Published cost of attendance is $81,727. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $29,135, middle-income families pay around $25,872, higher-income families pay approximately $64,493.
Select your family income to see your estimated cost
Net prices are averages and may vary. Based on federal data for first-time, full-time students receiving aid.
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) | $81,727 |
| Tuition and Fees | $62,688 |
| Room and Board | $16,626 |
| Books and Supplies | $3,000 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$31,220 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $50,507 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $29,135 |
| $30–48k | $30,233 |
| $48–75k | $25,872 |
| $75–110k | $33,893 |
| $110k+ | $64,493 |
Published cost of attendance is $81,727. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $29,135, middle-income families pay around $25,872, higher-income families pay approximately $64,493. Azimuth ranks Rhode Island School of Design #1415 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 0.7 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $57,691. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,554, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt is well below typical first-year earnings — generally considered very manageable.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
Graduates of Rhode Island School of Design earn median 4-year earnings of $56,554, placing the institution in the 31.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $19,223 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Rhode Island School of Design in the 6.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Rhode Island School of Design #1074 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Rhode Island School of Design's concentration in visual and performing arts. Fine and Studio Arts is the largest program with 101 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $40,568, at 1.0× the national benchmark for the field. Design and Applied Arts enrolls 91 graduates with median 4-year earnings of $67,771 at 1.3× benchmark. Systems Science and Theory and Computer Software together account for substantial enrollment, while Film/Video and Photographic Arts rounds out the top five with 54 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $51,278 at 1.2× benchmark. The institution's specialized focus on design and arts education positions graduates into creative and professional fields where early-career earnings reflect both the field's economic structure and Rhode Island School of Design's reputation for training skilled practitioners.
