Placement Metric
Highest Package
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Represents the top salary package reported in the available placement information.
Rhode Island School of Design
6.8(2)
VerifiedPrivate (Not for Profit)Estd. 1877
Founded
1877
Type
Private (Not for Profit)
About Rhode Island School of Design
Why Study at Rhode Island School of Design?
- Campus: Rhode Island School of Design has a midsize campus with 70 student clubs and organizations. It also has a museum with multiple art galleries and studios. Explore: Campus of RSID!
- Residence: Students are free to choose from the three different housing options and all rooms are equipped with facilities like internet and laundry, social lounge, entry locks, wardrobes, lights, and desk space.
- Programs: Rhode Island School of Design offers 16 programs at the undergraduate level, 18 programs on the postgraduate level, an experimental and foundation program for first-year students, and 1 certificate program. Know in detail about courses at Rhode Island School of Design!
- Cost: The tuition fees for undergraduate and graduate students is 55,220 USD. However, the only difference is between housing facilities in USA. UG housing is available at a cost of 14,790 USD and PG housing is for 18,110 USD.
- Placements: The average salary of Rhode Island graduates is 70,121 USD, while the early career salary of graduates with less than 5 years of experience was 57,300 USD. The top recruiters at university are Ralph and Lauren, USAA, ESPN, Harvard University, Kohler, Adidas, Bose, Airbnb, etc.
Highlights
| University Type | Private |
| Establishment Year | 1877 |
| Location | Providence, Rhode Island |
| Campus Setting | Urban |
| Annual Endowment | 351.1 million USD |
| Tuition Fee | 53,820 USD |
| Mode of Program | Full-time |
| Total enrollment | 2,501 |
| Total faculty members | 196 (full-time); 421 (part-time) |
| Student-faculty ratio | 9:1 |
| Average class size | 14 |
| Campus accommodation | Available |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Work-study | Available |
| Financial Aid | Not available for international students |
Rhode Island School of Design Campus
- Rhode Island School of Design has a midsize campus with an urban setting in Providence, Rhode Island.
- The college campus features the RISD Museum building which is open for the public to visit and has multiple art galleries and studios.
- It also has on-campus stores, two auditoriums, and multiple design studios for students and faculty to use.
- The Centre for Student Involvement (CSI) manages more than 70 student clubs and organizations that all students are open to being part of.
- Undergraduate and graduate students can explore opportunities in leadership by attending the RISD LEADS workshop and certificate program.
- Providence is easy to navigate in the area with 7 colleges and universities in the neighborhood making it very student-friendly. Getting around the city is convenient with buses, trains, ridesharing, and Zipcar’s. It is well connected to Boston and New York where students usually plan day trips.
Rhode Island School of Design Residence
- Students are free to choose from the three different housing options that Rhode Island School of Design offers which are - Essential RISD, Suite Experience, and Apartment Experience.
- All rooms come with basic facilities such as internet and laundry, social lounge, entry locks, wardrobes, lights, and desk space. The amenities vary across single, double, and shared rooms.
- Students requiring special assistance due to medical conditions must submit medical records to the Residence Life Office. The required documentation is decided on a case-to-case basis.
- The school follows a gender-inclusive housing policy where identity is not the criteria based on which pairings are chosen.
Rhode Island School of Design Courses
- Rhode Island School of Design offers 16 programs at the undergraduate level, 18 programs on the postgraduate level, an experimental and foundation program for first-year students, and 1 certificate program.
- Students also have the option of choosing a specific inter-disciplinary subject of concentration to build on their course experience.
- Some of the most popular majors among students are fine arts, graphic design, sculpture, printmaking, time-based media, photography, painting, and ceramics.
- The RISD Global Exchange program allows students to study off-campus and get an opportunity to study across 43 universities and colleges across the world.
- The college also offers summer and winter foundation level programs for graduates and undergraduates every year. These programs can be accessed online and on-campus.
- BRDD, a one-of-its-kind program in the country, is a dual degree program offered jointly by RISD and Brown that lets students earn a Bachelor of Arts (AB) degree from Brown and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree from RISD simultaneously.
