Rhode Island School of DesignMove-In Guide
Providence, Rhode Island
🏫 Private UniversityEst. 1877🔗 www.risd.edu
The Rhode Island School of Design, founded coeducational in 1877 to increase design education access for women, sits directly adjacent to Brown University on Providence's College Hill, with all first-year students housed together in The Quad, including East Hall, Homer Hall, and Nickerson Hall.
Enrollment
2,517
Total Students
Freshman Class
521
Approx.
Move-In Dates
Sep 3-6, 2026
Fall 2026
Acceptance Rate
18%
Most recent cycle
Move-In
Fall 2026 Move-In Details
First-year international students move in on September 3 and first-year domestic students on September 6, each in a staggered morning window by floor. Residence Life team members are available on-site to help direct move-in - Colonial and Dwight residents check in at the Residence Life Office located in Colonial C. Incoming transfer students follow move-in times and days according to their own room assignments, which may or may not fall within the first-year housing areas. Early arrival is available for a daily fee if requested in advance; RISD notes its halls are otherwise not staffed for early move-in.
Check your assignment in the housing portal for your specific date and time - your exact move-in date is shown above in the Overview.
Move-in day logistics
- Arrival window
- Domestic first-years (Sept. 6): 6th and 5th floors 9-10:30 am, 4th and 3rd floors 10:30 am-12 pm, 2nd, 1st and ground floors 12-1 pm. International first-years (Sept. 3): 6th and 5th floors 9-10 am, 4th and 3rd floors 10-11 am, 2nd, 1st and ground floors 11 am-12 pm.
- Check-in location
- Check in at your assigned first-year residence hall; arrival windows are set by the floor of your room.
- Parking
- RISD does not provide student parking. If you drive in, off-campus Providence garages such as Metropark, the Arcade Garage or DownCity Parking are the options.
- What you'll receive
- Your ID card and, where your space has multiple bedrooms, your room key; the ID card opens your hall at the card readers. First-year rooms come furnished with an extra-long twin bed and mattress, closet or wardrobe, bureau, desk and chair, and a shared micro-fridge/microwave unit at no charge.
- Vehicle restrictions
- Students can also ship belongings ahead through RISD's mail and receiving service.
Move-in day tips
- Arrive during your assigned move-in window - arriving early may mean waiting until your time slot.
- Bring a rolling cart or hand truck - campus carts can run out quickly during busy move-in periods.
- Have a parking backup plan - spaces near residence halls can fill up quickly, so know where you can unload if your preferred area is full.
- Watch the loading-zone time limit - many campuses require you to move your vehicle to longer-term parking after unloading.
Housing & Dorms
- Photo coming soon
East Hall
Suite-style · Coed
First-year only - Photo coming soon
Homer Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year only - Photo coming soon
Nickerson Hall
Traditional · Coed
First-year only
Housing Links
Each available link goes directly to Rhode Island School of Design's own specific page, not just its general homepage.
Orientation
New Student Orientation (required)
All new students are required to attend one orientation session.
June 1 - September 2, 2026
Orientation tips
- Register as early as your class allows - popular session dates fill up first.
- Bring a parent/guardian if separate family programming is offered.
- Check whether placement testing or advising sign-ups happen the same day.
Costs
Room & Board
$18,500
Estimated / Year
Nearby Essentials
- CVS Pharmacy0.4 miles
- Walgreens1.1 miles
- Walmart1.4 miles
- Target5 miles
More Links
Checklists
Get the Ultimate College Move-In Checklist
A free, printable packing checklist covering everything from bedding to important documents - built for any freshman, including yours at Rhode Island School of Design.
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