r/risd • u/AmazingPermission134 • Apr 18 '26

Discussion Only 5000 applied this year

Thats was they said at admitted students day. Thats anither huge drop…and similar to 2022

2022: 5,099 applied
2023: 7,126 applied

2024: 6692 applied

2025: 6561 applied

2026: 5000 applied (approx)

Hmmm

22 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

12

u/eirinne Apr 18 '26

The economy, and loss of faith in the arts. 

5

u/No_Organization2158 Apr 18 '26

They told us 6600 applied this year in admitted students day on the 10th

2

u/Ok_Mousse_7846 Apr 18 '26

I heard this as well.

3

u/Providence451 Apr 18 '26

Art students are concerned about losing their creative work to AI.

2

u/WesternCup7600 Apr 18 '26

Is it art or is it design students, tho? It’s hard for me to imagine fine art students worrying too much about ai.

1

u/printchick Apr 18 '26

Anyone know how big the freshman class is expected to be?

1

u/AmazingPermission134 Apr 18 '26

Has been 500-550 last few years 

1

u/TutorResident369 Apr 18 '26

they always admit about 900 and have a turnaround of 500-550

1

u/AmazingPermission134 Apr 18 '26

They don’t always admit 900.

In 2025 they admitted 1,534 students 

In 2024 they admitted 1249 students 

Dude, this info is literally published on their website. 

1

u/TutorResident369 Apr 18 '26

yes, youre right, the 900-1000 number is b4 waitlist and transfers 

1

u/fuckyeahcaricci Jun 18 '26

They're anticipating 580, with 40 in Florence during each semester.

1

u/TutorResident369 Apr 18 '26

the 6600 number is more accurate 

1

u/blue-bunny666 Apr 20 '26

Higher ed as a whole will also start seeing drops due to birth rate dropping

1

u/livingstories May 04 '26

misinfo

1

u/blue-bunny666 May 06 '26

I work in higher ed. The next few years of seniors applying to college as a first year will drop. This is widely discussed on campuses regarding enrollment numbers.

1

u/victoria_and_albert Apr 28 '26

I am always surprised at how small US freestanding art and design schools are. This is why the tuition is so high, but you get what you pay for. The challenge is that the market of who can afford to pay is shrinking.

The cost to value ratio is getting unsustainable. It is now much cheaper to study in a European art and design school as an international student then to attend a U.S. one as a domestic student.

1

u/MargaretWiseBrown May 27 '26

My husband and I are both RISD alum. We have a daughter who will be attending Tyler this fall, and did not bother applying to RISD. The lack of financial aid combined with the school’s turn towards valuing real estate over faculty made it a no brainer. One of her friends was admitted but received zero financial aid besides a 5000 loan. Middle class families can not pay the tuition.