Private · Specialty School
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, RI · 2,084 undergraduates
What it may cost by family income
Estimated average net price — what families actually pay after grants and scholarships — by annual household income. Net price matters far more than the $81,727 sticker price. All figures are the full cost of attendance — housing, food, and books included, not just tuition.
| Household income | Est. net price / year |
|---|---|
| Under $30k | $29,135 |
| $30k–$48k | $30,233 |
| $48k–$75k | $25,872 |
| $75k–$110k | $33,893 |
| Over $110k | $64,493 |
Sticker cost of attendance: $81,727. GPA context: Portfolio-driven admissions.
What the whole degree costs
Every cost figure above is one year. A bachelor's degree is four — sometimes five. Today's-prices makes no assumptions; the second column assumes prices rise ~3.5% a year, in line with recent averages.
| Household income | 4 yrs, today's prices | 4 yrs with increases |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30k | $116,540 | $122,802 |
| $30k–$48k | $120,932 | $127,430 |
| $48k–$75k | $103,488 | $109,049 |
| $75k–$110k | $135,572 | $142,857 |
| Over $110k | $257,972 | $271,834 |
First-year aid is not guaranteed to repeat — ask Rhode Island School of Design how grants change after year one. That answer moves these numbers more than anything else on this page.
Applying to a specific major at Rhode Island School of Design
19% is the acceptance rate for the whole university — not for every major. For the programs below, admission is usually decided separately and is harder than that number suggests. Almost no university publishes a by-major admission rate, and neither does the federal government, so we do not show one: any site that does is estimating.
To find the real figure for your major, check Rhode Island School of Design's Common Data Set and its admissions page, or ask an admissions officer directly — that question gets answered more often than students expect.
At Rhode Island School of Design: $50,439 median earnings (Architecture.)
Professional architecture degrees usually require a portfolio and are reviewed by the school of architecture separately from general admission.
Check: Portfolio requirements and deadlines — these are often earlier than the regular application deadline.
At Rhode Island School of Design: 278 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $22,627 median earnings (Fine and Studio Arts.)
Admission usually turns on an audition or portfolio judged by the department, which can outweigh grades and test scores in either direction.
Check: Audition/portfolio dates and prescreen requirements — many fall well before the regular application deadline.
Federal data shows no bachelor's completions at Rhode Island School of Design in computer science, engineering, nursing or business, so those are not listed above. Small or new programs can be missing from federal reporting — confirm with the school before ruling one out.
What graduates earn, by major
Median earnings and median federal loan debt for bachelor's graduates of Rhode Island School of Design, by field of study, from the U.S. Department of Education. Earnings differ far more between majors at one school than between schools.
| Major | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|
| Fine and Studio Arts. · Visual & Performing Arts | $22,627 | — |
| Design and Applied Arts. · Visual & Performing Arts | $36,166 | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts. · Visual & Performing Arts | $22,192 | — |
| Woodworking. | $30,228 | — |
| Apparel and Textiles. | $41,937 | — |
| Architecture. · Architecture | $50,439 | — |
Largest programs shown. Earnings are measured a few years after graduation and reflect who enrolls as much as what is taught.
Is Rhode Island School of Design a reach, target, or safety for you?
Ladder2College models your personal admission odds and net cost here — based on your GPA, scores, and family income — and shows how it fits alongside the rest of your list.
Model my odds & cost — freeFigures are estimates modeled on U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data and recent reporting, provided for guidance only. Always confirm cost with Rhode Island School of Design’s official net price calculator and admissions figures with the school directly.