RISD Pre-College

student draws on paper using charcoal pencil inside an art studio space

Push beyond the expected at Rhode Island School of Design

Whether you attend RISD Pre-College in person or virtually, you’ll follow a college-level curriculum led by accomplished teaching artists. Learn alongside a community of talented students who will inspire you to challenge yourself and produce your best work.

Pre-College (on campus)

June 26–July 31, 2027

Live on campus or commute from home. Immerse yourself in day-long studio classes, visits to the Nature Lab and RISD Museum, critiques, and projects that will forever shape the way you approach art and design.

Save the date! Pre-College 2027 applications open Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

three students gathered around an easel

Pre-College Online

June 21–July 29, 2027

Be a RISD student from anywhere in the world, with live online classes two days a week, webinars, and access to virtual community resources.

Save the date! Pre-College Online applications open Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

photo of a student on a laptop infront of a large whiteboard

Shape your approach to art and design

Experiment with new materials, tools, and techniques, test theories, and challenge your ideas. Whether you join us in Providence or virtually, you’ll be part of RISD’s community of dedicated art and design students committed to the concept of critical making.

  • Get a taste of the RISD first-year student experience
  • Learn from teaching artists  
  • Work on projects in class and independently outside of class
  • Receive personalized feedback with regular critiques, and have a chance to showcase your work
  • Spend your summer with a cohort of like-minded peers who share your passion for art and design
Compare the programs

Build your portfolio while developing as an artist and an individual

Learn how to appreciate and incorporate peer and instructor feedback to refine your work and make it stronger than you ever thought possible.

student sketching three-dimensional paper display

About RISD

RISD (pronounced “RIZ-dee”) is a creative community founded in 1877 in Providence, RI. Today 2,606 students from 60 countries engage in more than 40 full-time bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, supported by a committed faculty and worldwide network of over 33,000 alumni.

In cultivating expansive and elastic thinking, RISD seeks to activate a critical exchange that empowers artists, designers, and scholars to generate and challenge the ideas that shape our world.