- A Masters of Arts in Design and Architecture (MADE) is offered through a partnership between RISD’s Architecture + Design division and Brown's School of Engineering.
- All students applying for master’s courses are required to submit a writing sample representing strong critical and analytical reasoning and send the application by January to be considered for admissions.
Rhode Island School of Design Application Process
Rhode Island School of Design admissions is extremely competitive. The process for admission to Rhode Island School of Design is discussed below:
Application Portal: UG: Common Application; PG: RISD Application
Application Fee: 60 USD
Admission Requirements:
- Official high school/ college transcripts
- English proficiency test scores
- A portfolio with 10-12 samples of their work
- Completed assignment to be submitted on Slideroom
- A personal essay of up to 650 words
- Minimum of one letter of recommendation for undergraduate courses
- Three letters of recommendation for graduate programs.
- Students applying for graduate courses need to have a minimum GPA of 3.0
- A statement of purpose that is up to 750 words
- All portfolios are to be submitted using the Slideroom portal
Note: Starting from students applying in 2021, the school does not require SAT or ACT scores for admission.
English Language Requirements
The minimum English language proficiency test score requirements are as follows:
| Test | Minimum Requirements |
|---|---|
| TOEFL | 93 |
| IELTS | 6.5 |
| Duolingo English Test | 115 |
Rhode Island School of Design Cost of Attendance
The estimated cost of attendance of Rhode Insland School of Design is as listed below:
| Expense | Undergraduate (USD) | Graduate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee | 55,220 | 55,220 |
| Activity Fee | 270 | 270 |
| Academic Fee | 800 | 800 |
| Estimated Housing and Dining Fee | 14,790 | 18,110 |
| Books and Supplies | 2,700 | 3,965 |
| Transportation | 1,000 | 1,550 |
| Others | 2,500 | 2,575 |
Rhode Island School of Design Scholarships
- Rhode Island School of Design is not offering any scholarships to international undergraduate students currently.
- International students are supposed to bear the complete cost of education for attending the university.
- There are several scholarship opportunities for studying in the U.S. for international students. Some of these have been specifically designed to offer scholarships to Indian students.
- Students can refer to websites like IEFA, eduPASS, Fullbright, EducationUSA, International Scholarships Online, etc.
- International students may also opt for work-study to finance their education. Students are authorized to work only on-campus. To work off-campus, students must acquire an Employment Authorization.
Rhode Island School of Design Alumni Network
- Rhode Island School of Design has a 30,465 member strong alumni network.
- Members of the RISD Alumni Association are entitled to receive several benefits from their membership. These include:
- Discounted membership to the RISD museum
- Free access to the Fleet Library at RISD
- Receive a 20% discount to enroll in RISD summer programs
- 10% discount on continuing education programs
- Free access to unique trips around the world that are curated for the RISD Alumni.
- A professional network and platform to receive career opportunities and display your work.
- Some notable alumni from RISD are:
- Nicole Miller - American Fashion Designer
- Seth MacFarlane - American Producer
- James Franco - Actor
Rhode Island School of Design Placements
RISD and Brown University organize a joint career fair annually to allow students to discover internship and job opportunities after graduation. The major subjects across which placements are offered are in Arts, Graphic Design, Architecture, and Fine Arts. The school also organizes various workshops across the year which are open to undergraduate and graduate students to polish their skills. The RISD career center offers potential employers to hire students through the online portal where students can showcase their work and apply for jobs.
According to Payscale, the average salary of Rhode Island graduates is 70,121 USD, while the early career salary of graduates with less than 5 years of experience was 57,300 USD.
99% of the recent graduates were professionally engaged after graduation in full-time, part-time jobs, internships, or freelance. Over 350 companies participated in career fairs. Some of these include Ralph and Lauren, USAA, ESPN, Harvard University, Kohler, Adidas, Bose, Airbnb, etc.
FAQs
Ques. What is the acceptance rate of Rhode Island School of Design?
Ans.The admission acceptance rate of Rhode Island School of Design in term 2020-21 for freshmen, transfer students, and graduate students respectively are 20%, 22%, and 33%.
Ques. What GPA is required for admission to Rhode Island School of Design?
Ans.An average GPA of 3.6 is required for admission to Rhode Island School of Design.
