Providence College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Providence College is a private institution located in Providence, Rhode Island with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Providence College admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 51%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1200 and an ACT composite around 29. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $48,523 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Providence College?

58% of enrolled students at Providence College had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.54, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.

What does Providence College weight in admissions?

Providence College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Providence College typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 620–690, with an EBRW midpoint near 620. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–32. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Providence College actually cost?

Published tuition is $63,550 for in-state students and $63,550 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,840 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $48,523 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 13% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Providence College

Will my child graduate from Providence College?

These predict outcomes at Providence College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Providence College

The most popular undergraduate programs at Providence College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Finance and Financial Management Services, Psychology, General and Business Administration, Management and Operations. Across all programs, Providence College confers roughly 816 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Finance and Financial Management Services program report a median income of about $100,232 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Providence College safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Providence College disclosed 12 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.8 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 7 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Providence College?

About 70% of undergraduates at Providence College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 0% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Rhode Island parents ask about

• Rhode Island School of Design
  19% acceptance
• Johnson & Wales University-Providence
  88% acceptance
• Brown University
  5% acceptance
• University of Rhode Island
  72% acceptance

Colleges that admit at a similar rate

• Rhodes College
  50% acceptance · Tennessee
• Birmingham Southern College
  52% acceptance · Alabama
• St Olaf College
  48% acceptance · Minnesota
• Wofford College
  52% acceptance · South Carolina

Common questions parents ask about Providence College