73% |
Admission |
RISD | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 5,099 | 16,150 | ||
| Admitted | 888 | 8,439 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 17.4% | 52.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 54.2% | 19.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.71 | 3.68 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 31/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1340/1525 | 1370/1510 | ||
| 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 | Feb 1, 2024 | Jan 15, 2024 |
Academics |
RISD | SMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
RISD | SMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 87% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $51,100 | $73,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 89% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $222 |
Diversity |
RISD | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 50% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 50% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 31% | 65% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 26% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 8% | 0% |
Students |
RISD | SMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 1% | 38% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 58% | 58% | ||
Campus |
RISD | SMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Southern Methodist University is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (12,053 students vs. 2,620 students)
RISD vs. SMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, RISD or SMU?
- Rhode Island School of Design is 2.6% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($56,435.00 vs. $55,012.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.6% higher at RISD than Southern Methodist University ($56,435.00 vs. $55,012.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rhode Island School of Design than SMU ($39,800 vs. $45,094)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 16.5% lower than costs at Southern Methodist University ($15,234 vs. $17,750)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Methodist University than Rhode Island School of Design (73% vs. 34%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 6% larger than aid received Southern Methodist University ($37,480 vs. $35,344)
RISD vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, RISD or SMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMU or RISD .
- The average SAT score at Southern Methodist University (1330) is 57 points higher than at RISD (1273)
- Incoming SMU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at RISD (29)
- Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at SMU (3.68)
- SMU has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than RISD (17.4%)
RISD vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, RISD or SMU? 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 SMU and RISD.
- The graduation rate at RISD is higher than Southern Methodist University (87% vs. 75%)
- Graduates from Southern Methodist University earn on average $21,900 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($73,000 vs. $51,100)
- Southern Methodist University students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,000)
- SMU graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than RISD graduates. ($222 vs. $279)
- More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 76%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/