Rhode Island School of Design Acceptance Rate
Providence, Rhode Island · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 7,126
- Admitted
- 984
- Yield
- 51.2%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Rhode Island School of Design's acceptance rate has fallen from 32.6% in 2014–15 to 13.8% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 3,047 to 7,126 (+134%) over that period.
Its 13.8% rate makes Rhode Island School of Design more selective than about 96% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 10 tracked Rhode Island schools, it is more selective than about 80%.
In 2023–24, men were admitted at a higher rate (12.4% for women vs 18.9% for men, a 6.5-point gap). Rhode Island School of Design has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 51.2% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 3,047 | 993 | 32.6% | 465 |
| 2015–16 | 2,425 | 902 | 37.2% | 464 |
| 2016–17 | 2,793 | 953 | 34.1% | 456 |
| 2017–18 | 3,420 | 1,092 | 31.9% | 451 |
| 2018–19 | 3,913 | 934 | 23.9% | 473 |
| 2019–20 | 3,832 | 987 | 25.8% | 480 |
| 2020–21 | 4,001 | 1,085 | 27.1% | 413 |
| 2021–22 | 4,742 | 886 | 18.7% | 496 |
| 2022–23 | 5,099 | 888 | 17.4% | 481 |
| 2023–24 | 7,126 | 984 | 13.8% | 504 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 5,578 | 691 | 12.4% |
| Men | 1,548 | 293 | 18.9% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 680–760 | 16% |
| SAT Math | 690–780 | |
| ACT Composite | 30–33 | 4% |
How Rhode Island School compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Rhode Island School of Design's acceptance rate?
Rhode Island School of Design's acceptance rate is 13.8% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (984 admitted of 7,126 applicants).
Is Rhode Island School of Design test optional?
Rhode Island School of Design is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Rhode Island School of Design?
Rhode Island School of Design received 7,126 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 984.
What SAT score do you need for Rhode Island School of Design?
Admitted students at Rhode Island School of Design typically scored 680–760 on SAT Reading/Writing and 690–780 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Rhode Island School of Design getting harder to get into?
Rhode Island School of Design has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 32.6% in 2014–15 to 13.8% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.risd.edu/.