Rhode Island School of Design: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Rhode Island School of Design is a private art and design college with an acceptance rate of 26%. Located on College Hill in Providence, Rhode Island, RISD is one of the top schools of art in the United States. The Rhode Island School of Design campus is adjacent to Brown University, and students can apply to both schools to receive a dual degree from RISD and Brown. The RISD curriculum is studio-based, and the school offers bachelor's and master's degrees in 16 areas of study. Majors in the fine arts are the most popular among undergraduates. The campus is home to the Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art which boasts an impressive collection of more than 100,000 works of art. Also notable is the Fleet Library, founded in 1878, with over 155,000 volumes in its circulating collection.

Considering applying to this highly selective school? Here are the admissions statistics you should know.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Rhode Island School of Design had an acceptance rate of 26%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 26 students were admitted, making RISD's admissions process highly competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

Beginning with the 2019-20 admissions cycle, RISD is test-optional for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 73% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of RISD's admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Rhode Island School of Design scored between 600 and 690, while 25% scored below 600 and 25% scored above 690. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 580 and 750, while 25% scored below 580 and 25% scored above 750. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1440 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at RISD.

Requirements

Rhode Island School of design does not require the optional SAT essay section. Note that RISD participates in the scorechoice program, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Beginning with the 2019-20 admissions cycle, RISD is test-optional for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 27% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of RISD's admitted students fall within the top 18% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Rhode Island School of Design received a composite ACT score between 26 and 32, while 25% scored above 32 and 25% scored below 26.

Requirements

RISD does not require the optional ACT writing section. Unlike many universities, Rhode Island School of Design superscores ACT results; your highest subscores from multiple ACT sittings will be considered.

GPA

Rhode Island School of Design does not provide data about admitted students' high school GPAs.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Rhode Island School of Design. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Rhode Island School of Design has a highly competitive admissions pool with a low acceptance rate. However, RISD applicants need more than good grades and test scores to be admitted. All applicants must submit a portfolio of 12 to 20 images of their work, prepare a creative assignment, and submit a personal essay. RISD also encourages applicants to submit up to three letters of recommendation written by teachers or professionals who know you well. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements and talent in the arts can still receive serious consideration even if their test scores are outside RISD's average range.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that most students who got into RISD had averages of "B+" or higher, SAT scores (ERW+M) above 1200, and ACT composite scores of 24 or higher. Many successful applicants had grades up in the "A" range.

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Rhode Island School of Design Undergraduate Admissions Office.