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Rhode Island School of Design: RISD Skyline
Photo: Roger Williams, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

College · Catholic life on campus

Rhode Island School of Design

  • LocationProvidence, RI
  • Type and sizePrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,540 students
Official website

Rhode Island School of Design is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

Catholic life here hasn’t been researched yet. We research from official sources only, starting with the largest campuses, and we never guess. The nearest Catholic church mapped in OpenStreetMap is 0.7 miles away.

Know the official campus ministry or Mass schedule page? Send us the link.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Rhode Island School of Design, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.25 mi0.5 mi1 miSaint Patrick Catholic Church: 0.6 mi1Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral: 0.7 mi2Saint Joseph Catholic Church: 0.8 mi3Holy Rosary Catholic Church: 0.8 mi4Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church: 1.0 mi5Holy Ghost Catholic Church: 1.2 mi6Rhode Island School of Design (campus)N0.5 mi
CampusCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Patrick Catholic Church — 0.6 mi · 244 Smith Street, Providence
  2. Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral — 0.7 mi · 30 Fenner Street, Providence
  3. Saint Joseph Catholic Church — 0.8 mi · 92 Hope Street, Providence
  4. Holy Rosary Catholic Church — 0.8 mi · 21 Traverse Street, Providence
  5. Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church — 1.0 mi · 99 Camp Street, Providence
  6. Holy Ghost Catholic Church — 1.2 mi · 472 Atwells Avenue, Providence

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

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Academic Excellence

AAcademic Excellence: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
98 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.89%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.95%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,473 · ACT 32.5
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.8 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$21,446

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Campus facts

SettingCity
Study abroadOffered
Students per faculty member8 to 1

Federal data (IPEDS). None of this changes the faith grades.

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Value and outcomes
Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
2,092
Total students2,540
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$50,507
Cost of attendance (per year)$81,727
Median federal debt at graduation$27,000
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
89%
First-year retention95%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$68,140
Admission rate19%
Students receiving Pell grants15%
Admitted students’ middle range:SAT 1396–1530ACT 31–34
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1473
SAT reading & writing688–750
SAT math708–780
ACT composite31–34
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 52 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Diocese of Providence

The Most Reverend Bruce Lewandowski, Bishop of Providence

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

  • IPEDS unit ID 217493
  • Carnegie classification: Master's university (larger programs)
  • Accreditation: National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation; New England Commission of Higher Education (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
  • Report an error or a newer source
  • Respond as this school

Questions families ask

Is Rhode Island School of Design a Catholic college?
No. Rhode Island School of Design is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead.

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