Transfer Admission Eligibility

Transfer admission

As a RISD applicant, you may only submit one type of application in a given year. For example, you may not apply as both a transfer and first-year applicant in the same year—or as both a transfer and graduate applicant. 

Review this list to confirm your transfer admission eligibility:

  • Prospective transfer students submitting an application for entrance in the fall will only be eligible to apply if they have completed 24 or more college credits, with at least 12 credits in the liberal arts, before their semester of entry.
  • High school students who are currently enrolled in dual-degree programs or early college programs are ineligible to apply as transfers. These students may only apply as first-year applicants.
  • Students who have already completed a bachelor’s degree at another college are ineligible to apply as transfers.
  • Transfer students may only submit one application per intended calendar year of entry. Once you have applied for transfer admission, you may not reapply to enter as a transfer student in the same calendar year. For example, if you apply in November for entry in the spring semester, you may not reapply in March for entry in the fall.

Get to know RISD

Apparel student with pink hair measures pattern.
Apply to RISD

At RISD, you'll find a community of critical thinkers and makers that will inspire you to push your own practice. Find important information and links for applying to our exceptional undergraduate programs.

RISD Beach view of Carr Haus
Campus tours and visits

If you’re interested in RISD, join us for an in-person info session and student-led tour. You’ll learn more about our community and campus, and get answers to your questions along the way.

RISD undergraduate students observe a piece of student artwork in a classroom setting
Undergraduate study

In addition to a bachelor’s degree, here you earn deep disciplinary knowledge, strong critical thinking skills and the agility to problem solve and connect the dots across a wide range of fields.