University of St Thomas vs. RISD

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

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University of St Thomas vs. Rhode Island School of Design comparison
University of St Thomas Rhode Island School of Design College 3 College 4
University of St Thomas Rhode Island School of Design
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Overview

University of St Thomas RISD
Location Saint Paul, MN Providence, RI
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 9,025 2,620
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #179 #96
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website stthomas.edu risd.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of St Thomas RISD
Tuition (In State) $48,930 $56,435
Tuition (Out of State) $48,930 $56,435
Room & Board $12,587 $15,234
Avg Net Price $30,137 $39,800
Avg Grant Aid $32,284 $37,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 34%

Admission

University of St Thomas RISD
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,481 5,099
Admitted 7,300 888
Acceptance Rate 77% 17.4%
Enrolled % 21.5% 54.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.63 3.71
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 24/29 29/33
SAT Range 1200/1390 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 15, 2024 Feb 1, 2024

Academics

University of St Thomas RISD
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (44%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (73%)
  • Architecture (18%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Precision Production Trades (4%)

Outcomes

University of St Thomas RISD
Graduation Rate 74% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $62,000 $51,100
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $279

Diversity

University of St Thomas RISD
% Men 49% 33%
% Women 51% 67%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 81% 31%
% Black 2% 2%
% Hispanic 5% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 3% 26%
% Unknown Race 1% 8%

Students

University of St Thomas RISD
% In-State 78% 1%
% Out-of-State 18% 58%

Campus

University of St Thomas RISD
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of St Thomas is larger than than RISD based on total student enrollment (9,025 students vs. 2,620 students)

University of St Thomas vs. RISD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of St Thomas or RISD?

  • Rhode Island School of Design is 15.3% more expensive to attend than University of St Thomas for in-state tuition ($56,435.00 vs. $48,930.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.3% higher at RISD than University of St Thomas ($56,435.00 vs. $48,930.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of St Thomas than RISD ($30,137 vs. $39,800)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of St Thomas are 21% lower than costs at Rhode Island School of Design ($12,587 vs. $15,234)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of St Thomas than Rhode Island School of Design (96% vs. 34%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rhode Island School of Design students is 16.1% larger than aid received University of St Thomas ($37,480 vs. $32,284)

University of St Thomas vs. RISD Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rhode Island School of Design (1273) is 71 points higher than at University of St Thomas (1202)
  • Incoming RISD students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at University of St Thomas (27)
  • Accepted freshman RISD students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at University of St Thomas (3.63)
  • University of St Thomas has a higher acceptance rate (77%) than RISD (17.4%)

University of St Thomas vs. RISD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of St Thomas 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 University of St Thomas.

  • The graduation rate at RISD is higher than University of St Thomas (87% vs. 74%)
  • Graduates from University of St Thomas earn on average $10,900 more per year than RISD graduates after ten years. ($62,000 vs. $51,100)
  • University of St Thomas students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RISD graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • University of St Thomas graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than RISD graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More RISD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of St Thomas 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/