Admit rate has ranged 47%–58% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Providence College is a Catholic, Dominican liberal arts institution where a strong, traditional academic core meets a spirited, tight-knit campus culture. Known for its engaged professors and small class sizes, PC offers a classic undergraduate experience steeped in community and tradition, producing graduates with solid professional outcomes. The Friar identity is palpable, binding everything from the classroom to the Division I hockey arena.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
4,229
In-state tuition
$63,550
Out-of-state tuition
$63,550
Graduation Rate
86%
Median Earnings (10yr)
$87,054
Early Decision Advantage
Significant (per third-party analysis)
First Destination Success (6 months)
97%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$87,054
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.8×
Median debt at graduation
$27,000
Graduation rate
86%
First-year retention
94%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
79%
Pell (lower-income) share
13%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
15%
Financial health
2.4 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer Science$68,219
Economics$64,791
Accounting and Related Services$62,260
Finance and Financial Management Services$55,964
Mathematics$53,810
Business Administration, Management and Operations$51,722
Applicants here also applied to
The schools that most often appear alongside Providence College on applicants’ lists, from our self-reported outcomes corpus.
Co-application frequency from self-reported results — directional peer discovery, not a recommendation.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
4
Per 1,000 students
0.86
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
91
Summer high
82°F
Winter low
26°F
Annual rain
52.9"
Annual snow
27.9"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
447
Scholarly works
32,991
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
0.9%
Bottom → top quintile
46%
From bottom quintile
2%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Providence College?
Providence College's acceptance rate is approximately 51% (Providence, RI), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Providence College?
Admitted students at Providence College typically score 1250–1390 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Providence College cost?
At Providence College, the average net price (after aid) is about $48,523 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Providence College?
Providence College enrolls approximately 4,229 undergraduate students.
Where is Providence College located?
Providence College is located in Providence, RI.
Admissions
Providence College operates with a moderately selective admissions process, where applying early can significantly improve an applicant's odds. The overall is 51%, but the college offers both Early Action and Early Decision plans. While the official Early Decision acceptance rate isn't published in the provided sources, third-party analyses and forums suggest a substantially higher rate for ED applicants compared to Regular Decision, with one source noting an ED acceptance rate "super high...like 87 percent" and another citing a 2.15x advantage for ED applicants. The college is , with 70.9% of applicants choosing not to submit SAT or ACT scores in a recent cycle. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 1250–1390, and the average ACT score is 30. The application deadline for Regular Decision is January 15.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Marketing
$49,899
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$45,383
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
PC's academic identity is firmly rooted in the liberal arts, emphasizing small class sizes and engaged, accessible professors. The curriculum requires all students to complete the Development of Western Civilization (DWC) program, a signature, interdisciplinary core sequence that studies art, literature, history, culture, politics, and social movements. Beyond this foundational program, the college offers a range of majors and minors through its School of Arts and Sciences. Popular majors include Business, Education, History, and English. The college also provides teacher certification pathways in areas like biology, chemistry, and English for students interested in high school teaching careers. Modern language programs in Spanish, French, German, and Italian aim to make students proficient readers and cultural interpreters.
Life at Providence College is deeply influenced by its Catholic and Dominican identity, which frames its approach to community and learning. The campus fosters a close-knit, residential atmosphere where myriad programs support students' personal and academic growth. Socially, the scene is active, with a noted party culture that includes off-campus parties, gatherings in on-campus apartments, and smaller groups. The college's Instagram presence highlights efforts to support multicultural students as they navigate campus life while honoring their cultural identities. Located in Providence, Rhode Island, students have access to the city's bars, restaurants, and cultural offerings, though the campus itself forms the central hub for Friar life, complete with Division I athletics that galvanize school spirit.
Providence College graduates enter the workforce or further education with strong success rates. For the Class of 2023, 97% were employed and/or in graduate school within six months of graduation, with 88% working in their desired field. A separate graduate outcomes report for a recent class showed a 98% rate of being employed and/or attending school, with 91% working in a desired field. The college reports a first-year retention rate and a four-year graduation rate that outpaces the national midpoint for four-year colleges.
The total at Providence College is significant, with tuition and fees at $67,470 and room and board adding $19,690 for a total of $87,160. However, the college provides substantial financial aid to offset these costs. The average need-based financial aid package for the incoming Class of 2027 was $36,950, and 33% of admitted students are awarded . The college also awarded $59.6 million in to first-year students in 2024. Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress to continue receiving federal, state, or institutional aid. The —the average cost after aid and scholarships—is a key figure for families to estimate.
Providence College carves out a distinctive niche as a midsized Catholic liberal arts college where intellectual tradition and communal spirit are not just advertised but lived. Its defining feature is the rigorous, required Development of Western Civilization core—a shared academic journey that creates a common intellectual language for all students and embodies the Dominican commitment to the examined life. This is not a place for the anonymous student; the emphasis on small classes and accessible professors fosters close mentorship. Simultaneously, the fiercely proud Friar identity, fueled by successful Division I athletics (especially hockey) and a vibrant, if sometimes raucous, social scene, creates a powerful sense of belonging. The result is a cohesive environment where a strong liberal arts education is delivered within a warm, tradition-steeped community that reliably produces graduates ready for careers or graduate school, with over 97% successfully launched within six months. It’s for students who want the classic, all-in undergraduate experience—rigorous academics, deep school spirit, and a tight-knit community—all under the guiding light of its Catholic and Dominican mission.
Providence College seal · sourceVisit Opportunities | Admission | Providence College · sourceCampus Map and Directions – Office of College Events at Providence College · sourceVisit Opportunities | Admission | Providence College · source
