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Compare Rhode Island School of Design vs Roger Williams University

Providence, RI · Bristol, RI

Rhode Island School of DesignRoger Williams University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$50,507/yr$37,999/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$29,135/yr$29,778/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$27,000$26,940
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$30,233/yr$30,087/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$25,872/yr$33,623/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$33,893/yr$37,318/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$64,493/yr$40,792/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$286/mo$286/mo
Room & board (on campus)$16,626/yr$17,112/yr
Room & board (off campus)$16,626/yr$13,070/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$3,000/yr$900/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$3,672/yr$4,509/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$81,727/yr$61,950/yr
Tuition (in-state)$62,688/yr$44,418/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$62,688/yr$44,418/yr
Students with Pell Grants15%16%
Students taking federal loans29%56%
Getting in
Students who get accepted19%88%
SAT range (middle 50%)1396–15301140–1310
SAT average14731223
ACT range (middle 50%)31–3424–29
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 35–35 · Math 28–33English 23–26 · Math 21–27
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received7,1268,238
Students accepted9847,231
Students who enrolled5041,022
Accepted students who enroll51%14%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores16%24%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores4%2%
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayRequiredRequired
Recommendation lettersRequiredRequired
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
College-prep programOptional (considered if sent)Required
Demonstrated competenciesRequiredOptional (considered if sent)
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
Legacy consideredNot consideredNot considered
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate89%69%
Freshmen who come back95%81%
Typical earnings 10 years in$68,140/yr$70,266/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$29,793–$108,226$49,055–$95,351
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)92%57%
White students graduating87%70%
Black students graduating74%67%
Hispanic students graduating87%60%
Asian students graduating92%56%
Typical earnings 6 years in$45,932/yr$53,845/yr
Earn more than a HS grad74%83%
Graduate on time49%64%
Pell students who graduate78%67%
First-gen students who finishNo data reported68%
Low-income students who finishNo data reported68%
Students who transfer out4.5%24%
Typical earnings 8 years in$58,975/yr$62,340/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsVisual & Performing Arts 63% · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies 13% · Architecture 9%Business, Management & Marketing 23% · Legal Professions & Studies 12% · Homeland Security & Protective Services 11%
Most popular programVisual & Performing Arts — 63% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 23% of degrees
2nd most popular programMulti/Interdisciplinary Studies — 13% of degreesLegal Professions & Studies — 12% of degrees
3rd most popular programArchitecture — 9% of degreesHomeland Security & Protective Services — 11% of degrees
4th most popular programComputer & Information Sciences — 8% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 7% of degrees
5th most popular programPrecision Production — 4% of degreesPsychology — 7% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Architectural Sciences and Technology — $55,673/yrConstruction Management — $75,334/yr
Degrees in STEM7.9%17%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment2,0843,946
Students per professor8 : 110 : 1
Graduate students433312
Average professor pay$11,226/mo$13,293/mo
Full-time professors39%42%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byNew England Commission on Higher EducationNew England Commission on Higher Education
Median family income$81,184$103,564
SettingCity (midsize)Suburb (large)
LocationProvidence, RIBristol, RI
RegionNew EnglandNew England
Founded18771956
Public or privatePrivate (nonprofit)Private (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationMaster's Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsMaster's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students33%1.4%
Men29%48%
Women71%52%
White students21%70%
Black students4.9%4%
Hispanic or Latino students8.1%12%
Asian students26%2%
Two or more races4.9%2.9%
Other / not reported2%8.5%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students11%20%
Part-time students0%8.7%
Students age 25+1.6%7.7%
Spent on teaching per student$21,446/yr$17,170/yr
Endowment$427.8M$77.4M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing1,4522,962
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)No data reported$9,320/yr
Meal plan chargeNo data reported$7,370/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per week21 meals/weekVaries by week
Academic calendarFour-one-four planSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchNoYes
ROTCNoYes — Army
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditYesNo
Credit for life experienceNoYes
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineNoYes
Weekend & evening classesNoYes
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesNo
On-campus day careNoNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingNoYes
Student veteran organizationNoYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data fromNo data reported2024-25
College sports levelNo intercollegiate athletics reportedNCAA Division III without football
Football teamNo data reportedNo
Varsity teamsNo data reported23
Student athletesNo data reported489
Athletic scholarshipsNo data reported$0
Athletics budgetNo data reported$3.6M
Athletics revenueNo data reported$3.7M
Recruiting spendNo data reported$8,576

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.