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Colleges / Ringling College of Art and Design

Ringling College of Art and Design

Sarasota, FL 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate65%

RCAD Tuition Information

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at RCAD was $50,500 a year.

In 2023, tuition increased 4.97%–from $48,110 the prior year. Usually, college tuition goes up about 3% every year.

Remember, the displayed price of tuition doesn't give you all the info you need to know how much you will actually have to pay for college. Many students find the actual cost of college is way less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are awarded. Plus, student loans can make theprice of collegemore manageable until you've finishing school and found a job.

Ringling College of Art and Design meets 53% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend Ringling College of Art and Design full-time are awarded $28,314 a year in financial aid, on average.

The average student debt for graduates in the class of 2023 was around $49,157 per student, not including those with no debt.

In-state vs. Out-of-state Tuition at Ringling College of Art and Design

Ringling College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit institution, which means it has the same tuition for students from Florida as it does for residents from other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing an insitution where you are eligible for in-state tuition can save on the total cost of attending college. Be sure to confirm your state's eligibility criteria for in-state residency. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. In many states, students must have lived in the state for 12 months before starting school to qualify for in-state tuition. There may be additional requirements too, depending on the state you and your parents currently reside in.

Explore other Florida colleges

Ringling College of Art and Design International Student Tuition

Ringling College of Art and Design has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

Students from outside of the U.S. usually do not qualify for for federal financial aid, but should research private or school-specific aid and scholarships. International students who demonstrate financial need may be eligible for the following types of financial support at Ringling College of Art and Design:

•Ringling College of Art and Design-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships.


Ringling College of Art and Design Living Expenses, Fees, and More


In addition to tuition, room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when estimating the cost of attendance for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Ringling College of Art and Design.

Room and Board Costs at Ringling College of Art and Design

Housing and campus dining at Ringling College of Art and Design costs $17,350 a year. This includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a meal plan that enables you to eat in the school dining facilities. Students who do not live on-campus but still want to use the dining facilities can choose to be on a meal plan. The cost of board-only is $8,604.

Board costs may vary depending on the number of meals you intend to eat on-campus

How Much Do Books Cost at Ringling College of Art and Design?

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The actual cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Yearly Fees

Most schools charge some yearly fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

Keep in mind, there could also be other costs associated with participating in special activities, like Greek Life, or participating in sports or other extracurriculars. Most colleges have resources so that those with demonstrated need to find ways to lower or eliminate these costs.

Transportation costs

The total cost of transportation in college depends on a few key factors. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus walkable? Do you own a car, or are you planning to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these questions can drastically impact your transportation budget. At Ringling College of Art and Design, freshman are not allowed to park on campus.

A school's location can also have a big effect on transportation costs. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand transportation in an urban area is usually pricey, but there may be more trains, busses or affordable flights to actually get to school. Ringling College of Art and Designis located in a city in Florida, not far from Tampa-St. Petersburg.

Other Costs

When creating a budget for college, don’t forget to leave some room in your budget for the cost of things like going out to eat or see shows, furnishing your living space, and things like haircuts, clothes and, yes, even toilet paper and shampoo.


The Full Cost of Attending Ringling College of Art and Design


Now, let’s go over all of the costs we've covered, to get a better estimate of what is really costs to go to Ringling College of Art and Design.

How Much Does Ringling College of Art and Design Cost?

What will the cost of attending Ringling College of Art and Design be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition $50,500
Room and Board $17,350
Board Only $6,864
Other expenses $1,194

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus $74,684
Off-Campus $64,198

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

Ringling College of Art and Design’s tuition and fees change based on: •Academic program for both full and part-time students


Ringling College of Art and Design Financial Aid


The majority of Ringling College of Art and Design undergrads use financial aid to help pay for school. In 2023, 870 of the 1,705 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Ringling College of Art and Design meets 53% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $28,314 a year. Around 69% of Ringling College of Art and Design undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Ringling College of Art and Design graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $49,157 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans $24,608
Private Loans $89,119
Most Common Loans for Ringling College of Art and Design Students
Federal Loans 68%
Private loans 19%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Ringling College of Art and Design financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Ringling College of Art and Design

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Ringling College of Art and Design awarded 870 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $17.3 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $9.95 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Ringling College of Art and Design Net Cost

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Ringling College of Art and Design students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Ringling College of Art and Design was $28,314 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Ringling College of Art and Design seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus $46,370
Off-Campus $35,884

What will attending Ringling College of Art and Design really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families understand the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Ringling College of Art and Design's net cost calculator on their website.

Ringling College of Art and Design Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Ringling College of Art and Design does not have guaranteed tuition.

Ringling College of Art and Design offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does Ringling College of Art and Design Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes waiver tuition for certain groups, to make attending more affordable. Some schools offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even with a tuition waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

RCAD has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Ringling College of Art and Design's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

Ringling College of Art and Design's endowment was valued at $61.7 million in 2023, compared to a national average of $905 million. For each full-time student, Ringling College of Art and Design spends about $19,100 a year.


Learn More About Ringling College of Art and Design


To learn more about Ringling College of Art and Design, choose from the options below:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about Ringling College of Art and Design

RCAD Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$73,490

In State

$73,490

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$50,500
$50,500
Fees
$5,640
$5,640
Housing
$17,350
$17,350
Books
Unknown
Unknown

RCAD Financial Aid

Students Who Receive Need-Based Aid

52%

Average Financial Aid Package

$29,087

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

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

1,705

Campus Setting

Urban

Acceptance Rate

65%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$56,140

Out-of-State

$56,140

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Continuous processing
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