Bates College vs Rhode Island School of Design

Bates College and Rhode Island School of Design are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Bates College is more selective with a 13.0% acceptance rate compared to Rhode Island School of Design's 13.8%. Average SAT scores are 1446 and 1480 respectively.

Cost: Bates College offers a lower average net price at $30,703, which is $15,550 less than Rhode Island School of Design ($46,253). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Bates College earn a median salary of $69,498 ten years after enrollment, which is $1,358 more than Rhode Island School of Design graduates ($68,140).

Graduation: Bates College leads with a 91.6% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 94.0% vs 92.9%.

Campus Size: Rhode Island School of Design is the larger campus with 2,090 total students, while Bates College has 1,753.

Bottom Line: Bates College stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.