Estimated Costs

Tuition: $58,690
Student activity fee: $270
Academic and technology fee: $800
Health insurance *: $2,045
Orientation fee **: $300
Late payment fine ***: $200/500
Undergraduate room and board ****: $15,850
Graduate room and board ****: $19,400

Tuition and fees are assessed of all enrolled, matriculated RISD students. Books and supplies, transportation and other expenses are budgeted items that RISD does not directly bill; rather they are estimates of your possible expenses.

If a student resides off campus after their second year and does not take a RISD meal plan, we do not charge housing and dining charges. Room and board figures rather become an estimate of possible non-RISD housing and dining costs.

* Health insurance: RISD requires all students to have health insurance. The insurance fee is charged in the fall. However, students enrolled in a comparable, comprehensive US-based health insurance policy that covers them while enrolled at RISD may waive the student health insurance policy. More details can be found online at universityhealthplans.com.

** Orientation fee: All incoming students in their first semester of enrollment are charged this required fee.

*** Late payment fine: RISD assesses the higher late payment fine for all balances equal to or greater than $2,000

**** Essential RISD Experience rate shown. Learn more about student housing, including information about room and board plans and rates.

Certain graduate programs begin in the summer. If you see your program listed below then summer charges apply. Incoming transfer students may need to attend the Experimental and Foundation Studies (EFS) summer program. First-year EFS students making up classes during the summer will be billed on a per-course, per-credit basis.

Students enrolled in a summer program will be billed for the summer health insurance policy ($484).*

Experimental and Foundation Studies

Tuition: $9,360
Orientation Fee: $300^
Housing: $825
Food: $600
Books and Supplies: $700
Personal: $480
Transportation: $415
TOTAL: $12,680*

Master of Architecture

Tuition: $9,360
Orientation Fee: $300^
Housing: $917
Food: $600
Books and Supplies: $700
Personal: $480
Transportation: $415
TOTAL: $12,772*

Master of Design in Interior Studies (Interior Architecture)

Tuition: $9,360
Orientation Fee: $300^
Housing: $917
Food: $600
Books and Supplies: $700
Personal: $480
Transportation: $415
TOTAL: $12,772*

Master of Arts in Adaptive Reuse (Interior Architecture)

Tuition: $9,360
Orientation Fee: $300^
Copenhagen Housing: $3,120
Food: $1,430
Personal expenses: $300
Books and supplies: $1,295
Transportation: $1,120
TOTAL: $16,925*

Master of Landscape Architecture

Tuition: $6,240
Orientation Fee: $300^
Housing: $611
Meals: $400
Books and Supplies: $467
Personal: $320
Transportation: $276
TOTAL: $8,614*

English for Art and Design (Landscape Architecture)

Tuition: $624

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)

Tuition: $0
Orientation Fee: $300^
Housing: $917
Food: $600
Books and Supplies: $700
Personal: $480
Transportation: $415
TOTAL: $3,412*

Tuition and fees are assessed to all enrolled, matriculated RISD students. Information about summer on-campus housing and dining charges is available from Residence Life. Books and supplies, transportation and other expenses are budgeted items that RISD does not directly bill; rather they are estimates of your possible expenses.

If a student resides off campus after their second year and does not take a RISD meal plan, we do not charge housing and dining charges. Room and board figures rather become an estimate of possible non-RISD housing and dining costs.

* Health insurance: RISD requires all students to have health insurance. A $484 insurance fee for summer coverage is charged to all entering students who are enrolled in the summer. However, students enrolled in a comparable, comprehensive US-based health insurance policy that covers them while enrolled at RISD may waive the student health insurance policy. More details can be found online at universityhealthplans.com. It’s important to note that all enrolled students in the fall are charged for the health insurance plan for the coverage period 9/1 to 8/31. If the student has comparable coverage, it must be waived annually by the 9/1 deadline again for this coverage period.

^ Orientation fee: All incoming students in their first semester of enrollment are charged this $300 required fee.

Students approved for a reduced course load are billed on a per-credit tuition basis according to their registration if registered for fewer than 12 credits. 

• The per-credit tuition charge is $2,570 for the 2024–25 academic year.
• The per-credit tuition charge is $1,956 for the 2023–24 academic year.

Please note that tuition is not adjusted for students approved for a reduced course load after the end of the add/drop period.

Students who enroll in fewer than 12 credits without approval for reduced course load are still charged full-time tuition. Federal aid, state aid, RISD funding and private loans may be impacted by enrollment less than full time.

Students participating in Wintersession who are enrolled less than full time, and billed less than full-time tuition in both the fall and spring semesters, will be charged a separate Wintersession tuition of $2,570 per credit hour.

RISD charges full tuition and mandatory fees to students participating in an outgoing exchange program. Students who live on RISD campus are not charged for housing and dining for the semester of outgoing exchange.

Students attending RISD as an incoming exchange student pay the tuition and fees of their home institution. RISD room and board charges only apply for exchange students residing on campus.

RISD does not assess additional charges for audited classes to matriculated, degree-seeking students enrolled full-time at 12 credits or more. For more information please see RISD’s student academic policies.

Brown University assesses and determines all charges and aid for BRDD students. Click the link for more BRDD program information.

RISD bills full-time tuition and fees to students enrolled with visiting student status. Visiting students are ineligible for financial aid from RISD.

Special students are non-degree candidates who attend RISD. They are charged the per-credit tuition rate, with payment due at the time of registration. See RISD’s student academic policies for more information.

For more information please visit global.risd.edu.

Certain courses require an additional cost for the classroom experience. These course charges may cover field trips or other course-related activities.  Charges may be applied throughout the term, so it is very important to monitor your account frequently.

Students may be assessed fees per departmental policies for items (including but not limited to equipment, keys and supplies) borrowed beyond agreed-upon timeframes or for the loss of such items.

Tuition for Wintersession is included in the fall semester invoice for full-time registered students enrolled in the fall. For those entering or being readmitted to RISD in the spring, it is included in the spring semester invoice for registered full-time students.

Students participating in Wintersession without enrolling full-time, and being billed full-time in at least one semester of that academic year are charged a separate Wintersession tuition of $2,570 per credit hour. Room and board is divided evenly between the fall and spring semester invoices.

For Wintersession travel programs, payment for associated travel costs must be paid by published due dates. Students who complete degree requirements and graduate in the fall are ineligible to participate in Wintersession.

A student’s room must be vacated in the condition in which it was found upon assuming occupancy. Charges are assessed for violations of the housing contract, which include, but are not limited to, damages and vandalism.

Students planning to travel on a school-sponsored trip must ensure their Student Accounts balance is paid in full at the time of travel registration. If a balance remains outstanding the student will not be eligible for travel and may not be reimbursed for any travel expenses already paid.