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Rhode Island School of Design Admissions 2025: Application Deadline, Requirements & Costs
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Students can apply to the Rhode Island School of Design in Early or Regular mode. The Rhode Island School of Design application deadline for Early and Regular modes are given below:
UG:
- Early Decision: Nov 1, 2025
- Regular Decision: Jan 16, 2026
PG:
- MS: Jan 6, 2026
- Financial aid deadline: Feb 1, 2025
- Rhode Island School of Design Admissions 2025
- Rhode Island School of Design Application Process 2025
- Rhode Island School of Design Enrollment Statistics 2025
- Rhode Island School of Design Admissions 2025 FAQs
Rhode Island School of Design Admissions 2025
Affiliated with Brown University, the Rhode Island School of Design is popular for equipping artists, designers, and scholars to innovate and challenge ideas that improve the world. As per the official web, 2,518 students from over 57 countries are currently engaged in 44 bachelor’s and master’s programs. They took the Rhode Island School of Design admissions for its excellent academic programs, small class size, and vast opportunities.
With an average class size of 15 with an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, the school provides RISD courses across 19 majors and enrolls over 2,000 undergraduates and more than 500 graduates in the program. Some popular courses include Graphic Design; Photography, Film, Animation, and Video; Graphic Design; Architecture; and more.
The Rhode Island School of Design costs between INR 51L and 52L for undergraduate and INR 50L and INR 52L for graduate.
According to the unofficial source, the Rhode Island School of Design acceptance rate is 17%. The low acceptance rate shows that the university is quite stringent to get into and follows a tough approach during admission. The university considers various academic and non-academic factors while choosing candidates for the programs. Some of the crucial factors include the rigor of secondary school records, writing samples, extracurricular activities, and more. Students must perform exceptionally well in academics and be involved in extracurricular activities to improve their chances.
Must Read: Study Guide to USA for International Students
Rhode Island School of Design Admissions 2025 Highlights
Students can complete their Rhode Island School of Design application process via Common App or the university student portal. To fill out the application, students must fulfill the eligibility requirements and submit the required documents. They must pay the Rhode Island School of Design application fee of USD 60 (INR 5k) to apply. Students can check the Rhode Island School of Design admission requirements for international students from the table below:
|
Particular |
Rhode Island School of Design Info |
|---|---|
|
Application portal |
UG: Common App PG: admissions.risd.edu |
|
Application fee |
USD 60 (INR 5K) |
|
Acceptance rate |
17% |
|
English language tests accepted |
|
|
Standardized tests required |
|
|
International application deadlines |
UG: Nov 1, 2025 (Early) PG: Jan 6, 2026 |
(USD 1 = INR 85.11)
Rhode Island School of Design Courses & Fees 2025
Rhode Island School of Design offers a range of programs in diverse specializations such as Painting, Graphic Design; Photography, Film, Animation, and Video; Graphic Design; Architecture; and more. Students must hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university for postgraduate programs, and proof of a high school diploma for undergraduate. Along with this, they must submit academic transcripts, recommendations, references, and more. Students can check the Rhode Island School of Design admission eligibility, tuition cost, and requirements below:
Rhode Island School of Design PG Programs and Requirements
|
PG Programs |
Academic Qualifications |
English Proficiency Requirements |
Documents Required |
|---|---|---|---|
|
MFA(2-3 years) |
|
IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 93 & Above, Duolingo: 115 & Above |
|
|
M.Arch(3 years) |
|
IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 93 & Above, Duolingo: 115 & Above |
|
|
M.A.(2 years) |
|
IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 93 & Above, Duolingo: 115 & Above |
|
Rhode Island School of Design UG Programs and Requirements
|
UG Programs |
Academic Qualifications |
English Proficiency Requirements |
Documents Required |
|---|---|---|---|
|
B.E. / B.Tech(4 years) |
|
IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 93 & Above |
|
|
BFA(4 years) |
|
IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 93 & Above, Duolingo: 115 & Above |
|
|
B.Arch(5 years) |
|
IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 93 & Above |
|
|
B.J.M.C.(4 years) |
|
IELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 93 & Above, Duolingo: 115 & Above |
|
Also Read: Cost of living in the USA for Indian students
Rhode Island School of Design Fees 2025
The Rhode Island School of Design tuition cost ranges between INR 51L and 52L for undergraduate and INR 50L and INR 52L for graduate. Student can check the Rhode Island School of Design cost for popular programs below:
|
Courses |
1st Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
|
B.E. / B.Tech(1 course) |
INR 53 L |
|
BFA(2 courses) |
INR 53 L |
|
B.J.M.C.(1 course) |
INR 51 L |
|
MFA(2 courses) |
