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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

2,227

total enrollment (2020/21)

1,736

undergraduate students (2020/21)

491

graduate students (2020/21)

33%

domestic students of color (2019/20)

37%

international (2019/20)

Faculty

196

full-time (2019/20)

421

part-time (fall 2019)

9:1

student/faculty ratio (fall 2019)

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

92%

first-year 2018 to sophomore 2019

Graduation rate

89%

graduating students (first-year undergraduate) 2013–19

Alumni

30,465

alumni

Financial information

$55,220

2021/22 tuition and fees

$344.6 m

fiscal year 2020 endowment

$134.4 m

2020/21 operating budget

Undergraduate study

Graduate study