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Rhode Island School of Design Admissions 2025: Application Deadline, Requirements & Costs

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Dark Clock Icon Last updated on 22 Apr '25

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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

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Commonly asked questions
On Admissions
Q:   Is RISD hard to get into?
A: 

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.

Q:   What is the IELTS score for RISD?
A: 

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:

English Language Test

UG/PG Score

IELTS

6.5 or above

TOEFL iBT

93 or above

Duolingo

115 or above

Rhode Island School of Design M.A. Admissions 2025

1 courses 2 years
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icon
54.6L

iconEligibility Criteria

  • Accepting Exams: IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo
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Commonly asked questions
On M.A. Admissions
Q:   Can I work while studying at the Rhode Island School of Design?
A: 

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.

Q:   What are the popular courses available at Rhode Island School of Design?
A: 

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 Application Process 2025

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Commonly asked questions
On Application Process
Q:   How much is the application fee for a Rhode Island college?
A: 

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)

Q:   Does the Rhode Island School of Design require the SAT?
A: 

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

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Commonly asked questions
On Admission
Q:   What is the acceptance rate of RISD?
A: 

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.

Q:   Does RISD accept international students?
A: 

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

Q:   When will I hear from the Rhode Island School of Design after I submit my application?
A: 

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.

Rhode Island School of Design Admissions 2025 FAQs

Q:   What are the admission requirements to get into Rhode Island School of Design?
A: 

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
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Akansha katariya

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Akansha katariya is a content creator at shiksha.com, creating content for study abroad. Having pursued B tech. in Electronics and communication from RGPV University, she has been creating content across diverse domains. When not guiding students, sh...Read Full Bio
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RISD
Location

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University CityProvidence, Rhode Island, USA
Size of cityMedium
Population of City1,79,000

RISD
Contact Information

Address

Two College Street
Providence, RI 02903-2784

Providence ( Rhode Island)

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