INR 50 L - 53 L |
|
M.Arch(1 course) |
INR 50 L |
|
B.Arch(1 course) |
INR 53 L |
|
M.A.(1 course) |
INR 53 L |
Rhode Island School of Design Application Deadlines 2025
Students can take RISD admission in Early or Regular intakes. They must fulfill the basic eligibility and submit the mandatory documents required before the deadline. The Rhode Island School of Design deadline for the undergraduate and graduate programs is below:
|
Programs |
Early Decision |
Regular Decision |
|---|---|---|
|
UG |
Nov 1, 2025 |
Jan 16, 2026 |
|
PG |
- |
Jan 6, 2026 |
Also Read: Admission Intakes in US Universities
Rhode Island School of Design Visa Requirements for International Students
Thousands of applications are received by the Rhode Island School of Design, from which they select over 2,000 UG and more than 400 graduate students. Students who get selected must apply for a visa as soon as they can to smooth the process. They may need to submit certain mandatory documents, including a passport, an offer letter, a passport-size photograph, and more. Students can check the Rhode Island School of Design visa requirements below:
- RISD Form I-20
- A valid passport
- RISD offer letter
- Financial forms or financial statements
- I-901 payment receipt
- DS-156
- Passport-size photo
- SEVIS fee
- I-20 application
Commonly asked questions On Admissions
The Rhode Island School of Design tuition cost ranges between INR 51L and 52L for undergraduate and INR 50L and INR 52L for graduate. Along with the tuition fees, students must have the budget for additional cost including transportation, housing, books and supplies, insurance, and more. Student can check the Rhode Island School of Design tuition cost for popular programs below:
Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
B.E. / B.Tech (1 course) | INR 53 L |
BFA (2 courses) | INR 53 L |
B.J.M.C. (1 course) | INR 51 L |
MFA (2 courses) | INR 50 L - 53 L |
M.Arch (1 course) | INR 50 L |
B.Arch (1 course) | INR 53 L |
M.A. (1 course) | INR 53 L |
RISD has an acceptance rate of 17%. The low percentage shows that the competition is tough and the admissions team strongly emphasizes academic performance and practical learning. However, this does not mean that to get into the school is impossible, students can get admission to it if perform exceptionally well in academics and gain some relevant experience. Students who have scored good grades throughout their school or college, involve in some extracurricular activities or have some relevant experience (specially for masters), have high probability of selection.
Rhode Island School of Design expects a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or above in case of undergraduate and graduate admissions. Students coming from diverse countries must fulfill their English language proficiency by submitting the required scores of IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo, and more. Students can check the minimum English language requirements at RISD below:
Rhode Island School of Design M.A. Admissions 2025
Rhode Island School of Design offers a two-year M.A. program in diverse specializations. Students must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution, university, college, or equivalent to fulfill the eligibility. They must submit certain mandatory documents at the time of admission. Some of the crucial documents are academic transcripts/ credentials (in English), ACT/SAT scores (optional), English language requirements, portfolio, college essay, letter of recommendations, and more. Students can start their application via the university portal. The tuition cost to enroll in the program is around INR 53 L.
Eligibility Criteria
- Accepting Exams: IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo
Commonly asked questions On M.A. Admissions
RISD allows its full-time students to work on and off the campus. The most popular options are to work at the campus tech shops, the RISD Museum and Nature Lab. Students can also choose to work on the campus at the Carr House Cafe, RISD shops, or 2nd Life, a recycled art supply store run by RISD students. International students may work off campus only if they obtain Employment Authorization before beginning work, and all off-campus work must be related to their major. The approved number of hours for a student worker differs, depending on the job, college year, and the major field of study. The Office of International Student Services can provide more information about employment.
Rhode Island School of Design offer range of programs to international students. Some of the popular programs at the university are given below:
- Graphic Design
- Photography
- Film, Animation, and Video
- Graphic Design
- Architecture
Rhode Island School of Design M. Arch Admissions 2025
Rhode Island School of Design offers a three-year M. Arch program in diverse specializations. Students must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution, university, college, or equivalent to fulfill the eligibility. They must submit certain mandatory documents at the time of admission. Some of the crucial documents are academic transcripts/ credentials (in English), ACT/SAT scores (optional), English language requirements, portfolio, college essay, letter of recommendations, and more. Students can start their application via the university portal. The tuition cost to enroll in the program is around INR 50 L.
