We’ve pulled together some essential information you should know about the program, including how many students graduate each year, the diversity of these students, average starting salaries, and more. Also, learn how RISD stacks up against peers offering design & applied arts.
Jump to any of the following sections:
RISD is in the top 10% of the country for design & applied arts. In particular, it placed #91 out of 345 schools by College Factual. It is also ranked #1 in Rhode Island.
During the most recent reporting year, Rhode Island School of Design conferred 101 bachelor’s degrees in design & applied arts.
Design & Applied Arts graduates with a bachelor’s degree from RISD earn a median of $59,693 a year. This is higher than $47,785, the median for all majors at RISD.
While getting their bachelor’s degree at RISD, design & applied arts graduates take on a median debt of $27,000 in student loans. This is higher than $26,943, the typical median for all majors at RISD.
Information about average full-time undergraduate tuition and fees is shown in the table below.
| In State | Out of State | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $55,220 | $61,564 |
| Fees | $1,124 | $1,124 |
Find out more about RISD tuition and fees.
For the most recent academic year available, 25% of design & applied arts bachelor’s degrees went to men and 75% went to women.
The largest share of design & applied arts bachelor’s degree graduates at RISD are Asian. Roughly 27% of graduates fell into this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a bachelor’s in design & applied arts.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 27 |
| Black or African American | 2 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 15 |
| White | 23 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 27 |
| Other Races | 7 |
Every one of the 15 students who graduated with a master’s degree in design & applied arts from RISD identified as women.
The majority of design & applied arts master’s degree graduates at RISD were Non-Resident Alien. Roughly 53% of graduates fell into this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a master’s in design & applied arts.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 1 |
| Black or African American | 0 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1 |
| White | 3 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 8 |
| Other Races | 2 |
Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the design & applied arts majors at Rhode Island School of Design.
The design & applied arts program at RISD breaks down into the following more specific areas of study:
| Concentration | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Illustration | 116 |
RISD conferred 116 completions in illustration in the latest year of data — 78% to women and 22% to men. The largest share of these graduates were Non-Resident Alien (30%).