How do I schedule a campus tour at Rhode Island School of Design?

Rhode Island School of Design has 4 upcoming campus tour dates; registration links for each are listed on this page.

What types of campus tours does Rhode Island School of Design offer?

Rhode Island School of Design currently offers Information Session. 4 upcoming dates are listed on this page.

Does Rhode Island School of Design offer self-guided or virtual tours?

Yes — Rhode Island School of Design offers a virtual tour (https://www.risd.edu/admissions/visit).

What is the nearest airport to Rhode Island School of Design?

The nearest major airport is Providence TF Green (PVD), about 7 miles away.

Where can I stay when visiting Rhode Island School of Design?

Hotels near campus include Check local hotels, Check budget options. See the visit-planning section on this page for details.

Rhode Island School of Design Campus Tours & Visits — Providence, RI

Highly selective — strong graduate outcomes

Rhode Island School of Design is a private urban institution in Providence, Rhode Island. Admission is competitive, with an average SAT of 1480.

A mid-sized campus of 2.1K undergraduates with a 8:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

88% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $68,140 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $46,253.

Established

1877

Mascot

Scrotie (unofficial)

Type

Private art and design school

14%

Acceptance

1480

SAT Avg

2,090

Undergrads

8:1

Student : Faculty

88%

Grad Rate (4yr)

$68,140

Earnings 10yr

$46,253

Avg Net Price

Rankings

Forbes

2025

#13

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

•History Founding of the school The Venetian Renaissance Waterman Building (1893) was the first permanent home for the school.
•The Rhode Island School of Design's founding is often traced back to Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf's 1876 visit to the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.
•On January 11, 1877, a majority of women on the committee voted for Metcalf's proposal.
•On March 22, 1877, the Rhode Island General Assembly ratified "An Act to Incorporate the Rhode Island School of Design", "[f]or the purpose of aiding in the cultivation of the arts of design".
•Metcalf directed the school until her death in 1895.

Source: Wikipedia

Notable Alumni

•

Brian Chesky

Co-founder and CEO of Airbnb

•

Joe Gebbia

Co-founder of Airbnb

•

Seth MacFarlane

Creator of Family Guy and The Orville

•

David Byrne

Lead singer of Talking Heads

•

Gus Van Sant

Academy Award-nominated filmmaker

•

Dale Chihuly

World-renowned glass sculptor

•

Kara Walker

MacArthur Fellow and contemporary artist

Schools Like This

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Kirksville, MO · Town · Private

Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences

Oakland, CA · Urban · Private

Admissions

Acceptance Rate13.8%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1480

Reading & WritingMid: 670

680760

MathMid: 725

690780

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 31

3033

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions

Test-OptionalNo Demonstrated InterestHolistic ReviewNo Interviews

Application Platforms

Common AppSlideRoom (portfolio)

Early Decision (Binding)

November 15

Decision by mid-December

Regular Decision

February 1

Decision by late March

Reply by May 1

SAT/ACT optional permanently.

RISD-specific essays required.

Deadline Calendar

Get access to view details →

Typical Application Requirements

0/9 items complete

Common Application or Coalition Application

Verify at source →

Official High School Transcript

Verify at source →

School Report + Counselor Recommendation

Verify at source →

Two Teacher Recommendations

Verify at source →

SAT or ACT Scores (test-optional)Optional

Check current test policy

Verify at source →

Rhode Island School of Design Supplemental EssaysNon-standard

1-3 supplemental essays required

Verify at source →

CSS Profile / FAFSA

Required for financial aid consideration

Verify at source →

Arts Portfolio (if applicable)Non-standardOptional

Required for arts programs

Verify at source →

Interview (recommended)Optional

Verify at source →

Get access to view details →

Decision Notifications

Get access to view details →

Transfer Admission

Fall Transfer

February 1

Minimum credits

24 semester hours

International Students

✗ Need-Blind✗ Meets 100% Need

International students

27%

English Proficiency Requirements

TOEFL iBT93

IELTS Academic6.5

Duolingo English Test115

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$59,760

Room & Board$15,850

Books & Supplies$2,700

Total Cost of Attendance$78,857

Average Net Price$46,253

Median Debt at Graduation$27,000

Monthly Payment (10yr)$286

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$33,653

$30–48K$31,023

$48–75K$36,834

$75–110K$46,882

$110K+$60,428

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Financial Aid

✓ Need-Blind✓ Meets 100% NeedNeed-Based Only

Students receiving aid

56%

Need-blind for U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

71.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

4.4%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$23,250

Academics

Core/Distribution Requirements4-1-4 (Semester with January Wintersession)

