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Rhode Island School of Design is a private, nonprofit college founded in Providence, RI in 1877—making it one of the first art and design schools in the US. Approximately 2,500 students from around the world are engaged in liberal arts studies and rigorous, studio-based learning at RISD (pronounced “RIZ-dee”), where they earn bachelor’s or master’s degrees in 22 majors. Each year more than 5,800 children and adults also access our specialized studio facilities through RISD Continuing Education courses.

Student body

2,576

total enrollment (2021/22)

2,044

undergraduate students (2021/22)

532

graduate students (2021/22)

38%

domestic students of color (2020/21)

36%

international (2020/21)

Faculty

600+

full- and part-time (2020/21)

Average class size

14

2019/20

Average SAT scores

688

math (entering first-year students fall 2020)

655

evidence-based reading and writing (entering first-year students fall 2020)

Acceptance rates

20%

first-year (2020/21)

22%

transfer (2020/21)

33%

graduate (2020/21)

Retention rate

95%

first-year 2020 to sophomore 2021

Graduation rate

89%

graduating students (first-year undergraduate) 2013–19

Alumni

31,000+

alumni

Financial information

$55,220

2021/22 tuition and fees

$442.9 m

fiscal year 2021 endowment

$161 m

2021/22 operating budget

Undergraduate study

Graduate study