University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. RISD

University of Massachusetts Lowell and Rhode Island School of Design side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of Massachusetts Lowell
Rhode Island School of Design

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: RISD (18.7% admitted vs 83%). Typical SAT 1460 vs 1280.
  • Cheaper after aid: University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Average net price is $16,530 vs $43,492 at RISD.
  • Graduation: University of Massachusetts-Lowell 50% vs RISD 87%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: University of Massachusetts-Lowell $55,300 vs RISD $51,100 (median).
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Key differences

University of Massachusetts Lowell Rhode Island School of Design
Acceptance rate
RISD more selective
University of Massachusetts-Lowell83%
RISD18.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
RISD higher
University of Massachusetts-Lowell1180-1370
RISD1396-1530
Average net price
University of Massachusetts-Lowell $26,962 less
University of Massachusetts-Lowell$16,530
RISD$43,492
In-state tuition
University of Massachusetts-Lowell $45,722 less
University of Massachusetts-Lowell$16,966
RISD$62,688
Out-of-state tuition
University of Massachusetts-Lowell $26,424 less
University of Massachusetts-Lowell$36,264
RISD$62,688
Graduation rate
RISD +37 pts
University of Massachusetts-Lowell50%
RISD87%
Median earnings (10 years)
University of Massachusetts-Lowell +$4,200
University of Massachusetts-Lowell$55,300
RISD$51,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 13,781
  • RISD 6,692
  • Admitted
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 11,444
  • RISD 1,249
  • Acceptance rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 83%
  • RISD 18.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 18.1%
  • RISD 41.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1280
  • RISD 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 28
  • RISD 32
  • Average high school GPA
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 3.67
  • RISD 3.71
  • Typical high school grades
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell A-
  • RISD A-
  • Admissions standards
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Very High
  • RISD Exceptional
  • Applicant competition
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
  • RISD Very High
  • SAT range
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 1180-1370
  • RISD 1396-1530
  • ACT range
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 25-32
  • RISD 31-34
  • Submit test scores
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Test optional
  • RISD Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027
  • RISD Feb 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,966
  • RISD $62,688
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $36,264
  • RISD $62,688
  • Room & board
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,148
  • RISD $16,626
  • Average net price
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $16,530
  • RISD $43,492
  • Average grant aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $15,098
  • RISD $38,223
  • % receiving grant aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 82%
  • RISD 31%
  • Graduation rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 50%
  • RISD 87%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $55,300
  • RISD $51,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 63%
  • RISD 89%
  • Median student loan debt
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $25,000
  • RISD $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell $258
  • RISD $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 17:1
  • RISD 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell
    • Business (18%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
  • RISD
    • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
    • Architecture (18%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
    • Precision Production Trades (4%)
  • Location
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MA
  • RISD Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Large Suburban
  • RISD Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell 16,598
  • RISD 2,520
  • Type
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell Public 4 Year
  • RISD Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • University of Massachusetts-Lowell #371
  • RISD #92

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, MA with Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Massachusetts Lowell is larger than RISD based on total student enrollment (16,598 students vs. 2,520 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Lowell is located in Lowell, MA (Large Suburban setting); Rhode Island School of Design is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Lowell 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: University of Massachusetts Lowell 17:1; Rhode Island School of Design 8:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Lowell are 2.9% lower than at Rhode Island School of Design ($16,148 vs. $16,626).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 72.9% higher at RISD than at University of Massachusetts Lowell (about $26,424 more per year; $62,688 vs. $36,264).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Lowell than at Rhode Island School of Design (82% vs. 31%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 153.2% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Lowell students ($38,223 vs. $15,098).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at RISD than at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (32 vs. 28, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both University of Massachusetts-Lowell and RISD.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Massachusetts-Lowell Feb 15, 2027; RISD Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at RISD average a 3.71 high school GPA, 0.04 higher than at University of Massachusetts-Lowell (3.67).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at University of Massachusetts-Lowell vs. 41.5% at RISD.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Massachusetts Lowell graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than RISD graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, University of Massachusetts-Lowell graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RISD graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Lowell students, three years after graduation (89% vs. 63%).

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

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