Eligibility Criteria
- Accepting Exams: IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo
Commonly asked questions On M.Arch Admissions
The Rhode Island School of Design, which is affiliated with Brown University, is well-known for preparing researchers, artists, and designers to challenge conventional wisdom and innovate in ways that make the world a better place. According to the official website, there are presently 2,518 students enrolled in 44 bachelor's and master's programs from more than 57 different countries. They applied to the Rhode Island School of Design for its diverse academic opportunities, small class size, and top-notch academic programs.
Over 2,000 undergraduate students and more than 500 graduates are enrolled in the program, which offers RISD courses in 19 majors. Some most popular courses include Architecture, Graphic Design, Photography, Film, Animation, and Video, among others.
RISD opens for fall admissions each year. While the graduate programs have deadlines around mid-January, on the other hand, the undergraduate programs have the following deadlines:
Admission Plan | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
Early Decision | Early November |
Regular Decision | Early February |
Rhode Island School of Design Application Process 2025
Students must fulfil the basic eligibility and submit the required documents, including academic transcripts, reference, recommendations, and more. International students must adhere to the below Rhode Island School of Design application process to take admission to the school:
Visit portals: Undergraduate students can start their application through common app where graduate students can fill out the application via university portals.
Explore programs and eligibility: Students can explore number of programs and check the eligibility of the programs. Usually the eligibility for graduate and undergraduate programs vary. Students must have a bachelor’s degree for PG and a proof of high school diploma for UG.
Submit documents: Students must submit the mandatory documents including academic transcripts, letter of recommendations, reference, English language requirements, and more.
Application fee: Once student fulfill the eligibility and submit all the necessary documents, they must submit the application fee of USD 60 (INR 5K) to apply.
Wait for acceptance: The RISD will send students an offer letter, if they align with the eligibility and requirements.
Apply for visa: Students who get offer letter must apply for visa and pay tuition cost as per the program.
Commonly asked questions On Application Process
The eligibility criteria to take admission to undergraduate and graduate programs at Rhode Island School of Design is given below:
UG: Candidates must have completed secondary school or have a high school Diploma (US equivalent) to be eligible. SAT or ACT scores are optional, but recommended. Apart from this, non-native English speakers are required to submit proof of their proficiency in English. However, one might be exempted from taking the test if he/she has previously attended a school where the medium of instruction was English. Candidates will be asked to provide the corresponding school history before the final declaration.
PG: Applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree from a recognised university. If a student holds a diploma, they must submit a letter from the attended university verifying the status of the Diploma programme against the US baccalaureate degree. Certain master's programs require additional qualifications. GRE scores are not required for the admission process. For subject-specific requirements, students are advised to refer to the official website of RISD. English proficiency is required for applicants whose first language is not English.
International applicants need to pay USD 60 (INR 5K) as an application fee for both undergraduate and graduate programs. This application fee is non-refundable. Students must fulfill the basic eligibility and submit all the required documents including academic transcripts, letter of recommendations, reference, English language requirements, portfolio, statement or purpose, and more. (USD 1=INR 85.11)
No, Rhode Island School of Design does not ask for ACT or SAT score. However, students still prefer to submit them to make a positive impression in their resumes. Students who score good in standardized test score must submit their scores, as it can impact their selection. Also, undergraduates must hold a high school Diploma or equivalent to fulfill the eligibility. They must submit certain mandatory documents like academic transcripts/ credentials (in English), English language requirements, portfolio, college essay, and letter of recommendations.
Rhode Island School of Design Enrollment Statistics 2025
As per the official source, over 2,000 undergraduate students and more than 400 graduate students took admission to the Rhode Island School of Design. Of the total undergraduate headcount, 33% were international. Students can check the Rhode Island School of Design enrollment statistics for 2025 below:
|
Particulars |
Statistics 2025 |
|---|---|
|
Undergraduate students |
2,084 |
|
Graduate students |
433 |
|
International undergraduate students |
33% |
|
Student-faculty ratio |
8:1 |
|
Average class size |
15 |
|
Graduation rate |
33% |
|
Retention rate |
95% |
Commonly asked questions On Admission
Undergraduate decisions are released as per the application plan chosen by a student. The early decisions responses are released by mid-December, while the regular decisions responses are released in mid-March. Graduate application processing takes time and thus, there is no fixed decision date.
The Rhode Island School of Design acceptance rate is 17%. The low proportion indicates that the admissions team places a high value on academic achievement and real-world experience, and that the competition is fierce. This does not exclude students from being admitted to the school, though, if they demonstrate extraordinary academic performance and get some relevant experience. Students who participate in extracurricular activities, have relevant experience (especially for master's programs), and have received outstanding grades during their time in school or college are more likely to be selected.