Ques. What is the average SAT score required for Rhode Island School of Design admissions?
Ans.The average SAT score for Mathematics is 688 and 655 for evidence-based reading & writing for admissions at Rhode Island School of Design.
Ques. Does Rhode Island School of Design provide residential facilities to its admitted students?
Ans.Yes. About 60% of total admitted students live on campus while 40% live out of campus.
Ques. What is the tuition fee for Rhode Island School of Design?
Ans.The tuition fee for the Rhode Island School of Design is 53,820 USD.
Ques. Does Rhode Island School of Design offer a scholarship opportunity to its students?
Ans.Yes. About 36% of total admitted students receive need-based financial aid at Rhode Island School of Design.
Ques. Is Rhode Island School of Design a good school in the U.S.?
Ans.Rhode Island School of Design is the world’s preeminent college of arts and design. Several courses of RISD have been ranked in the top by U.S. News and QS World Ranking. Yes. It is a very good college for students who want to study arts & design.
Ques. What is the total enrolment of Rhode Island School of Design?
Ans.The total enrolment of students is 2,227 while undergraduate enrolment is 1736 out of the total in a session of 2020-21.
Ques. What are some major courses offered at Rhode Island School of Design?
Ans.Some major courses offered here are painting, printmaking, photography, design, fine arts, sculpture, graphics design, and film/video making, etc.
Ques. As an international student, will I feel comfortable in the study environment at Rhode Island School of Design?
Ans. Rhode Island School of Design is very diverse in terms of the student population. About 37% of the total population are international students. There are several students from Asia. It has a student presence from more than 60 countries.
Courses & Fees
Compare courses in a cleaner, easier way
Explore tuition, duration, language, eligibility, and exam requirements without the clutter.
Courses
26
Fee from
₹57,47,945.7
Exams
IELTS · TOEFL
Showing 5 of 14 bachelors
Overview
Degree TypeBachelor
Duration4 years
Study ModeFull Time
LanguageEnglish
Fees
Tuition FeeINR 55 L/Yr
Native FeeUSD 58,690 /Yr
Fee trendTuition progression
Admission Process
Rhode Island School of Design Admissions 2022
- Academics: Rhode Island School of Design offers 16 programs at the undergraduate level, 18 programs on the postgraduate level, an experimental and foundation program for first-year students, and 1 certificate program.
- Admission Deadline: The admission process for undergraduate and graduate programs at RSID begin in Fall and Spring semester. The upcoming deadline is marked for Feburary 1 under the regular application.
- Application Process: The application process for undergraduate programs is through Common application with no application fees. Students applying for graduate programs can apply through Online application with a fee of 60 USD.
- Academic Requirement: The GPA score required for admission is 3.73 on the 4.0 scale (90%). Accepted freshmen had an average SAT math and Evidence-based reading writing score of 688 and 655, which is competitive.
Highlights
| Application Portal | UG – Common application PG –RISD Online Application |
| Application fee | UG – No fee charged PG – 60 USD |
| Graduation rate | 89% |
| Retention rate | 92% |
| Student of Faculty ratio | 9:1 |
| International student percentage | 36% from 69 countries |
| School code | SAT/TOEFL - 3726 ACT - 003812 |
| SAT Score | 1298 |
| ACT Score | 28 |
| Academic Calendar | Semester |
| Intake Seasons | Fall/Spring |
| Interview | Required after selection of application |
| International Admissions | RISD Admissions |
Rhode Island School of Design Admission Deadlines
The admission begins either during the Fall or Spring season. The deadline is the same for both undergraduate and graduate programs is usually the same at the institute. The table below shows the deadline for admission.
| Type of Deadline | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| Early action application | November 1 |
| Early action decision | Mid-December |
| Regular action application | February 1 |
| Regular action decision | Mid-march |
Rhode Island School of Design International Admissions
International applicants have to fulfil some additional requirements in comparison to Domestic applicants. The requirements are given below:
Application Portal: Common Application (Online portal application)
Application Fee: 60 USD
Admission requirements:
- Official transcripts of all academic secondary work translated into English.
- SAT/ACT scores.
- Grade IB lever 5,6 or 7 accepted by RISD.
