Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

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Rhode Island School of Design can be found in Providence, RI, a nonprofit private college which focuses on only a select few programs offered. About 2,800 students are enrolled at RISD.

An ACT or SAT exam may be required before applying to this college. Scores in the range of 1230 (25th percentile) to 1470 (75th percentile) on the SAT and within the range of 26 (25th percentile) to 32 (75th percentile) for the ACT exam is usually submitted among applicants that get into RISD. Based on sampled GPA data collected and applied, it is estimated that the RISD average GPA range for accepted students is around 3.48 - 3.78. The acceptance rate of this school is considered highly competitive, with only 30 percent of students which applied being admitted. You can get more information from the admissions office website at risd.edu.

Overall RISD Acceptance Rate - Fall 2020

25.8%

The overall acceptance rate for Rhode Island School of Design was reported as 25.8% in Fall 2020 with over 3,830 applications submitted to RISD. Both in state and out of state applicants are included in these figures. We do not have data on transfer acceptance rates currently.

Accepted Applicants Profile

  • RISD ACT Scores: 26 - 32
  • RISD Average GPA: 3.48 - 3.78

How Hard Is It to Get into Rhode Island School of Design?

Applicant Selectivity: High

The selectivity of applicants for undergraduate admissions to Rhode Island School of Design is considered high, with many applicants scoring in the top percentiles on the SAT or ACT exam, as well as having an excellent high school GPA.

Historical Trend and Acceptance Rate 2025 Projection

The historical trend chart shows acceptance rates from the previous years, from which we have projected the acceptance rate for the 2025-2026 school year. The overall acceptance rate trend for Rhode Island School of Design has been on a downward trend over the past few years.

Acceptance Rate By Year

  • 2016-2017: 34.1%
  • 2017-2018: 28.8%
  • 2018-2019: 23.9%
  • 2019-2020: 25.8%
  • Projected RISD Acceptance Rate 2025-2026: 25.0%

How Does RISD Compare?

25.8%
This School
56.7%
National Avg

The acceptance rate for Rhode Island School of Design is more than 100% lower than the national average of all colleges which is around 56.7%.

Nearby Similar College Acceptance Rates

SchoolAcceptance Rate
Providence College47.5%
Bryant University71.0%
Roger Williams University85.4%
Wheaton College73.9%

Admissions Rates & Enrollment Rates - Details

General Recommendations & Requirements for Admissions

  • High School GPA Scores are Required
  • School Records are Required
  • Submit Recommendation Letters are Recommended
  • Standardized Test Scores (SAT,ACT,...) are Required
  • TOEFL Exam (Foreign Language Students) are Required

Number of Applicants, Percent Accepted, and Enrolled Students (Fall 2020)

TotalMaleFemale
Applicants3,83224.2%75.8%
Admitted98733.4%66.6%
Enrolled48032.1%67.9%

Average ACT/SAT Scores of Applicants to RISD (Fall 2020)

SAT® SectionScore Range
Critical Reading610 - 700
Math620 - 770
Total Score1230 - 1470
ACT®Score Range
English27 - 35
Math25 - 31
Composite Score26 - 32
To learn more about the data and calculations that power this site, please visit our data discussion page.

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School Details

Address

2 College St
Providence, RI 02903-2784

Phone

(401) 454-6100

Website

School Code

#003409

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