Syracuse vs. RISD

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

Penn State Binghamton University Pratt Institute UB Fordham UVM Drexel RIT BU Skidmore College AU Providence
Syracuse University vs. Rhode Island School of Design comparison
Syracuse University Rhode Island School of Design College 3 College 4
Syracuse University Rhode Island School of Design
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Syracuse RISD
Location Syracuse, NY Providence, RI
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 22,698 2,620
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #165 #96
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website syr.edu risd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Syracuse RISD
Tuition (In State) $58,440 $56,435
Tuition (Out of State) $58,440 $56,435
Room & Board $17,170 $15,234
Avg Net Price $43,651 $39,800
Avg Grant Aid $34,737 $37,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 34%

Admission

 Syracuse RISD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 41,489 5,099
Admitted 21,471 888
Acceptance Rate 51.8% 17.4%
Enrolled % 19.1% 54.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.71
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 28/32 29/33
SAT Range 1260/1430 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 1, 2024 Feb 1, 2024

Academics

 Syracuse RISD
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Communication (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Architecture (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Precision Production Trades (4%)

Outcomes

 Syracuse RISD
Graduation Rate 80% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $65,900 $51,100
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $279

Diversity

 Syracuse RISD
% Men 46% 33%
% Women 54% 67%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 31%
% Black 8% 2%
% Hispanic 11% 8%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 12% 26%
% Unknown Race 2% 8%

Students

 Syracuse RISD
% In-State 28% 1%
% Out-of-State 61% 58%

Campus

 Syracuse RISD
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Syracuse University is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (22,698 students vs. 2,620 students)

Syracuse vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Syracuse or RISD?

  • Syracuse University is 3.6% more expensive to attend than RISD for in-state tuition ($58,440.00 vs. $56,435.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.6% higher at Syracuse than Rhode Island School of Design ($58,440.00 vs. $56,435.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rhode Island School of Design than Syracuse ($39,800 vs. $43,651)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island School of Design are 12.7% lower than costs at Syracuse University ($15,234 vs. $17,170)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Syracuse University than Rhode Island School of Design (77% vs. 34%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 7.9% larger than aid received Syracuse University ($37,480 vs. $34,737)

Syracuse vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rhode Island School of Design (1273) is 78 points higher than at Syracuse (1195)
  • Incoming RISD students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Syracuse (27)
  • Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Syracuse (3.69)
  • Syracuse has a higher acceptance rate (51.8%) than RISD (17.4%)

Syracuse vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Syracuse 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 Syracuse.

  • The graduation rate at RISD is higher than Syracuse University (87% vs. 80%)
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn on average $14,800 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($65,900 vs. $51,100)
  • Rhode Island School of Design and Syracuse graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Rhode Island School of Design and Syracuse graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($279 vs. $279)
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Syracuse students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 80%)

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