QUICK ANSWER
Not by the QS subject ranking. QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 places RISD 4th in Art & Design, behind the Royal College of Art, University of the Arts London and The New School (Parsons). Among U.S. schools it ranks second. That is still near the very top, but “the best in the world” is not what the ranking says.
The better question is whether RISD is best for a particular student. In our record RISD is one of the hardest schools to fund: 4 of 68 admits received a RISD award. For a student who needs a scholarship, that matters as much as rank.
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Where RISD Ranks
| QS Art & Design 2026 | School |
|---|---|
| 1 | Royal College of Art (UK) |
| 2 | University of the Arts London (UK) |
| 3 | The New School / Parsons (U.S.) |
| 4 | RISD (U.S.) |
| 5 | Pratt Institute (U.S.) |
| 11 / 15 / 18 / 23 | SAIC / SCAD / SVA / CalArts |
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Art & Design, checked October 2026.
Subject rankings rate whole institutions, largely on reputation. They say little about a particular department, the first-year structure, or cost. RISD’s own alumni page counts about 33,000 alumni in 94 countries, a better sign of reach than a single rank.
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RISD in Our Record
| RISD | |
|---|---|
| Acceptances, 2009–2026 | 68 |
| Leading departments | Graphic Design (23), Illustration (14) |
| With a RISD award | 4 (6%), the lowest rate among the schools we report |
Royal Blue results record, 2009–2026, confirmed directly with each student.
FOR KOREAN FAMILIES
Choose RISD for its programme and first-year structure, not for a ranking headline, and budget as if no award arrives. Compare with Parsons and SVA or ArtCenter, and see how to check an academy’s RISD record.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is RISD the number one art school in the world?
Not in QS 2026, which ranks it 4th in Art & Design, behind the RCA, UAL and The New School.
Is RISD the best art school in the U.S.?
In QS 2026 it is the second U.S. school, after The New School (Parsons) and ahead of Pratt.
Is RISD hard to get a scholarship from?
In our record, yes: 4 of 68 RISD admits received a RISD award.
Which RISD departments do your students enter?
Most often Graphic Design (23) and Illustration (14).
How large is RISD’s alumni network?
RISD reports about 33,000 alumni in 94 countries.
ROYAL BLUE ART & DESIGN
For 19 years we have prepared Korean students for U.S. art schools from our studio in Apgujeong, Seoul. Our public record lists 1,099 acceptances confirmed directly with students, including 68 at RISD. Call 02-3446-5929 or book a consultation.
Rankings from QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Art & Design; alumni figures from RISD’s alumni page. Royal Blue figures from our results record (2009–2026). Checked October 2026. If something here has changed, tell us and we will correct it.
Related reading: Checking a RISD Record · ArtCenter vs RISD · RISD Questions · Parsons vs SVA · Royal Blue Results