- English Proficiency test scores.
- Portfolio with 10-12 examples of sample work.
- Complete assignment to be submitted in slide room format.
- College essay with a word limit of 650 words to be submitted.
- 1-3 letters of recommendation are required.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 required.
English Proficiency Requirements for International Students
The minimum requirements for undergraduate and graduate programs are given below -
| Test | Minimum scores |
|---|---|
| TOEFL | 93 |
| IELTS | 6.5 |
| Duolingo | 63 |
USA Visa for International Students
After the student is selected for admission, the university will email the Certificate of Eligibility for a Student Visa (Form I-20 A/B). Once received, all the details should be checked carefully. This form is essential for obtaining an American student visa to study at RISD.
- Completed non-immigration visa application form (DS-156) with passport size photo.
- A valid passport.
- Receipt of visa application fee.
- Evidence of SEVIS fee payment (I-901 receipt)
Rhode Island School of Design Undergraduate Admissions
The School offers bachelor’s courses in the field of Furniture Design, Architecture, Glass, Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Textiles, Graphic Design, and illustration. To apply for admission, the applicant has to fulfill the following requirements.
Application Portal: Online
Basic Admission Requirements:
- Academic transcripts
- ACT/SAT scores
- Portfolio
- The applicant also needs to upload a portfolio, where about 12-20 recent projects need to be described that the applicant has done recently.
- This needs to be uploaded with the common application.
- Writing Sample
- A writing sample also needs to be submitted.
- The word limit is 650 words.
- The prompts for the writing are given in the personal essay section of the common application.
- Letters of recommendation (optional)
- The assignment
- The applicants also need to complete an assignment. Details of the assignment are given on their website.
Rhode Island School of Design Graduate Admissions
RISD offers graduate courses in the field of Architecture, Furniture Design, Ceramics, Industrial Design, Textile, Printmaking, and Painting. To apply for admission the applicant has to fulfill the following requirements.
Application Portal; Online
Admission requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in the relevant field
- Undergraduate coursework
- Application form
- Academic transcripts
- English language proficiency
- TOEFL/IELTS
- Portfolio
- Graduate applicants need to provide 10-20 examples of previous projects that they were involved in as a part of their portfolio.
- Statement of purpose
- Writing sample
- Three Letters of recommendation
- CV/resume
Admission in Rhode Island School of Design is highly competitive, with thousands of students applying each semester.. Although, if the applicants have a strong academic background and the passion for arts then that would give them an upper hand in the selection process.
Placements & Recruiters
Rhode Island School of Design Placement Details
Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island, United States placement details include salary insights, top recruiters, and hiring trends to help students understand career outcomes and campus opportunities.
Students usually compare highest package, average package, and recruiter profile before applying. This section gives a compact overview of career outcomes and placement visibility in Providence, Rhode Island, United States.
Recruiters
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Salary Metrics
0/2
Placement Metric
Average Package
N/A
Shows the typical package range students may expect based on the available average salary data.
Placement information is currently limited.
More salary or recruiter data may be updated later for this college.
Rankings over the years
Year-wise highlights from global and country rankings available for this university.
2020
Highlights
2020
2020
- Design: #2 in country
- Top source: QS
- 1 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Design
- 1 ranking record in 2020
2023
Highlights
2023
2023
- Arts: #40 in country
- Top source: QS
- 1 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Arts
- 1 ranking record in 2023
2024
Highlights
2024
2024
- Design: #2 in country
- Top source: QS
- 2 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Arts, Design
- 1 ranking record in 2024
2025
Highlights
2025
2025
- Design: #1 in country
- Top source: QS
- 3 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Arts, Design
- 2 ranking records in 2025
2026
Highlights
2026
2026
- Arts: #74 in country
- Top source: Collegedunia
- 1 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Arts
- 1 ranking record in 2026
Contact Information
Student Reviews & Ratings
Overall sentiment and category-wise rating summary
Overall score
6.8/10
Top Rated
Based on 2 ratings
Rating Breakdown
Visual summary of rating distribution and categories
Live Summary
Academic
9.0/10
Faculty
8.5/10
Infrastructure
10.0/10
Accommodation
9.5/10
Placement
8.5/10