Providence College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Providence, Rhode Island. It enrolls 4,229 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes92
Value12
Affordability3
Selectivity83
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 50.9%, Providence College is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
50.9%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1250 – 1390
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
29 – 32
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Providence College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
1.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Providence College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $48,523 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$48,523
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
13%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
57%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$63,550
Room & Board (on-campus)
$17,840
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,800
Books & Supplies
$1,150
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,540
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,680
Total Cost of Attendance
$80,466
Application fee: $65 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$28,152
$30,001 – $48,000
$21,835
$48,001 – $75,000
$25,296
$75,001 – $110,000
$33,169
Over $110,000
$56,699
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$6,50010%percentile
$15,83725%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$30,00075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $27,000
—
No Pell $27,000
—
Dependent students $27,000
—
Independent students $12,500
↓ $14,500
Female students $27,000
—
Male students $27,000
—
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $14,830, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
88% of full-time students who enrolled at Providence College graduate within six years, and 93% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
88%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
93%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Providence College earn a median of $87,054 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$87,054
Earning > $25K
92%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$66,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$81,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$71,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$67,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$75,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,900, about 18% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Providence College is home to 4,229 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
4,229
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
15%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 79.2%3,351
Hispanic 8.8%373
Other 2.7%114
Black 2.4%101
International 1.7%71
Asian 1.3%56
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Providence College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityProvidence, Rhode Island
Housing
Strongly residential3,356 beds for 4,229 students
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Providence College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
57 distinct programs across
22 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Providence College is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$685M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$105,643
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
347 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
74
21%
$135,268
Associate Professors
108
31%
$112,144
Assistant Professors
159
46%
$88,325
Instructors
5
1%
$91,602
Lecturers
1
0%
$35,000
Pros & Cons of Providence College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Providence College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Providence College is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Providence College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Providence College.
Is Providence College hard to get into?
Admissions at Providence College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 50.9%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Providence College?
Providence College has an acceptance rate of 50.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Providence College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Providence College scored between 1250 and 1390 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Providence College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Providence College scored between 29 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Providence College cost?
The average net price after aid at Providence College is $48,523 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Providence College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $87,054 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $48,523 per year. That's roughly 1.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Providence College known for?
Providence College is best known for its programs in Finance, Marketing, Biology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Providence College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Providence College are $87,054, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Providence College accredited?
Yes. Providence College is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Providence College?
Providence College enrolls 4,229 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Providence College?
Providence College graduates 88% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Providence College a public or private college?
Providence College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Providence College located?
Providence College is located in Providence, Rhode Island.
What programs does Providence College offer?
Providence College offers 57 distinct programs. The most popular include Finance, Marketing, Biology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Providence College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Providence College is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Rhode Island
Other colleges in Rhode Island share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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