Ringling College of Art and Design
- Graduation Rate
- 71% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,325 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $57,742 F
- 237% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 70% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 4.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $4.1 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $4.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $726,011.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $4.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Ringling College of Art and Design Matters
Ringling College of Art and Design is a private special-focus institution in Sarasota, FL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Special-Focus Institution
- Carnegie Class
- Special Focus
- Enrollment
- 1,662
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, English & Literature
Why students choose Ringling College of Art and Design
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 70% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $57,742 a year after grants and scholarships — 237% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,325 ten years after enrolling — 6% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 71% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.65 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Sixty-six percent of graduates from Ringling College of Art and Design find employment within six months of graduation. This statistic highlights the college's focus on practical skills and career readiness in the arts. Students can expect a hands-on learning experience tailored to their creative aspirations.
While specific mobility data is not available, the average earnings for graduates ten years post-enrollment stand at $43,325. This figure suggests a solid return on investment for students pursuing careers in visual and performing arts. The college attracts students who are passionate about creative expression and want to turn their talents into viable careers.
The net price of attendance at Ringling is $57,742, with a median debt of $27,000. This financial landscape indicates that students should plan carefully for costs. Those who thrive here are typically driven individuals who are dedicated to honing their craft and making an impact in the arts.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Ringling College of Art and Design is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Ringling College of Art and Design? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Sarasota, Florida, Ringling College of Art and Design offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 70% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 71%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 70%
- Retention Rate
- 86%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 75%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,869
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.74
- First-Gen Students
- 17%
- Applicants
- 2,462
- Admitted
- 1,593
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Ringling College of Art and Design? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Ringling College of Art and Design is $57,900, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $57,742. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $47,261 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $57,900
- Out-of-State
- $57,900
- Avg Net Price
- $57,742
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 21%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 38%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $47,261
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $48,213
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $55,121
- Family Income $110K+
- $62,609
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Ringling College of Art and Design — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Ringling College of Art and Design Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Ringling College of Art and Design report median earnings of $43,325, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,650
- 8 Years
- $44,363
- 10 Years
- $43,325
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.62x
- Earning > $25K
- 56%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (191)
- 72%
- 100% (191)
- 72%
- 100% (191)
- 72%
- 100% (191)
- 72%
How Ringling Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Ringling College of Art and Design Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Ringling College of Art and Design delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $57,742/year ($230,968 total). Graduates earn $43,325 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $956,979 in total earnings — a net gain of $726,011 (4.1× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 71% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $230,968
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $956,979
- Net Return
- $726,011
- ROI Multiple
- 4.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $57,742
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 71%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Ringling College of Art and Design Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Ringling College of Art and Design is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.08%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $97,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.08%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 18.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $131,789
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,912,991
- Investment Income
- $-2,323,794
Top Programs
The fields Ringling College of Art and Design awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Visual & Performing Arts 63% $31,037 early-career
- English & Literature 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Ringling College of Art and Design's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C-Art Director$105,180 · 5% growthAdaptable 60
- C-Animator$86,120 · 3% growthAdaptable 60
- CCollege Professor$84,380 · 8% growthResilient 96
- D+Technical Writer$80,050 · 4% growthVulnerable 48
- D+Fashion Designer$79,600 · 1% growthAdaptable 60
- C-Content Strategist$78,000 · 8% growthAdaptable 60
- D+Copywriter$73,150 · 4% growthVulnerable 48
- C-PR Specialist$67,440 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Ringling College of Art and Design? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Sarasota, Florida, Ringling College of Art and Design offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 70% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 71%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Ringling College of Art and Design? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Ringling College of Art and Design is $57,900, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $57,742. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $47,261 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Ringling College of Art and Design Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Ringling College of Art and Design report median earnings of $43,325, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Ringling College of Art and Design Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Ringling College of Art and Design is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.08%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $97,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Ringling College of Art and Design? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Ringling College of Art and Design. Its economic connectedness score is 1.65, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Ringling College of Art and Design.
- Eckerd CollegeSaint Petersburg, FL · Close peer67% grad $51,819 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Maryland Institute College of ArtBaltimore, MD · Close peer72% grad $45,212 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Massachusetts College of Art and DesignBoston, MA · Close peer69% grad $43,582 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Springfield CollegeSpringfield, MA · Close peer71% grad $48,036 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Lancaster Bible CollegeLancaster, PA · Close peer69% grad $44,096 earn 56% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- North Greenville UniversityTigerville, SC · Close peer55% grad $43,035 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Ringling College of Art and Design? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Ringling College of Art and Design. Its economic connectedness score is 1.65, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note