Ringling College of Art and Design

If you want to apply to RCAD, the application fee costs $70.

RCAD Admissions Stats at a Glance

The following is an overiew of some of RCAD's admissions stats.

RCAD 2022	Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA	3.5
Admissions Test Policy	Not optional and are not considered
Waitlist	Yes

Ringling College of Art and Design Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for Ringling College of Art and Design.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	No	––	––
Early Decision II	––	––	––
Early Action	Yes	November 1	December 15

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Applying Early to RCAD?

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RCAD does not offer early decision but does offer early action.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1. RCAD will release EA admissions decisions no later than December 15.

RCAD accepts around 34% of early action applicants and 69% all applicants for all deadlines. In 2021, RCAD admitted 48 of the 142 who applied early action.

➡️ See a list of some selective colleges that admit significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on Ringling College of Art and Design Admissions

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Transferring to Ringling College of Art and Design

Transfer student admissions is moderately difficult.

For Students Waitlisted to RCAD

RCAD has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What Does RCAD Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when choosing who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are they consider most important in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that put the most emphasis on the admissions factors where you stand out.

Admissions Factors at RCAD

Wondering what factors are considered by RCAD during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Academic GPA	Very Important
Recommendation(s)	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
Talent/Ability	Very Important
Application Essay	Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Work Experience	Considered
Extracurricular Activities	Considered
Level of Applicant's Interest	Considered
Interview	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered

Make sure to check with RCAD for more information on admission factors.

RCAD 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to RCAD, all applicants must submit the following items. Check with RCAD's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Interview		√
Minimum High School GPA (On 4.0 Scale)	2.0
Letter(s) of Recommendation	2
Written Essay or Personal Statement	√
Other Requirements	√			portfolio, resume
Transcript of High School Record	√

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into RCAD?

Students admitted to RCAD have an average unweighted GPA of 3.5.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

RCAD does not consider ACT or SAT scores as part of the admissions process.

RCAD does not have a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

More Information on Transferring to Ringling College of Art and Design

For transfer students, it is moderately difficult to get admitted to RCAD. Transfer applications are processed on a on a rolling basis as they are received.

Transfer students can enroll in RCAD during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Spring Term

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RCAD Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to RCAD?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to RCAD.

Does RCAD accept transfer credits?

✅ RCAD accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. RCAD accepts:

• CLEP subject tests

Does RCAD accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ RCAD accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits and Advanced Placement (AP) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to RCAD?

✅ RCAD is not test optional. Test scores will not be considered during the admissions process, even if you submit them.

What is RCAD's acceptance rate?

✅ RCAD's acceptance rate is 69%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at RCAD?

❌ RCAD does not offer early decision.

What is the early action acceptance rate at RCAD?

✅ The early action acceptance rate at RCAD was 34% in 2021.

Want To Learn More About RCAD?

To learn more about RCAD, choose from the options below:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Connect with other students, parents, and admissions professionals to learn more about about RCAD in the College Confidential forums

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