Majors

19

Avg class size

14

Student-faculty ratio

9:1

Study abroad

20%

View all 17 majors›

Apparel DesignArchitectureCeramicsFilm/Animation/VideoFurniture DesignGlassGraphic DesignIllustrationIndustrial DesignInterior ArchitectureJewelry + MetalsmithingPaintingPhotographyPrintmakingSculptureTextilesComputation, Technology & Culture

Programs (25)

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate88.5%

Freshman Retention92.9%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$45,932

10 Years$68,140

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

After Graduation

Top Employers

Self-employed (Artists/Designers)AppleGooglePixarNikeIDEOHerman MillerDisney

Top Graduate Schools

Rhode Island School of DesignYale School of ArtCranbrook Academy of ArtRoyal College of ArtPratt Institute

Top Industries

Industrial DesignGraphic DesignArchitectureFilm & AnimationFine ArtsFashion Design

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

93%

Positive

Campus Life

Campus size

13 acres

Organizations

40+

No Greek Life

Housing & Residential Life

first-two-years

On campus

54%

Housing Styles

Residence hallsApartments

Dining

The Met (Metropolitan Dining Hall)Tap Room CaféCIT CaféFleet Library CaféDietary Options

Student Body

Undergrads

2,090

Gender Split

69% / 31%

Women / Men

First Generation

11%

Pell Grant Recipients

14%

Race & Ethnicity

White 22%

Black 5%

Hispanic 9%

Asian 25%

Two+ 5%

Int'l 33%

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

16

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

4

Burglary

1

Aggravated Assault

1

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

2

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

4

Drug Arrests

3

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

117High

Estimated from RI state average + city premium

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 30"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675K

41 mi(71 min)

New Yorkpop. 8.3M

155 mi(269 min)

Philadelphiapop. 1.6M

235 mi(407 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

PVDProvidence TF Green7 mi

BOSBoston Logan42 mi

BDLHartford Bradley66 mi

Distance to Cities

Providence, RI0 mi

~0 min drive

Boston, MA41 mi

~1h 11m drive

Hartford, CT65 mi

~1h 53m drive

Southern (moderate winters, warm summers)

Getting Around

Amtrak

Providence Station (1 mile from campus); direct trains to Boston (40 min) and NYC (3 hours).

Walkability

Urban campus on College Hill; highly walkable to downtown Providence and Brown University.

Visit Planning

Nearby Hotels

Mid-Range

Budget

Plan Your Visit

Admission Office

2 College Street, Providence, RI 02903

(401) 454-6300[email protected]

Virtual Tour →Campus Map →

Nearby Attractions

•

Thayer Streetwalkable

Shopping, dining, and cafes popular with students.

•

Waterfirewalkable

Award-winning art installation on Providence rivers with bonfires and music (seasonal).

•

Federal Hillwalkable

Providence's Little Italy with authentic Italian restaurants.

•

Providence Athenaeumwalkable

Historic library dating to 1753.

•

WaterPlace Parkwalkable

Riverside park in downtown Providence.

Rhode Island School of Design

Rankings

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

Notable Alumni

Schools Like This

A T Still University of Health Sciences

Academy for Jewish Religion

Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences

Albany Medical College

Admissions

SAT Score Ranges

ACT Score Range

Admissions

Deadline Calendar

Typical Application Requirements

Decision Notifications

Transfer Admission

International Students

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Net Price by Family Income

Financial Aid

Debt & Aid Detail

Academics

Programs (25)

Outcomes

Median Earnings After Graduation

After Graduation

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Campus Life

Housing & Residential Life

Dining

Student Body

Race & Ethnicity

Campus Safety

Incident Breakdown (2024)

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

Climate (School Year)

Nearest Cities

Getting There

Nearest Airports

Distance to Cities

Getting Around

Visit Planning

Nearby Hotels

Plan Your Visit

Nearby Attractions

Days out near Providence

Explore