Application Information

Grade: You must be in high school, rising into 10th through 12th grade (or equivalent) during the summer of your attendance, or graduated in spring 2026.

Age: To attend RISD Pre-College Online, you must be between 14–18 years old, or if you are a rising sophomore you must turn 14 within three months after the course start date. For 2026, you must turn 14 by September 1, 2026. If you are 13 and meet this age eligibility timeline, call 401 454-6200 to have your registration completed by an enrollment specialist.

As long as you meet the grade and age requirements, Pre-College Online is open to all, regardless of your experience, training, or skill level in art. There are no admission tests, portfolio requirements, or prerequisites. The program must be completed in full. Waivers are not provided.

Completion of RISD Pre-College Online does not guarantee admittance to Rhode Island School of Design within the undergraduate admissions process.

Applications must include all of the requirements listed below. Each application is dated and reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. Incomplete applications cannot be processed for review. 

Requirements include:

• a 1–5 sentence response to each of the following questions (we recommend drafting your responses to these questions before applying):
  • How do your college and/or career goals relate to attending RISD Pre-College Online?
  • RISD Pre-College Online is modeled after its college-level curriculum. There is about 20 hours of work per week with multiple deadlines each week and your work will be critiqued extensively. To succeed requires time management and resilience. Tell us what makes you prepared for this intensive program.
  • RISD is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and engaging online community. What do you hope to see in this type of environment? What do you think you could contribute and/or gain?
     

English proficiency

English language proficiency is necessary for success in this program. All content and facilitation are delivered in English, and verbal and written participation are required. Students who demonstrate a lack of English proficiency may be dismissed from the program without refund. 

To apply for Pre-College Online, you’ll use our course registration system. Students, together with their parent/legal guardian, must complete the steps to create a student account in the Student Portal, as there is a parent/guardian signature or acknowledgement required.

Application Process

Prospective students will submit an informational application at the time of course registration and payment. Follow the steps below to submit your application and complete registration and payment:

1. Visit the course registration page and review all course information, including days and times of the live class sessions, to select your preferred concentration/foundation. (Though Pre-College Online consists of two separate courses, you’ll register and pay for both at one time.)
2. Select “Add to Cart” to proceed.
3. Continue by selecting “Checkout.” You will be redirected to create an account and complete the Pre-College Online Application.
4. Once your application has been submitted, you can proceed to check out and complete payment. (Even after you submit your application, your enrollment is not complete without completing registration and payment).

Next steps and what to expect:

• An enrollment confirmation and receipt will be sent via email immediately upon registration and payment.
• Further details will be provided via email in the Application Approval email. Please save both of these emails for future reference.