The Rhode Island School of Design is a highly culturally diverse community standing for equality and non-discrimination and extensively involved in bringing artistic minds from across the globe together. As per the official source, RISD had 33% international undergraduate students coming from 50 different nations of the world. Students can check RISD statistics below:
Particulars | Statistics 2025 |
|---|---|
Undergraduate students | 2,084 |
Graduate students | 433 |
International undergraduate students | 33% |
Student-faculty ratio | 8:1 |
Average class size | 15 |
Rhode Island School of Design Admissions 2025 FAQs
Rhode Island School of Design cost include various expenses such as tuition cost, activity fee, academic or technology fee, housing, food, books and supplies, personal expenses, travel expenses, and more. Students can refer the table below for cost of education at the Rhode Island School of Design for undergraduate and graduate students:
Expense | UG Academic year | UG By semester | PG Academic year | PG By semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tuition | USD 63,966 (INR 54.44 L) | USD 31,983 (INR 27.22 L) | USD 63,966 (INR 54.44 L) | USD 31,983 (INR 27.22 L) |
Activity fee | USD 296 (INR 25K) | USD 148 (INR 12L) | USD 296 (INR 25L) | USD 148 (INR 12k) |
Academic and technology fee | USD 874 (INR 74K) | USD 437 (INR 37K) | USD 874 (INR 74K) | USD 437 (INR 37k) |
Estimated housing | USD 10,300 (INR 87L) | USD 5,150 (INR 4.3L) | USD 14,500 (INR 12L) | USD 7,250 (INR 6L) |
Estimated food | USD 7,100 (INR 6L) | USD 3,550 (INR 3L) | USD 7,100 (INR 6L) | USD 3,550 (INR 3L) |
Estimated books and supplies | USD 3,400 (INR 2.8L) | USD 1,700 (INR 1.4L) | USD 4,900 (INR 4L) | USD 2,450 (INR 2L) |
Estimated personal expenses | USD 2,800 (INR 2.3L) | USD 1,400 (INR 1L) | USD 2,800 (INR 2.3L) | USD 1,400 (INR 1L) |
Estimated travel | USD 1,700 (INR 1.4L) | USD 850 (INR 72k) | USD 1,700 (INR 1.4L) | USD 850 (INR 72K) |
Estimated total cost of education | USD 90,436 (INR 76.97L) | USD 45,218 (INR 38.49L) | USD 96,136 (INR 81.83L) | USD 48,068 (INR 40L) |
(USD 1=INR 85.11)
Applicants must provide official transcripts of all secondary or university academic work through the most recent grading period. If the academic credentials are not written in English, they must be translated into English by an approved translator prior to submission. Apart from this, the following documents are required during application:
UG Requirements:
- A high school Diploma or equivalent
- Academic transcripts/ credentials (in English)
- ACT/SAT score (optional)
- English language requirements
- Portfolio
- College essay
- Letter of recommendations
PG Requirements:
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or equivalent
- Academic transcripts
- Portfolio
- Statement of purpose
- Writing samples
- Letter of recommendations
- Additional supplement (optional)
- English language requirements
- CV/Resume (optional)
- Program-specific material
RISD
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 4 months ago
Rhode Island School of Design has approximately 776 international students on campus, out of which 518 are undergraduates. There are international students from 65 different countries at the Rhode Island School of Design, with the majority of international students from China, South Korea, and Canad
K
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 9 months ago
Yes, living as part of RISD accommodation is mandatory for all first & second-year students, unless a student qualifies for a residency waiver. After the first two years, the students have the flexibility of living off-campus if they wish to.
However, it must be noted that if a student signs a housi
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a year ago
Tuition at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) may prove very costly for international students, commencing from approximately $50,000 a year and extending into the $60,000 range a year.
Daily living expenses include room and board, which build up to another $15,000-20,000 a year. Other expendit
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a year ago
RISD has an acceptance rate of 19% making admissions to the university somewhat competitive and selective and students must secure the English proficiency test equal to or higher than the minimum scores accepted by the university that are given below
English Language Proficiency Test Type | Minimum Scores |
|---|---|
93 | |
6.5 | |
Duolingo | 115 |
International students must submit all the require
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a year ago
Rhode Island School of Design’s acceptance rate is 19% thus making it moderately competitive for students to get admission. The university has approximately 2538+ students with 2,090+ UG and 448+ PG students. RISD has approximately 34% international students with an 89% graduation rate. The internat
N
Contributor-Level 10
About the author
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Rhode Island School of Design
Aerial View
Carr House - Rhode Island School of Design
RISDLocation
| University City | Providence, Rhode Island, USA |
| Size of city | Medium |
| Population of City | 1,79,000 |
RISDContact Information
Two College Street
Providence, RI 02903-2784
Providence ( Rhode Island)
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