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Colleges / Rhode Island School of Design

Rhode Island School of Design

Providence, RI 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate17%

Rhode Island School of Design Admissions

Rhode Island School of Design admitted 17% of all applicants in 2022. Last year, 5,099 students applied to Rhode Island School of Design and 888 were admitted.

If you are planning on applying to Rhode Island School of Design, the regular decision application deadline is January 17 and the fee for the application is $60.

Students who submit their applications to Rhode Island School of Design for fall semester should hear back from Rhode Island School of Design by March 15.

Rhode Island School of Design Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here's an overiew of some of Rhode Island School of Design's admissions stats.

Rhode Island School of Design 2023 Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA 3.7
Mean SAT Score 1416
Admissions Test Policy Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs 18%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs 5%
Waitlist Yes

Rhode Island School of Design Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Rhode Island School of Design.

Application Type Offered Application Deadline Notification Deadline
Early Decision I Yes November 1 December 10
Early Decision II
Early Action No
Regular Decision Yes 1 17 March 15

Considering Applying Early to Rhode Island School of Design?


Rhode Island School of Design offers early decision but not early action. Early decision is binding, meaning you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.

🗓️ Early Decision I applications are due by November 1 EDI applicants should receive a decision by December 10.

The early decision acceptance rate at Rhode Island School of Design is 28%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 17%. Last year, Rhode Island School of Design admitted 145 of the 526 students who applied early decision.

Some students apply early because they believe it will boost their chances of acceptance. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase your chance of being admitted, since it shows your interest in a school.

➡️ Explore a list of some selective colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.


More on Rhode Island School of Design Admissions


Transferring to Rhode Island School of Design

For more information on transferring to Rhode Island School of Design, contact the school directly.

For Students Waitlisted to Rhode Island School of Design

In 2022, Rhode Island School of Design waitlisted 472 students and 320 accepted a place on the waitlist. Of those, 11 eventually received an admissions offer.

What's Most Important for Getting Into Rhode Island School of Design?

Colleges consider a range of factors when choosing who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are are most important when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that put the most emphasis on the admissions factors where you shine.

Admissions Factors at Rhode Island School of Design

Curious about the factors that are considered by Rhode Island School of Design during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor Level
Talent/Ability Very Important
Academic GPA Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record Very Important
Application Essay Important
Alumni/ae Relations Considered
Character/Personal Qualities Considered
Class Rank Considered
Extracurricular Activities Considered
Geographical Residence Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status Considered
Recommendation(s) Considered
Standardized Test Scores Considered
Volunteer Work Considered
Work Experience Considered
First Generation Considered

Make sure to check with Rhode Island School of Design for more information on admission factors.

Rhode Island School of Design Application Requirements

To apply to Rhode Island School of Design, all applicants must submit the following items. Check with Rhode Island School of Design's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area Required Recommended Required for Some Details (If Any)
Letter(s) of Recommendation 1 3
Written Essay or Personal Statement
Other Requirements portfolio
Transcript of High School Record

GPA and Testing


What GPA Do I Need To Get Into Rhode Island School of Design?

Students admitted to Rhode Island School of Design have an average unweighted GPA of 3.7.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

Rhode Island School of Design has a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 18% of Rhode Island School of Design's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 5% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for Rhode Island School of Design?

To be competitive with other Rhode Island School of Design applicants, you should strive to earn between 1350 and 1490 (or higher!) on the SAT. At Rhode Island School of Design 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1490 and 25% of scored lower than 1350, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a Rhode Island School of Design student is 1416.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of Rhode Island School of Design students scored 785 or higher and 75% of students scored 660 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of Rhode Island School of Design students scored 740 or higher, and 75% scored a 660 or higher.

To be most competitive at Rhode Island School of Design, you should strive to earn between 29 and 33 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 33 means you fall in the 75th percentile for Rhode Island School of Design's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 33, and three out of four students scored lower than 33 on the ACT.

A 29 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for Rhode Island School of Design students. Only one out of every four students scored below 29.

More Information on Transferring to Rhode Island School of Design

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is March 15. Applicants should hear back by April 20.

Transfer students can enroll in Rhode Island School of Design during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Winter Term

• Spring Term

• Winter Term

• Summer Term


Rhode Island School of Design Admissions FAQs


Can I defer my acceptance to Rhode Island School of Design?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to Rhode Island School of Design.

Does Rhode Island School of Design accept transfer credits?

✅ Rhode Island School of Design accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions.

Do I have to submit test scores to Rhode Island School of Design?

❌ No, Rhode Island School of Design is test optional, so it's up to you if you want to submit test scores or not. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you probably want to include them. If your scores are average or below average, you it might make sense to leave them out of your application.

What is Rhode Island School of Design's acceptance rate?

✅ Rhode Island School of Design has an acceptance rate of 17%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at Rhode Island School of Design?

✅ Rhode Island School of Design's early decision acceptance rate was 28% in 2021.

Want To Learn More About Rhode Island School of Design?

To learn more about Rhode Island School of Design, choose from the options below:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about Rhode Island School of Design

Explore other colleges in Rhode Island or use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting into some of the top colleges and universities in the U.S.

Rhode Island School of Design Admissions Requirements

Admission Difficulty

Unknown

17%

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Rhode Island School of Design Application Deadline

First-Year Applications are Due

Jan 17

Transfer Applications are Due

Mar 15

The deadline for Fall first-year applications to Rhode Island School of Design is Jan 17.

The deadline for Fall transfer applications to Rhode Island School of Design is Mar 15.

Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs

Rhode Island School of Design SAT Scores

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Composite SAT Range

1350 - 1490

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Math SAT Range

680 - 785

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Reading SAT Range

660 - 740

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

SAT Score

Estimated Chance

1490 and Above

Good

1350 to 1490

Avg

1350 and Less

Low

SAT Scores Needed to Get Accepted

The median SAT score for Rhode Island School of Design students is 1416. Applicants with SAT scores of 1490 and above have a good chance of being admitted to Rhode Island School of Design, while applicants with SAT scores between 1350 to 1490 have an average chance of admittance, and prospective students with an SAT score below 1350 have a low chance of being offered a spot at Rhode Island School of Design.

Rhode Island School of Design GPA

Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)

3.7

GPA Needed to Get Accepted

At Rhode Island School of Design, the average unweighted high-school GPA for admitted students is 3.7. This is the average, which means that some applicants submit GPAs lower than this and some applicants submit GPAs above this level. If your GPA falls below the average, strong test scores or other qualifications may help you make you a more competitive applicant.

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

2,620

Campus Setting

Urban

Acceptance Rate

17%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$59,760

Out-of-State

$59,760

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jan 17
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