SUNY Poly vs. RISD

Comparable Facts

Compare SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica, NY with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (2,733 students vs. 2,520 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• SUNY Polytechnic Institute is located in Utica, NY (Rural Fringe setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
• SUNY Polytechnic Institute 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: SUNY Polytechnic Institute 13:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

SUNY Poly vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY Poly 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 SUNY Polytechnic Institute than RISD ($14,782 vs. $43,492).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY Polytechnic Institute are 0.3% lower than at Rhode Island School of Design ($16,584 vs. $16,626).
• Rhode Island School of Design is 626.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Poly (about $54,063 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $8,625.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 195.5% higher at RISD than at SUNY Polytechnic Institute (about $41,473 more per year; $62,688.00 vs. $21,215.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY Polytechnic Institute than at Rhode Island School of Design (100% vs. 31%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 357.4% larger than aid received by SUNY Polytechnic Institute students ($38,223 vs. $8,357).

SUNY Poly vs. RISD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SUNY Poly 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 SUNY Poly.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rhode Island School of Design (1460) is 260 points higher than at SUNY Poly (1200).
• Incoming RISD students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 26 at SUNY Poly).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: SUNY Polytechnic Institute 1025/1370; Rhode Island School of Design 1396/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: SUNY Polytechnic Institute 22/30; Rhode Island School of Design 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY Poly - Test optional; RISD - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: SUNY Poly Aug 1, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at SUNY Poly (3.7).
• SUNY Poly has a higher acceptance rate (81.3%) than RISD (18.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.7% at SUNY Poly vs. 41.5% at RISD.

SUNY Poly vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SUNY Poly 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 SUNY Polytechnic Institute's (47%).
• Graduates from SUNY Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than RISD graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,200 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY Polytechnic Institute graduates have a $10,415 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($16,585 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, SUNY Poly graduates have an estimated $108 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($171 vs. $279).
• More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Poly students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 63%)

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.