Sarah Lawrence vs. RISD

Comparable Facts

Compare Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rhode Island School of Design is larger than Sarah Lawrence based on total student enrollment (2,520 students vs. 1,798 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sarah Lawrence College is located in Bronxville, NY (Large Suburban setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
• Sarah Lawrence 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: Sarah Lawrence College 10:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Sarah Lawrence vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sarah Lawrence 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 Rhode Island School of Design than Sarah Lawrence ($43,492 vs. $43,629).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 9.8% lower than at Sarah Lawrence College ($16,626 vs. $18,426).
• Sarah Lawrence College is 6.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than RISD (about $4,174 more per year; $66,862.00 vs. $62,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.7% higher at Sarah Lawrence than at Rhode Island School of Design (about $4,174 more per year; $66,862.00 vs. $62,688.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sarah Lawrence College than at Rhode Island School of Design (90% vs. 31%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sarah Lawrence College students is 1.6% larger than aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students ($38,838 vs. $38,223).

Sarah Lawrence vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Sarah Lawrence 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 Sarah Lawrence.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 120 points higher than at Sarah Lawrence (1340).
• Incoming RISD students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at Sarah Lawrence).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sarah Lawrence College 1240/1430; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sarah Lawrence College 28/31; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Sarah Lawrence - 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: Sarah Lawrence Jan 15, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Sarah Lawrence students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at RISD (3.71).
• Sarah Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (61.7%) than RISD (18.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.6% at Sarah Lawrence vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Sarah Lawrence vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Sarah Lawrence 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 Sarah Lawrence College's (70%).
• Graduates from Rhode Island School of Design earn a median of about $7,000 more per year than Sarah Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $44,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sarah Lawrence College graduates have a $13,500 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($13,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Sarah Lawrence graduates have an estimated $140 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($139 vs. $279).
• More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sarah Lawrence students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 83%)

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.